What it is like and how to visit Valdediós (Pre-Romanesque in Asturias): schedules, prices

You will well know the great artistic wealth of Asturias regarding his pre-romanic architectural heritage, as well as its many examples of romanesque architecture.

But without a doubt a place where this wealth is best combined is in the Puelles Valley, just 8 kilometers from Villaviciosa.

There you find the Valdedios monumental complex, having a pre-romanesque church or with a romanesque monastery.

Popularly known as the Conventin, church of San Salvador de Valdedios It should be an essential visit on your trip to discover the cultural heritage of Asturias.

This is one of the best examples of the pre-romanesque architecture, which I tell you has great cultural appeal by forming a monumental ensemble with the aforementioned monastery of Santa María de Valdedios.

Belonging to the cistercian order, this monastery and its church, a transition from Romanesque to Gothic, were built in the year 1200, and is located next to the aforementioned Conventin.

It has been in one of my last trips to Asturias when I have had the opportunity to visit both monuments in the municipality of Villaviciosa, which you find in the so-called Valley of God.

History pre-Romanesque church San Salvador de Valdedios

We must go back to the end of the 9th century to find the origins of this monument of the pre-romanesque late that the Asturian king ordered to be built Alfonso III the Great, which in 1985 was declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

Consecrated in the year 893, it has a configuration similar to other important examples of the Asturian pre-Romanesqueas Santa Cristina de Lena, in the region of the Central Mountain of Asturias, or San Miguel de Lillo in Oviedo.

But since 1218 the pre-romanesque church She became accompanied by the one who is now the Valdedios monastery, after the donation of Puelles Valley to Cistercian Order by the King Alfonso IX of León.

El monastery It was confiscated in 1835, and in the latter part of the last century there were attempts to return it to being run by Cistercian monks.

In the end this was not the case, and currently it fulfills the functions of hostel for pilgrims what are they doing the Camino de Santiago.

What to see when visiting San Salvador de Valdedios

With three ships, on your walk through the interior of the pre-Romanesque church of Valdedios You will see three apses and the capitals with plant decoration will surely catch your attention.

Likewise, on its walls you can see some remains of the original mural paintings that once completely decorated them, a scene that you must now imagine.

It seems that this type of decorative painting is similar to the one found in the pre-Romanesque church of San Julián de Prados from Oviedo, which I still don't know.

Some of the stones and marbles that you can see in certain elements of the building were recovered from the remains of a ancient roman villa, which occupied the space where the Valdedios church.

The austerity of its interior, which is also shown in the central apse, where its window will catch your attention, creates an atmosphere of placidity that will undoubtedly take you back to the time of splendor of this temple.

Externally, the few windows with lattices and the porch on the south side stand out, which is thought to have been a royal portico.

What to see when visiting the Romanesque church of Valdedios

For its part, Saint Mary of Vadedios It was the largest church built in Asturias during the Romanesque period.

Do not expect to see a small Romanesque temple, but on the contrary you will find yourself in front of a large building with three naves with semicircular apses.

It should be noted that there are two covers that it presents.

La main cover It is made up of three archivolts, but it also has a small doorway on the north façade, on the tympanum of which there is an inscription mentioning the beginning of its construction in 1218, and its author, the teacher Walter.

During your visit you will also be able to see a classicist style cloister which between the 16th and 17th centuries replaced the original Romanesque cloister.

At the beginning of the 50s of the last century, all this monumental complex of Valdedios It was abandoned, and in 1986 the Government of Asturias began a restoration process.

Currently, the visit of San Salvador de Valdedios It is a delight, with the temple completely restored and in a beautiful location surrounded by a large meadow.

In short, the aforementioned, a must on your trip discovering Asturian cultural heritage.

Valdedios visit schedules in Villaviciosa

The Valdedios visiting hours They are, from April to September, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 1:30 a.m. to 13,30:16 p.m. and from 19 p.m. to XNUMX p.m., and from October to March, only in the mornings, being closed to visitors on Mondays.

The guided tours They take place every half hour, starting at 11 a.m., and during them you will be able to see both the pre-romanesque church, such as the Romanesque monastery church.

Ticket prices to visit Valdedios

The ticket prices for complete visit of Conventin and the monastery are 5 euros, and children from 8 to 14 years old, 3,50 euros, with free pass for children under 8 years old.

Photos of the monuments of Valdediós in Villaviciosa

Here you have more photos of the pre-Romanesque church of San Salvador de Valdedios, as well as the Romanesque church of the Valdedios monastery, monuments that you can visit in the Cider Region of Asturias.