Santo Domingo de Silos
The small village of Santo Domingo de Silos in the northern Spanish province of Burgos in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon has become best known for his eponymous Romanesque monastery. Together with the communities Lerma and Covarrubias is Santo Domingo de Silos, the so-called " triangle of Arlanza " ( the Golden Triangle de Arlanza ).
Location
Santo Domingo de Silos is located on the Río Mataviejas in a remote mountain landscape near the gorge of Yecla at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level.. inst Distance to Burgos is just under 60 km ( driving distance ) to the north; Madrid is about 210 km to the south.
Demographics
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city had about 1,200 inhabitants.
Economy
Economic basis of local development was the - located just a short distance from the Spanish Camino de Santiago - medieval Benedictine monastery. In the first years of existence, the monks worked - true to the principle ora et labora - still largely self, but over time were doing dependent farmers and artisans increasingly the necessary work for the wealthy has been cleared by pilgrims gifts and foundations Abbey. Today, tourism plays a dominant role in the economy of the place.
History
Already in Visigothic period there was a small monastic community, which went down in the years of Islamic expansion, but was revived in the 10th century at the time of the Reconquista under Fernán González. From the mid-11th century, the secluded resort was through the initiatives of a monk (later abbot ) by the name of Dominic (Spanish: Domingo ) and scholarships, Ferdinand I, scene of a huge church and monastery new building, from which, however, only the Romanesque cloister ( claustro ) is obtained; the present church and the other monastic buildings are from the 18th and 19th centuries and are built in a neoclassical style.
Attractions
- The focus of visitor interest, the resulting end of the 11th century Romanesque cloister of the medieval monastery stands with its rich and unusual sculptural decoration. A picture board at one of the four cornerstones shows Christ with a shell decorated pilgrim's bag, and accompanied by two disciples. His legs are crossed, which implies a certain internal tension ( ropes) is indicated. The robes and haloes of the figures overlap partially the architectural framework, whereby the vivid impression of the scene is emphasized.
- The parish church of the village is the hl. Peter ( San Pedro), consecrated and contains parts from the 12th to the 17th centuries.
- Pretty to look at are also an old stone bridge over the Río Mataviejas, the underlying gate and some - unfortunately badly ruined - Castilian half-timbered houses.
Half-timbered houses
Church of San Pedro