- Sant Pere de Rodes
The
Benedictine monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes is an important former monastery in the comarca ofAlt Empordà , in the North East ofCatalonia .Location
It is in the municipal area of
El Port de la Selva in the province ofGirona ,Catalonia . It has been constructed in the side of the Verdera mountain below the ruins of the castle of Sant de Verdera that had provided protection for the monastery. It offers an exceptional views over the bay ofLlançà , to the north ofCap de Creus . Near the monastery Santa Creu de Rodes is the ruins of a medieval town, of which its preRomanesque style church is the only remains dedicated toSaint Helena .History
The true origin of the monastery is not known, which has given rise to speculation and legend; such as its foundation by monks who disembarked in the area with the remains of
Saint Peter and other saints, to save them from the Barbarian hordes that had fallen on Rome. Once the danger had passed the PopeBoniface IV commanded them to construct a monastery.Nevertheless the first documentation of the existence of the monastery dates 878, it being mentioned as a simple monástry cell consecrated to Saint Peter, but it is not until 945 when an independent Benedictine monastery was founded, prevailed over by an abbot. Bound to the
County of Empúries it reached its maximum splendor between the XI and XII centuries until its final decay in 17th century. Its increasing importance is reflected in its status as a point of pilgrimage.In the 17th Century XVII it was sacked in several occasions and in
1793 was deserted by the benedictine community which was transferred to Vila-sacred and finally settled inFigueres in 1809 until it was dissolved.The monastery was declared a national monument in 1930. In
1935 the Generalitat of Catalonia initiated the first restoration work.Architecture
The buildings are constructed in terraces, given its location.
Cloisters of XII century form the central part of the complex. Around them the rest of constructions are distributed. The Church, consecrated in the year1022 , is the best exponent of the Romanesque style and without comparison with others of its time. Detailing featuresplants with three bays and a vault. These are boardered by a double column with capitals influenced by the Carolingian Style. The double column support arches separating the bays. The columns and pillars have been taken from a former Roman building. The bay is splendid with large dimensions with an arch in theapse , this is continued in the two lateral bays. Under the apse is acrypt . The church synthesizes a number of original styles including Carolingian, Romanesque and Roman. The monastery is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia. In the western facade of the monastery is a XII Century bell tower, a square shape it is influenced by thelombards from the previous century. To the side is a defensive tower, that was probably began in the X Century but finished later after several modifications.See also
External links
* [http://www.cbrava.com/santperees.htm The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes]
* [http://www.monestirs.cat/monst/aemp/ae42rode.htm Sant Pere de Rodes]
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