Monastery of Pedralbes (Barcelona)
The Pedralbes Monastery is an architectural complex in the Gothic style. Its foundation corresponds to James II of Aragon, and it was inaugurated in 1327 with the aim of offering lodging to the community of Clarisas nuns.
The monastery church has a single nave presided over by a Gothic-style altarpiece by Jaume Huguet. Its three-story cloister is built around the monastery and is about 40 meters long. It is made up of wide arches resting on a colonnade, with capitals beautifully decorated with the emblem of the House of Moncada.
Among the most interesting details of the monastery are the tomb of Queen Elisenda on one of the sides. There, one can see an image of the queen represented as a widow because she did not get to take her habits. There is also the chapel of Saint Michael, where one can admire works by the painter Ferrer Bassa dating from 1346, with a great influence by El Giotto.
In the past, the perimeter of the monastery was walled, but today only the watchtowers and a couple of the huge doors offering access to the complex remain. After the monastery was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931, a portion of it became part of the Barcelona History Museum, where works that were related to the monastery and that were part of the heritage of the Poor Clare nuns are exhibited.
It should be noted that part of the monastery was destined to contain an important selection of pieces from the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, which was transferred to the National Art Museum of Catalonia in 2004.
The monastery church has a single nave presided over by a Gothic-style altarpiece by Jaume Huguet. Its three-story cloister is built around the monastery and is about 40 meters long. It is made up of wide arches resting on a colonnade, with capitals beautifully decorated with the emblem of the House of Moncada.
Among the most interesting details of the monastery are the tomb of Queen Elisenda on one of the sides. There, one can see an image of the queen represented as a widow because she did not get to take her habits. There is also the chapel of Saint Michael, where one can admire works by the painter Ferrer Bassa dating from 1346, with a great influence by El Giotto.
In the past, the perimeter of the monastery was walled, but today only the watchtowers and a couple of the huge doors offering access to the complex remain. After the monastery was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931, a portion of it became part of the Barcelona History Museum, where works that were related to the monastery and that were part of the heritage of the Poor Clare nuns are exhibited.
It should be noted that part of the monastery was destined to contain an important selection of pieces from the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, which was transferred to the National Art Museum of Catalonia in 2004.
Location
Religious Buildings in Barcelona
Civil Buildings in Barcelona
Museums in Barcelona
