Monastery of San Miguel de Escalada

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San Miguel de Escalada is a monastery in the province of León (Spain) located in the Way of St. James.
Mozarabic monastery for some authors, it would be included within the named Repopulation Art.

Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Gallery 4 References

[edit] History

An inscription today disappeared (but published by the Father Risco in 1786, Sacred Spain, tome XXXV, p. 311) gave information about its consecration in 951 by the bishop Genadio of Astorga, during the raising of the Kingdom of León. It was constructed on a place dedicated to Saint Michael (probably a Visigothic church):

"Hic locus antiquitus Michaelis archangeli honore dicatus, brevi opere unstructus, post ruinis abolitus, diu mansit dirutus; donec Adefonsus abba cum sociis adveniens cordubensi patria edis ruinam erexit sub valente sereno Adefonso principe. Monachorum numero crescente, demum hoc templum decorum miro opere a fundamine exumdique amplificatum erigitur; non iussu imperiali vel oppresione vulgi, sed abatis Adefonsi et fratrum instanti vigilantia duodenis mensibus peracta sunt hec opera, Garsea sceptra regni peragens Mumadonna cum regina, Era DCCCCLI. Sacratumque templum ab episcopum Jenadium XII Kalendas Decembrium" ^[1]

In 1050, due to the increment of monks, the foundation is renewed by the abbot Sabarico. In 1155 the king Alfonso VII gives up the monastery to the congregation of St Rufo of Avignon. After the disentailment of ecclesiastical properties and lands in 1836 (Desamortización de Mendizábal), the monastery is abandoned and the monastic offices disappear. That's why today only exist the church, the tower and San Fructuoso chapel (the tower and the chapel of Romanesque style).

[edit] Architecture

The monastery has three naves separated by columns and big horseshoe arches, with their apses and a crossing (which is not noticeable from the exterior of the building, without cimborio or central tower), where the choir would be placed. It's separated from the principal nave by three horseshoe arches (called sometimes iconostasis).

Apses, vaulted and with horseshoe floorplans inward, appear included at an only rectangular block as it's appreciated outdoors. All arches take down in marble shafts and Corinthian steeples proceeding from other Visigothic or Roman constructions (as it may be appreciated in a cyma carved as from a gravestone, perhaps from the close Roman city of Lancia).

It has wood covers, being the main decorated with paints from 15th century.

Highlights its meridional porch fixed by twelve arches (horseshoe arches), although accomplished in two constructive different phases: the seven occidental arches, with columns and steeples in moorish style, Mozarabic work from the 10th century still preserving the alfiz part.

[edit] Gallery

[edit] References

1. ^ San Miguel de Escalada. Inscripciones y documentos. Boletín de la Real Academia de la Historia, tomo 31 (1897), pp. 466-515.
   "This place, in the antique consecrated in honor of the Archangel Michael, of reduced dimensions and fallen in ruins after, remained in that way for a long time; until the abbot Alfonso and his committee who was coming from his fatherland Córdoba, raised the ruins of the building under the effective patronage of the king Alfonso. As the number of monks increase, at length they determine the wonderful work of enlarging the current temple from its foundations. No under royal command or oppressing the people, but by the attentive tenacity of the abbot Alfonso and his monks during twelve months until the finalization of the work, under García reign with his wife Mumadonna. In the era nine hundred and fifty one. The temple was consecrated by the bishop Genadio. ". Retrieved on October 2, 2007.