They were closed for lunch! so having to hang around for an hour whilst the 20 odd resident monks and there servants feasted well and I baked in a temperature into the 100's F was not a good start to the visit.
If anyone decides to visit the place you cannot just rock up and go through the main gate, one has to follow a maze through the visitor centre eventually arriving in a small cinema theatre for a 15 minute sound and vision experience....hmm.
The soulfull chanting started, religious images appeared with a commentary about how great "god" is. 30 seconds in I got up and walked about. I am here to admire the architecture not here to suffer some religious brainwashing bullshit. Enough already. if you need an imaginary friend so be it. I don't.
Santa Maria de Poblet was founded by cistercian monks from southern France in 1150,
This monastery was the first of three grouped monasteries, known as the Cistercian triangle, that helped consolidate the power of the house of Aragon in Catalonia in the 12th century.
Consolidate power? Oh silly me I thought it was all about spreading the word of the lord. At its peak the monastery had a population of over 300 monks
It lay empty until it began restoration in 1930 and some 10 years later resumed its role and a group of Italian Monks took up residence.
Politics and decrees and all that led to the monastery being abandoned in 1835, and over the years was looted and fell into disrepair.
The cooling shady cloisters,
Surround the basic yet well tended gardens
The high vaulted ceilings and plain stone walls a welcome from the heat of the day, some rooms are just empty and unused these days
Though the refractory all set out for the next meal. It must take an age to keep the floors so highly polished,
The main altar of the monastery church ornate carved alabaster and a simple wooden cross.
The tombs of former Aragon royalty restored in the 1940's still housing old bones, though apparently the bodies were removed at the closure of the monastery and returned this century, politely "co-mingled" or in plain speak mixed up bits in each sepulchre.
"When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for."
©succubus music
Thanks for visiting my page, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. this is Stephen aka, @grindle, happily retired, travelling the world snapping away. My weapon of choice is currently a Nikon Z6(2).
Unless stated all images are shot by me, all text is mine based on various info sources. NOT AI generated.
If you like my blog, it would be very much appreciated if you upvote and follow me. Also, please feel free to drop a comment.
Congratulations, your post has been added to WorldMapPin! 🎉
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
I have always really liked visiting these types of places to admire the architecture, the work and details you get in these structures are amazing.
I loved this and I completely agree 💪🏻😎
Have a great day @grindle friend, awesome shots!
!discovery 40
!PIZZA
cheers @dimascastillo90 thanks for this and your input in other places, it is much appreciated,
Always at the back of my mind when I write these things up that I might upset the god botherers LOL
This post was shared and voted inside the discord by the curators team of discovery-it
Join our Community and follow our Curation Trail
Discovery-it is also a Witness, vote for us here
Delegate to us for passive income. Check our 80% fee-back Program
cheers @discovery-it thanks for your support, it is always much appreciated
👏 Keep Up the good work on Hive ♦️ 👏
❤️ @dimascastillo90 suggested sagarkothari88 to upvote your post ❤️
cheers, much appreciated all
@grindle, you are most welcome!
Here is !PIZZA token gift for you
Interesting place to visit, highly polished floors, stone ceilings, amazing sculptures and leather bound books, it's old!
Who are we to question how Monk's spent their days, they spread information about farming and wine making to parts of the world while laying claim to prime land at the same time. Oh the hallways of history have so many cupboards with skeletons within.
!BEER
old and steeped in tales to tell
The monastery has a beautiful garden on the side walls, the green leaf's are all healthy, a great exploring with nice photos, so impressive 🥰
cheers @repayme4568 thanks for your great input, glad you enjoyed
You are welcome @grindle happy weekend to everyone over there, cheers.
you too
Thanks I appreciate 🙏
👍
Congratulations @grindle! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 200000 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
Indeed, a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for the virtual tour.
cheers @netswriting thanks for dropping in, glad you enjoyed
Italian monks have an advantage over normal squatters in seems.
LOL, possession is nine tenths of the law
cheers @dimascastillo90 @visualshots for your support and curation
View or trade
BEER.Hey @grindle, here is a little bit of
BEERfrom @joanstewart for you. Enjoy it!Learn how to earn FREE BEER each day by staking your
BEER.You saved the best for last on this one! The glass in that chandelier looks like a darker, greener version of uranium glass. I do wonder what mineral was used in the mix to give it that color. And that spiral staircase is stunning! If a bit claustrophobic...
I love uranium glass, it is so victorian and garish yet colourful. the staircase seemed from another time, more modern