Abbey of Santa María de Lebanza

Description

The origins of the Abbey of Santa María de Lebanza date back to the year 932, when Alfonso Ordóñez and Justa, Counts of Lebeña, donated Lebanza to a community of friars headed by Abbot Gundisalvo. With the passage of time, various monarchs made donations to the monastery and in 1142 Alfonso VII and Berenguela ratified the foundational endowment by means of a royal privilege. Between 1172 and 1173, the expansion of the abbey complex was planned, a work that was financed by Count Rodrigo Gustios. Later, in 1747, a fire caused serious damage to the building. In order to preserve its original architecture, Charles III commissioned its reconstruction to Francisco Valzania, who followed Sabatini's plans (Rodríguez Montañés, 2002).

The splendor of the abbey came to an end in 1808 with the outbreak of the War of Independence. First it was plundered by the Napoleonic troops and, later, its assets were auctioned by order of Mendizábal in 1863. At the beginning of the 20th century, the abbey was transformed into a tourist inn and in 1943 the bishopric of Palencia acquired it to convert it into a Minor Seminary (Rodríguez Montañés, 2002). At present, the pieces that once housed the abbey of Santa María de Lebanza are scattered in various museums and institutions.

Bibliography

• RODRÍGUEZ MONTAÑÉS, José Manuel (2002): "Abadía de Santa María de Lebanza", en Enciclopedia del Románico en Castilla y León. Palencia, Fundación Santa María la Real, Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia), pp. 555-558.