Monastery Of St. Peter of Rhodes, 1

Not far up the coast, high up in the mountains, is the 9th century Benedictine monastery of St. Peter of Rhodes. Most of the ruins are 10th century, but that's pretty old for Medieval Europe, and the complex includes a fortress as well as the village that supported both monastery and fortress. Here, as the literature explained, you have the three basic estates of the emerging Medieval world: those who fought (the bellatores), those who prayed (the oratores), and those who worked (the laboratores). Not much room for de-classed intellectuals.

The fortress, pretty ruined, Verdera

The monastery, pretty much intact, with modifications to
prevent further ruin; also a restaurant, gift shoppe, etc.

On the Camino, of course

Remains of the village,Santa Creu, on the right; the distances, and the lateness in
the day, required we focus on the monastery

Terrain; once heavily planted in vines, until phylloxera showed up

All roads lead to Santiago de Compostela, as we know, and some pass through
St. Peter of Rhodes

Official doggie parking

The two towers of the monastery...the bell tower and the keep

Helpful illustration; and in English too

Corballed ceiling in the wine cellar

Lamb of God

Pretty basic Romanesque, or even pre-Romanesque, if you like; love the thousand
year old barrel vaulting

View from narthex

Original capitals on the port side; the starboard capitals were a bit more
weathered but still impressive

Vicki about to perambulate

In the small ambulatory

Only painting we saw, in the chancel

Monastic view

Aerial/angelic view of fortress

Leaving the ambulatory

Chancel