It is an ancient monastic foundation promoted by the powerful Asturian family of the Vela, specifically by Count Froila and his wife Totilde, maternal great-grandparents of Piniolo Jiménez, who would later carry out the foundation of San Juan de Corias. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, already belonged to the founders from the 9th century. Although the exact date of the monastery’s foundation is unknown, it is assumed to have been established after the year 922. However, there is evidence that it already existed in 937.
It was a female monastery, from which some abbesses from the founders' family are mentioned. It seems to have been a family establishment, under the tutelage of the comital house. It has been considered that it might have been a mixed house, with both a male and a female community sharing the same church. Monks are mentioned from the year 1006 onwards, together with the older female community. During Count Piniolo's time, the monastery benefited from donations that increased its assets, as well as privileges, such as the one granted in 1010 by Alfonso V of León, which is interpreted as a step toward its definitive transformation into a male monastery.
In 1044, with the foundation of San Juan de Corias, San Miguel de Bárcena would come under its authority, although retaining the figure of the abbot. From 1162 onwards, it appears to have been consolidated as a priory, managing its assets under the supervision of Corias. At that time, the church was likely completely rebuilt, leaving only some elements of the previous structure, which can still be seen. The house of Bárcena followed the same developments as the abbey of Corias, including its integration into the Congregation of San Benito of Valladolid. A small priory and its parochial functions were maintained until the confiscation of Mendizábal in 1835.
Window of the pre-Romanesque church
Remains of the north portal
- FLORIANO LLORENTE, Pedro (1975). El monasterio de S. Miguel de Bárcena. Archivum, núm. 25
- GARCÍA ÁLVAREZ-BUSTO, Alejandro; ed. (2020). Asturias monástica. Catálogo de monasterios y revisión histórica arqueológica (siglos XI-XIX). Vol. 1. Anejos de Nailos n.º 7. Ovedo: KRK Ed.
- GARCÍA GUINEA, Miguel Ángel; dir. (2006). Enciclopedia del Románico en Asturias. Aguilar de Campoo. Fundación Santa María la Real
- MARTÍNEZ VEGA, Andrés (2011). Monasterios medievales de Asturias. Oviedo: Cajastur, 2011
- YEPES, Fray Antonio de (1960). Crónica General de la orden de San Benito. Madrid: Atlas
The monastery is in Bárcena del Monasterio, a district of Tineo, to the west of this town