Camino Photo of the Day: Irache Monastery
For All Souls Day, the Day of the Dead, it is perhaps appropriate that today’s photo is the entrance to the sadly defunct Irache Monastery. The structure is directly across from the wine fountain and dates to the middle ages. In addition to being a spiritual center and a pilgrim’s hostel, it was once an important center of learning, containing a Pontifical University no less. The university was shuttered in 1824 as part of Spain’s anti-clericalist phase, and the last monks left in 1839. Since then, it’s been used as a school and a hospital. Rumour has it that the current owners are planning to turn it into a parador. We shall see.
Date: 05 April 2016
Place: Irache (Navarra, Spain)
The Day’s Map:
