Santa Maria de Gerri

Santa Maria de Gerri is a monastery in Gerri de la Sal, in the comarca of Pallars Sobirà, Catalonia, Spain, situated on the shores of the Noguera Pallaresa river.

History

The monastery was founded in 807, and its community adhered to the

.

In 1190 all the monastery's possession went under the protection of King Alfonso II of Aragon, and, thanks to numerous donations in the 12th-14th centuries, including the cave monastery of Sant Pere de les Maleses,^[1] it became the richest foundation in the county of Urgell. Later it decayed, until, in 1835, it was secularized.

Architecture

Of the 9th century structure, today only ruins remain. The

located at level far lower than the rest of the church.

The nave is covered by barrel vaults. The central apse is decorated by seven blind arcades, supported by pilasters with sculpted capitals, similar to those in the Sant Pere de Galligants monastery. The same decorations, including vegetable motifs, fantastic animals, angels and biblical characters, characterizes the capitals of the church's interior.

The main façade is surmounted by a sail-shaped bell tower with three floors.

References

• Pladevall, Antoni (2000). Guies Catalunya Romànica, Pallars Sobirà (in Catalan). Barcelona: Pòrtic.
  ISBN 84-7306-609-X
  .

External links

• Page at Catalan Monasteries website (in Catalan)

42°19′12.32″N 1°4′8.09″E / 42.3200889°N 1.0689139°E / 42.3200889; 1.0689139