Monastery of San Pedro de Vilanova
Mosteiro de Vilanova de Dozón / San Pedro de Dozón / Vila Nova / Dezum
(Dozón, Pontevedra)
The monastery of San Pedro de Vilanova, of Benedictine nuns and also known as San Pedro de Dozón, was founded in 1154 by Guntrode Suárez, widow of Pelayo Martínez, who became its first abbess. It is likely that, before this foundation, the site had already hosted some monastic activity. Alfonso VII († 1157) formalized the donation of several churches to San Pedro, an act later confirmed by Sancho IV.
North portal
This royal protection was also evident during the reign of Ferdinand II of León, who granted the monastery new privileges. San Pedro de Vilanova maintained a close relationship with the nearby monastery of Santa María de Oseira (Ourense), particularly in economic matters. In 1499, it was forcibly annexed to the Congregation of San Benito de Valladolid, following accusations of relaxed customs and improper behavior by the abbess. That same year, the monastery was incorporated into San Paio de Antealtares (Santiago de Compostela), sharing the fate of other Galician female monastic houses.
Of the original monastery, only the church remains, a small Romanesque building with a single nave, well-preserved, which likely replaced an earlier construction from the founding period. It is believed that the current church was built in the early 13th century. It features three portals and an apse divided into five sections, three with openings and two that are blind.
North portal
Western portal
Western portal
Blind window of the apse
Apse window
South portal
Photo by José Antonio Gil Martínez, on Wikimedia
- FERNÁNDEZ DE VIANA, José Ignacio (2009). Colección diplomática do mosteiro de San Pedro de Vilanova de Dozón. Santiago de Compostela: Consello da Cultura Galega
- FREIRE CAMANIEL, José (1998). El monacato gallego en la alta edad media, vol. II. La Corunya: Fund. Pedro Barrié de la Maza
- GARCÍA GUINEA, Miguel Ángel; dir. (2012). Enciclopedia del románico en Galicia. Pontevedra. Aguilar de Campoo: Fundación Santa María la Real
- PÉREZ RODRÍGUEZ, Francisco Javier (2008). Mosteiros de Galicia na Idade Media. Ourense: Deputación Provincial de Ourense
- REGAL, Bernardo; i altres (1973). Galice romane. La Pierre-qui-Vire: Zodiaque
- ROMANÍ, Miguel; i altres (2003). Documentación del fondo de Oseira (AHN) relacionada con el monasterio San Pedro de Vilanova de Dozón (1015-1295). Cuadernos de Estudios Gallegos. 50-116
- ZARAGOZA PASCUAL, Ernesto (2002). Reforma de los monasterios de Lobás, Dozón y Ansemil (1498-99). Cuadernos De Estudios Gallegos, num. 49
San Pedro de Vilanova is located in the eastern part of the province of Pontevedra, near the route connecting Santiago de Compostela with Ourense