Art and culture 

Tentudía Monastery

The origins of this temple are surrounded by legend. With the passage of time, it underwent several alterations that turned it into one of the most important centres for the Order of St. James.

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The legend of a miracle


Location and Contact:

Calera de León - Badajoz road ( BA-039 ), Km 9
06292 Calera de León , Badajoz (Extremadura)
Opening times

1st May to 31st October from 11.30 am to 6 pm.

1st November to 30th April, from 10.30 am to 5 pm.

Closed on Monday.

Fee

Standard entry fee: €1.

Group entry fee (> 25 people): €20.

  • The origins of this temple are surrounded by legend. With the passage of time, it underwent several alterations that turned it into one of the most important centres for the Order of St. James.

    Legend has surrounded Tentudía Monastery from the start. Traditions tells us that, during a battle against the Arabs in the 13th century, Captain Pelay Pérez Correa implored the Virgin for help, shouting: "Holy Mary, stop your day!" The miracle happened and the master of the Order of St. James built a temple dedicated to Santa María de Tudía (Tentudía) at 1,112 meters high.

    With the passage of time, the original building was extended by other masters and, when the convent in the nearby town of Calera de León was built, this area became one of the most important centres of the Order of St. James. The hermitage of Santa María de Tudía was declared a monastery by Pope Leo X. In it, you can contemplate the beauty of its altarpiece, commissioned to the master tiler Niculoso Pisano, the image of the Virgin of Tentudía, which dates back to the 16th century and the Mudéjar-style cloister, from the early 16th century.

    Once outside this robust building, you will be able to see the marks left by the renovations and restorations that this temple has undergone. And you can even enjoy the magnificent views of a large part of the region, with its landscapes of dehesas(pasture lands) and the typical hills of the south of Badajoz.

     

  • Origin:
  • 13th century
  • Construction:
  • Monastery
  • Art period:
  • Mudejar
  • Period in history:
  • Various periods
  • Official name :
  • Property of Cultural Interest
  • Accessibility:

    • Disabled access
    • Admits guide dogs
    • Accessible car park
    • Accessible facilities and common areas
    • Access ramps
    • Adapted route for disabled people
    • Toilet with disabled access
    • Toilet for disabled people in common areas
    • Toilet with support rails

    Services:

    • Coffee shop

Gallery:

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