Photo: Monastery Against A Rock Aragon Spain
The famous Monastery de San Juan de la Pena in Sierra de la Pena in Aragon, Spain is pictured against the massive rock.
The famous Monasterio de San Juan de la Pena in the Sierra de la Pena region of Aragon, Spain is about 21 kilometers south-west of Jaca and even today is not the easiest place to get to. It must have been an extremely difficult journey in the 8th century, when it is believed Christian hermits lived in the shadow of the rock.
The two-level, Old Monastery of San Juan de la Pena was named as a monastery in 920 when the lower church was built, in the Mozarabic style, and then the Romanesque church was constructed above it in 1025. Both churches were formed against the huge overhanging rock.
The lovely monastery cloisters were built around the end of the 12th century, and has wonderfully carved capitals depicting Biblical scenes. Popular legend has it that the chalice known as the Holy Grail was hidden at the isolated Monasterio de San Juan de la Pena for three centuries (it is now in the Valencia Cathedral). ... continue below the picture...
Monastery Against A Rock Aragon Spain
Pictures from photo gallery "Aragon Pictures"
This picture is part of the photo album "Monastery Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.
Related stock photo galleries, pictures & travel ideas:
Monastery Against A Rock Aragon Spain
... A fire in 1675 in the Old Monastery, made it necessary for a New Monastery to be built about one and a half kilometers farther up the hill. Both Monasteries are National Monuments.
The village of Santa Cruz de la Seros in Aragon, Spain is well-known for the traditional buildings and architecture and is about 7 kilometers by road from the Monastery of San Juan de la Pena, but for walkers there is a four kilometer path. Santa Cruz de la Seros has its own Monastery of Santa Maria (c.1060).The Cultural Park of San Juan de la Pena includes the Old and New Monasteries of San Juan de la Pena, the Church (Monastery) of Santa Maria, the Church of San Aprasio, and are all declared places of cultural interest. The Sierra de la Pena in Aragon, Spain is a very historical and scenic area to visit.
Monasterio de San Juan de la Pena, Sierra de la Pena, Huesca, Aragon, Spain, Europe.
Technical Information:
I photographed this photo with the digital SLR camera model Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, aperture of f/6.3, exposure time of 1/125 sec. on ISO 100, as always I used a original Canon Lens, the focus lenght for this picture was 16mm.
The famous Monastery de San Juan de la Pena in Sierra de la Pena in Aragon, Spain is pictured against the massive rock.
