Monastery of Santa María la Real, Aguilar de Campoo

Description

Accounts place the origin of the Monastery of Santa María la Real (Aguilar de Campoo) around the year 822, when a nobleman named Alpidio discovered, at the foot of Peña Longa, the remains of some ancient temples. In the same place his nephew founded the monastery of San Pedro and San Pablo de Aguilar (Hernando, 2002). Later, in 852, Count Osorio endowed it with goods, consolidating its existence. Various monastic foundations in the area, such as San Martín de Aguilar, ended up being linked over time, until the first stage was marked by the influence of the Benedictine rule. During the 11th-12th centuries, the institution received significant noble and royal donations, such as those made by the Countess Ofresa or Alfonso VI, which favored its consolidation (Hernando, 2002). However, the monastery's great impulse came in the 12th century, when Alfonso VIII gave the abbey to the Premonstratensian monks, who rebuilt and expanded it. Under their tutelage were erected the chapter house, completed in 1209, and the church, consecrated in 1222, among others. From the mid-13th century the monastery began its decline due to economic crises, wars and the loss of royal support (Hernando, 2002).

Bibliography

• HERNANDO GARRIDO, José Luis (2002): "Monasterio de Santa María la Real", en Enciclopedia del románico. Palencia, Fundación Santa María la Real, Aguilar de Campoo, pp. 186-213.