Monastery of Santa María de la Mejorada

The **Monastery of Santa María de la Mejorada** is an old Jerónimo temple located in Calabazas, a locality belonging to the municipality of Olmedo, Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. It was built in the 14th century, though its significance and importance grew in the 15th century, with Fernando de Antequera, who would become Fernando I of Aragón, aiding in its construction. Along with a palace and a mausoleum, the monastery became a significant meeting point within Spain, hosting notable figures such as Kings Carlos V and Felipe II, as well as being the site where Christopher Columbus wrote a memorial in 1497.

Additionally, Alonso Berruguete made part of the retablo in the 16th century. However, the monastery was looted by the French during the War of Independence, and was legally sold into private hands as a result of the Mendizabal desamortization of 1836, leading to its ruin. Nevertheless, the mudéjar capilla del crucifijo was declared a cultural asset of interest in 1931, and today, the parts that were saved, including the mentioned chapel, are restored.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons