Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba

Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba
Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba
General view from Ròtova.
Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba is located in Spain
Location within Spain
Monastery information
Full Name Saint Jerome of Cotalba Royal Monastery
Other Names San Jerónimo de Cotalba
Order Hieronymites
Established 1388
Disestablished 1835
Diocese Valencia
People
Founder(s) Royal Duke of Gandia
Important associated figures Ausiàs March, House of Borgia, Duke of Gandia
Site
Location Alfauir, (Valencian Community), Spain
Coordinates 38°56′00″N 0°15′31″W / 38.9333333°N 0.25861°W / 38.9333333; -0.25861
Visible Remains All. Fully preserved.
Public Access Yes
Other information

The Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba (Valencian pronunciation: [ˈsaɲ ʒeˈɾɔni ðe koˈtaɫβa], Spanish: San Jerónimo de Cotalba, "Saint Jerome of Cotalba") is a monastic building of Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassical styles constructed between the 14th and 18th centuries, located in the municipal area of Alfauir, (Valencia), Spain.

Contents

History

It is one of the most notable monastic constructions of the Valencian Community. In the village of Alfauir, some eight kilometres out of Gandia in the direction of Albaida is the monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba. The monastery has its origins in Xàbia, where in 1374 Pope Gregory XI authorised its foundation to some hermit monks. Originally commissioned by the Royal Duke of Gandia Alfonso of Aragon and Foix in 1388 to save the friars from attacks by Berber pirates which they had been suffering whilst they lived in Xàbia. The family and the two wives of the well-known Valencian medieval poet Ausiàs March are buried in this monastery.

Afterwards, in 16th century, the monastery will have the protection of the Borgia family, being the Duchess of Gandia, Maria Enríquez de Luna, the one that realized works of extension in the monastery.

The popular legend tells that in one of the monastery's cloisters preached Saint Vincent Ferrer to the people.

Another personage of reference at the monastery is the Spanish Renaissance painter Nicolás Borrás. Upon entering the priesthood he was assigned to the Hieronymite Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, where he enjoyed his stay so much that he asked for membership in the order has his only payment. He received the habit in 1575, and took the final vows the following year. He passed the rest of his life painting, leaving twelve altar pieces in the church alone. He also spent his own money in the employment of sculptors and builders for the embellishment of the monastery.

Following the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal, where religious buildings were sold off to pay state debts, it has been owned by the Trénor family in 1843. During the Spanish Civil War the monastery was used as a military hospital. The monastery was declared as an item of cultural interest (BIC) in 1994 and is now in the process of being restored and enhanced for visitors. Since May 2005 the doors to this building have been opened to the public. Coinciding with its opening to the public, restoration work has been carried out on the area behind the church’s retable and Father Borrás’ painting gallery, and restoring the monastery’s visitable parts. Nowadays, it's possible to visit the majority of the monastery.

The monastery supposes the beginning of the Route of the Monasteries of Valencia (GR-236), a religious, cultural and tourist route that connects five monasteries located in central region of the Province of Valencia, (Valencian Community). The Route of the Monasteries of Valencia was inaugurated in the year 2008[1][2] and this monastery is the first stage of the route.

The monastery

Construction work on the monastery began in the 14th century and continued up to the 16th century, though it was during the 17th and 18th centuries when it took on its present-day layout. Its most representative feature is its main facade, overlooked by the main tower and priory tower. The cloister is the backbone of the enclosure and is arranged in four galleries on two floors. On the lower cloister, the arches and vaults are made in two-coloured Mudejar style. The church stands on a rectangular ground plan with one aisle and chapels between buttresses. The most significant areas on the upper floor are the presbytery and the choir.

The complex encompasses the bell tower, with 17th-century blue and white carvings covering the façade; a gothic church with Baroque elements acquired during a previous renovation in the 18th century; a cloister with red Mudéjar arches resembling the architecture of the Córdoba mosque; a garden and the sala capitular, where a tomb houses the remains of Prince John and Princess Blanche of Aragon, children of the mediaeval Duke Alfonso the Old.

The constructed enclosure emphasizes the bell tower, where it's possible to find a copy of the entry in Valencian recalling the date and name of the founder.

Sections of the monastery

  • Renaissance cloister double overlay.
  • Gothic spiral staircase of the chapter house.
  • The church.
  • Romantic gardens.
  • Gothic aqueduct.

Visits

Nowadays, it's possible to visit the majority of the building. To visit the monastery is advisable to consult the schedule updated of visits in the website of the monastery.

Gallery

  • Wings of the cloister and stairs.

  • Gothic stairs.

  • Medieval sarcophagus of the Duke's children Alfonso of Aragón and Foix.

  • Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba.

  • Romantic gardens of the monastery.

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ Source: El Mundo (Spain). The route of the Monasteries is inaugurated.
  2. ^ Source: Las Provincias. The route of the Monasteries: El Pas del Pobre.

See also

External links

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Monasterio de San Jerónimo de Cotalba — Real Monasterio de San Jerónimo de Cotalba Tipo Monasterio jerónimo Ubicación …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ruta de los Monasterios de Valencia — Monasterio de San Jerónimo de Cotalba, en Alfahuir, inicio de la Ruta de los Monasterios. La Ruta de los Monasterios de Valencia (GR 236) es una ruta religiosa, cultural y turística inaugurada en el año 2008.[1] …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ausiàs March — (Valencian pronunciation: [awziˈaz ˈmaɾk]) (c. 1397 – March 3, 1459) was a Valencian poet who was born in Gandia (Valencia) towards the end of the 14th century. He was the son of Pere March, nephew of Jaume March II, and cousin of Arnau… …   Wikipedia

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