The monastery founded by infanta-reina Sancha Raimúndez

In 1147, Queen Sancha Raimúndez, the sister of Emperor Alfonso VII, received a thorn from a crown of thorns in Paris. She donated her estates in San Pedro and Santa María de Aborridos to found a monastery that would house the relic, entrusted to the Order of Cîteaux. The first monks arrived that same year, sent by St. Bernard of Claraval. Alfonso VII confirmed this donation two years later, on April 6, 1149.

We can trace the evolution of this site through its many hands and architectural layers. The site's layout mixes Romanesque styles, to which a facade was added in the 18th century by Ventura Rodríguez. In 1575, master masons Juan de Nates and Juan Ribero de Rada expanded the monastery. A chapel housing the relic was built by Francisco de Praves in the 17th century, while the 18th century saw Ventura Rodríguez build a new facade with two slender twin towers.

There is much more to explore regarding the complex and its various roles. In 1937, during the civil war, the grounds of the monastery were used as a concentration camp for prisoners of the republican side. It had an initial capacity of 600 men but eventually housed more than 4,300 prisoners. Visitors can investigate the massive 16th-century wall and the monumental gate with a semicircular arch. The current altarpiece, made of polychrome wood, comes from the Monasterio de Santa María de Retuerta.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons