Badajoz information
Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe
The origin of the monastery date back to the 13th century when
the cowhand Gil Cordero found a Romanesque statue of the Virgin.
The Virgin was named after the nearby Guadalupe river, and a little
hermitage was built on the site of Cordero's discovery. After
Alfonso XI's victory in the battle of Salado in 1340, things began
to move fast. The monarch ordered a monastery built in thanksgiving
for his triumph and entrusted his endowment to the Hironymite
Order. With its royal patronage, Guadalupe's influence grew quickly,
and with the discovery of America, the Virgin and the Monastery
grew even more important: Columbus named one of the first Indians
he discovered Guadalupe and he insisted that the first Indians
to
be converted to Christianity be baptized at the monastery. The
Virgin was soon established as an inspirational figure for the
entire Hispanic world. The monastery was abandoned inn 1835 when
church lands were disentailed.
In 1908 the Franciscan Order restored it and became its new occupant.
What you have today, apart from the shrine itself, is a museum
of priceless historical and artistic treasures. The Franciscan
monks, acting as informative guides, take visitors around. The
church is a notable Gothic structure, built in the late 14th century
and early 15th century on the site of a previous Mudéjar church,
vestiges of which remain in the apse. In the 18th century, Baroque
features were added. A magnificent grille, by Friar Francisco
de Salamanca and Juan de Avila from the 16th century, encloses
the chancel. The 17th century classicist altarpiece was sculpted
by Giraldo de Merlo with the assistance of Jorge Manuel Teotocópuli,
a son of El Greco. The paintings are attributed to Carducci and
Eugenio Cajés. The revered 12th century Virgin of Guadalupe, richly
carved in dark holm oak, stands in the central niche. Between
the church and the square stands the 15th century Chapel of Santa
Ana, containing the tombs of the Velasco family, which were sculpted
in 1467 by the Spanish-Flemish artist Anequín Egas. There is a
bronze baptismal font, cast by Juan Francés in 1402 beneath the
front tower.
The fascade of the Sanctuary is a prime example of Spanish Gothic-Mudéjar.
The golden colour of the delicately-worked tracery contrasts with
the rough features of the tower and walls. The embossed bronze
door are from the 15th century. On the northern side of the church
you will find a Mudéjar cloister from the late 14th century and
early 15th century. The curious pavilion in the centre, built
by Friar Juan de Sevilla inn 1405, and the alabaster tomb in one
corner of the galley, sculpted by Egas Cueman around 1460 in memory
of Friar Gonzalo de Illescas, are both exceptional pieces. The
cloister beyond was built in the early 16th century in an elegant
flamboyant Gothic style. The other adjacent buildings today provide
hotel accommodation run by the Franciscans. The 17th century sacristy,
classical in style with Baroque decoration, houses one of the
world's finest collections of religious paintings by Zurbarán,
and there are also other important works of art. The paintings
of Luca Giordano, in their lush setting of jasper, marble, gilded
stucco and precious woods, adorn the Niche of the Virgin. The
niche, from the 18th century, is the ante-chamber to the Virgin's
throne through which the pilgrims entered to pray in front of
the image. One of the treasures in the Capilla de las Reliquias
(Chapel of Relics) is the 15th century enameled ark.