This monastery is so significant and incredible that it deserves a post of its own.
Founded in the 6 th century , barely a hundred years after Saint Benedictine had died, the main structures were built in the 12th century.
The only thing left from the earliest structures is the doorway into what was the church ( and now.. The gift store) i found this celtic looking symbol, a reoccuring them throught the are, an interesting thing to have carved into the doorway.
Its a huge complex and one which is still filled with monks, working hard at thier different crafts, welcoming pilgrims and guests as well as maintaining thier order in the region.
We went on the official tour and I was a bit sad we had decided to press on afterward to get to Sarria. Perhaps next time we walk the camino we will stay here. An opprtunity to be a guest of the monks and sleep here is too good to miss.
The gardens and cloisters are beautiful - and as tge kids say - same old same old.. But its the treasures and artwork upstairs I was interested in. A significant Templar stronghold.
An artist in the fifties and sixties painted the entire walls upstairs in scence which are hard to capture on film.
He uses perspective tricks to do more than entertain.
Below are the monks, which, no matter where you stand, they are walking toward you.
Thre is one called the accusation or something like that , where the mans arm seems to point to the damned being dragged to hell (see below) but as you walk round, his arm follows you. Very very spooky.
Some of the treasures they hold pertain to the Camino specifically. Beliw is a sort of pass. In the 15th century, pilgrims needed passes to go through the kingdoms, bought no doubt a huge expense. They had to display them round thier neck.
Below is a copy of the first guidebook to the camino. I think you'd need a donkey to carry just that.
A well worth stop at Samos.
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