Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos

From Covarrubias BU 902 runs south to join BU 903, which leads east to the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos. The monastery, believed to have been founded in 593 by the Visigothic king Reccared, was destroyed by the Moors but was rebuilt by Santo Domingo, who was abbot from 1047 to 1073. The two-story cloister has magnificent carved capitals decorated with fabulous beasts, lions, stags, eagles and other birds and rich arabesques. At each corner of the cloister are two reliefs on New Testament themes. The Mudéjar ceiling of the lower cloister has paintings of scenes from medieval life, depicting a variety of musical instruments. In the north gallery is the tomb of Santo Domingo.