Santo Domingo de Silos

The monastery traces its origins to a Visigothic foundation dedicated to San Sebastián, later restored during the time of Count Fernán González. Around 1042, a monk named Domingo from Cañas in La Rioja undertook a major renovation commissioned by King Fernando I. His magnificent Romanesque construction left behind only the cloisters and the Puerta de las Vírgenes - the rest was rebuilt in neoclassical style during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The remarkable two-story interior courtyard measures 22 by 24 meters, built with double-column arcades except at the center where four-column clusters stand. The capitals showcase diverse themes, including clear influences from Andalusi art. Santo Domingo's tomb lies in the north gallery of the lower cloister, marked by a recumbent statue resting on three lions. The upper cloister, while beautiful, is simpler and later than the lower level.

The neoclassical church follows plans by Ventura Rodríguez. The monastery houses an 18th-century pharmacy with Talavera ceramics and a museum displaying Mozarabic and Romanesque sculptures, goldwork, and enamels saved from confiscation. The town church, built between various centuries, contains the Virgen del Mercado, the local patron saint.