The Monastery of Santa María de Penamaior is an ancient Benedictine abbey located in the parish of Penamaior, in the municipality of Becerreá. While there is a reference from the year 922 regarding the restoration of another site, the current building of Penamaior appears to have been constructed at a later date. The lintel above the entrance was inscribed in 1177.
In 1188, the site functioned as a priory of the Monastery of Carracedo. By 1203, Carracedo was affiliated with the Abbey of Cister, controlling ten monasteries, including Penamaior. In 1225, Penamaior appeared with the title of abbey and was dependent on Cister.
In 1505, the monastery joined the Congregation of Castela and became united with San Salvador de Salamanca, losing its abbatial dignity. Known as one of the smallest Cistercian monasteries in Galicia, the community at Penamaior consisted of three members in 1584 and seven members in 1803.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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