Visiting the kitchen of an old medieval monastery

Medieval monasteries could be considered a metaphorical universe, where everything had a meaning and a function and each room, on its own merit, formed a comparative star that revolved around the macroscopic monastic galaxy.

From this point of view, having the opportunity to access the interior of one of them, therefore, entails the fascinating cultural adventure of getting lost in its different rooms and beginning a particular journey through time, in which design and functionality offer other learning perspectives, both entertaining and fascinating.

One of these rooms, without perhaps having the spectacular nature and prominence of other common and more elaborate rooms, such as the Chapter Rooms or meeting rooms, but with a fascinating and more mundane interest, were, without a doubt, the kitchens.

They were usually connected to the so-called cilla or warehouse where the provisions were stored and also to the so-called refectories: dining rooms serving the physical maintenance of the community of monks who inhabited it.

In fact, in the thick wall that separated the kitchen from the refectory, there was always a small, narrow window through which the monk cooks distributed the food to the rest of the brothers, who passed in a row and in silence, with their bowls ready, in a similar way to how many current catering services do it, following customs that, as you can see, were already invented, at least, in the 12th century.

On the other hand, when talking about refectories or dining rooms, I can also assure you that you will rarely have the opportunity to see one as beautiful, harmonious and balanced as this refectory of the medieval monastery of Santa María de Huerta in Soria, located in the Jalón Valley, a short distance from the border with lands, those of Aragon, also full of beauty and mystery.

The kitchen, returning to the subject at hand, is also one of the best in condition, despite the permanent layers of soot that cover, like an unalterable enamel, its ceiling and its wall and that, in a dreamy way, bring to the imaginative nose of the traveler, the smell of food, which, not for having less elaborate ingredients, bring to mind those old recipes that were also the precedent of many of those traditional meals, which, today, are part of another monumental universe: Gastronomy.

In short, a visit that, of course, is worthwhile and at the same time, provides us with a romantic vision of many cultural aspects, which, after all, make us think that many of the things we enjoy today are not new in the light of this sun that illuminates us.

NOTICE: Both the text and the photographs that accompany it are my exclusive intellectual property and therefore, are subject to my Copyright.

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