Santa Catalina Monastery, Ares, Spain

Santa Catalina Monastery construction started in in 1393, in a Romanesque style when Gothic standards were already taking hold. With Mendizábal's disestablishment (1837) the Franciscans were obliged to abandon the monastery, and the building's ownership and management passed to the army until the year 2000.

The monastery has two cloisters, the best conserved of which is in Renaissance style. The church was modified in the 18th century, when it changed from a cross-shaped ground plan to a single nave covered with a barrel vault on arches. Coloured wooden retable with Baroque ornamental designs. Some of its images are in churches in Ferrol. Inside the monastery, we can see the remains of capitals, statues, tombstones. Other sculptural remains from the 16th century can presently be seen in the San Antón Archaeology Museum (A Coruña).

References:

Galicia Tourism

User Reviews

Francisco García Melgar (6 months ago)
Very good place to enjoy the views. Ria de Ferrol and Ria de Betanzos

GONZALO GRANDE MARTIN (7 months ago)
They have a bar with a terrace inside, which matches little with the place and not knowing what the hours of guided and unguided tours are. So visit to see nothing.

Monica Goncalves (8 months ago)
Somewhat poorly kept, but you get an idea of what life was like in the monastery.

Ben Saelens (BTRaceD) (8 months ago)
Interesting location, high on the mountain, museum was closed despite otherwise stated in opening hours. You could drink something in the courtyard.

Charo Aquino (8 months ago)
It needs a good reform, it is in an environment of spectacular nature.

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