Puntos de Interés
Culture
The Santo Cristo del Priorato Chapel
The Santo Cristo del Priorato Chapel is situated on the fertile Duero River terraces. The monument is situated near the town of Fresnillo and is a prominent historical landmark in the area.
The date of construction of the chapel is not recorded, but there is some evidence that provides an insight into its history. There is evidence that the chapel was the place where the canonesses of the Fresnillo monastery used to go. This sanctuary was established following the separation of the Monastery of Santa María del Coro in La Vid, which was a duplicate monastery. In the 12th century, the Premonstratensian nuns settled in the village of Fresnillo, taking the name of the village, “de las Dueñas”, and in Brazacorta, the men resided in the monastery. The community brought their belongings and goods to the monastery, which was located close to the chapel until its abandonment at the end of the 14th century and beginning of the 15th century.
The chapel was constructed using masonry on the banks of the Duero River. The building comprises a single low rectangular nave, covered with a hipped roof and presided over by a belfry decorated with a semicircular arch and volutes. The exterior of the building features a beautiful coat of arms sculpted in stone, which is said to represent the emblem of the town. The entrance is accessed via a rectangular doorway, and the interior is plain and simple.
There is evidence that the item in question was once part of an ancient set of figures depicting the Descent from the Cross with Joseph of Arimathea, which originally also depicted Mary and Joseph. The sculpture is a Gothic piece carved in polychrome wood, believed to date from the 14th century. It is the only example on the peninsula that conforms to the Italian iconographic variant. This figure held a high value for the local population, with authors such as the Premonstratensian E. Noriega referring to him in 1723 as a miraculous image that the inhabitants worshipped with great devotion and frequency. However, in 1993, the item was unfortunately stolen. It can only be seen today in photos and the remaining records. The decline of the village was significantly impacted by this event, and the chapel was left abandoned until 2008, when it underwent a complete remodelling and was brought back to life.
Conversely, the chapel is the venue for the patron saint's festivities, which are dedicated to the Santo Cristo de Priorato. The events are scheduled to take place on the weekend in mid-May. The commemoration is marked by a procession, a holy mass, children's games, dances and music.