A building full of historical and artistic monumental value
Spain Westward ~ Cáceres (Region)
The building is located on the site where the Virgin Mary appeared to the shepherds. The monastery complex consists of four parts: the temple cathedral, the auditorium, the Mudejar cloister and the Gothic cloister. It is in Gothic-Mudejar style and has eight towers on the sides, of which the Santa Ana Tower and the Portria Tower are particularly striking.
The altarpiece on the high altar is extremely beautiful and is made of wood. The high altar sacristy was originally a desk for Philip II in the 16th century. The choir stalls date from the 18th century and consist of two floors with a beautiful design. The sacristy is richly decorated. The Church of San Jerónimo houses one of Zurbarán's most important works, "The Apotheosis of St. Jerome". In 1997, it was declared one of the Spanish World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It is also home to the Embroidery Museum, which houses important illustrated books and another painting by Zurbarán.
The monastery was built on the site where the statue of the Virgin was found. Construction work on the monastery began in the 14th century and continued until the end of the 17th century, which also illustrates the complexity of the building. Known as the Monastery of Miracles, the monastery was the center of monastic life, where processions and celebrations were organized. Recently restored by landscape gardeners Carmen Añón and Laura Martínez Visca, it has the atmosphere of a medieval oasis influenced by Mudéjar and decorated with orange and cypress trees. It is divided by four slightly elevated paths. In the center there is an open pavilion, a unique blend of Islamic and Christian architectural styles.
The Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an artistic jewel that has been protected for centuries and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Embroidery Museum exhibits liturgical robes made by embroidery workshops, including works from the 15th to the 19th century. The Museum of Illuminated Manuscripts contains more than 90 volumes produced by the scribes of the Monastery of Guadalupe between the 14th and 19th centuries, as well as a huge missal and two 15th-century books on the Passion of Christ. The Old Dressing Room houses the Museum of Sculpture and Painting, with works by Goya and El Greco, as well as engravings by Aneguín de Brucellas and Egas Cuman, and a marble crucifix by Michelangelo. The ancient sacristy contains paintings by Zurbarán.
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