DeborahAnn

Can the public hear the chanting at either morning services or vespers every day of the week or are there just certain services or special occasions/concerts to hear the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo?

thanks for any information you can provide, Deborah

Maribel

Hi DeborahAnn
I just had to look this up for our upcoming visit this Friday.

You can hear Gregorian chant at the following DAILY services:

9 am
1:45 pm
7 pm

On Sundays also at 10:30 am

The cloister is open for visits from 10-1 and 4:30-6. Entrance: 3 euros

Info in Spanish is here:
www.abadiadesilos.es/visitas.htm

lreynold1

Hi, Deborah,

My memory was that you can attend services any day of the week, but I checked it out on their website, and you can see the schedule at:

http://www.abadiadesilos.es/activida.htm

If you can't read Spanish, here are some quick translations:

"These schedules may be modified without advance warning because of the needs of the community."

The chart that you see is the schedule of chants that are open to the public.

The days of the week start with "Lunes" (Monday) and continue across the top. After "domingo" (Sunday), there is a column for "festivos" (holy days). Looks like there are lots of options.

This may be more information than you wanted, but by clicking on the tab "Visitas" you can see the hours for visiting the cloister. Tues-Sat 10-1 and 4:30-6:00 p.m. That 1-4:30 closing has thrown many a wrench into many best laid plans. In my opinion, even though you didn't ask for it either, the cloister is a not to be missed stop for anyone who likes romanesque architecture. It's in incredibly well preserved condition, really takes your breath away (if you like that style, that is).

Laurie

Maribel

DeborahAnn,
I remember that you had planned 3 days in Burgos upon your arrival in May (if I remember correctly...)

so I would combine a day trip to Santo Domingo de Silos with a visit to the charming medieval town of Covarrubias, then a few km. south of town on the BU 911, do a nice walk (very easy on a flat concrete path with guardrail) through the Yecla gorge (hundreds of griffon vultures soaring above), and continue south on the BU 911 to the BU 923 for a visit to atmospheric Peñaranda del Duero.

Its most impressive monument is the Renaissance Palacio de Avellaneda.
The palace rooms have striking coffered ceilings (artesonado) and the pharmacy, Antigua Botica Ximeno, is the second oldest in Spain.

Then you can drive west back to the N I through Aranda de Duero (famous for its Ribera del Duero wines and roast lamb) and back up to Burgos.

At Gumiel de Izán (between Aranda and Lerma), the architect Norman Foster has designed a very striking state-of-the-art, 50 million euro winery for Bodegas Faustino. It should be completed sometime this yr. (We saw it in Nov., and there was still quite a bit of work to be done), but you can see the construction right off the motorway, on the right, after the first exit for the village.

Lerma is also worth a stop to have a look around at the square and the Ducal Palace (now a Parador). If you hit it at lunch time and would like to try the area's superb roast lamb (yes, as good, well almost, as that served in Segovia province), we love the totally charming Casa Brigante right on the square.

It's very atmospheric, with round adobe roasting oven downstairs, open to the dining room, and you can watch your lechazo (roast lamb) being prepared by your chef. A very inviting place with lots of atmosphere and a Napoleonic period theme.

Here's a photo of the place and chef
www.todolerma.com/brigante

DeborahAnn

once again the help on this travel forum is "priceless"

Maribel, after you attend on Friday I would welcome any travel tips you might have. I hope you really do have a "priceless" experience at Santo Domingo

many thanks, Deborah

Maribel

Hi, me again,
As Laurie says, please don't miss the beautiful Romanesque cloister-it's worth the trip down alone.

If you hit the Monastery after 1 (as we have when we haven't planned well or taken too long in Covarrubias) and need a place to dine before the cloister opens again at 4:30, the Tres Coronas is yet another good place to try the area's traditional roasts.

http://tinyurl.com/39z32c

DeborahAnn

Maribel, the sending of our posts must have crossed

I have been doing my homework and with the exception of the vultures, which should be an awesome sight. I did have Covarrubias on my itinerary. I just needed to know how to fit Santo Domingo in the schedule.

Your memory is unbelievable, Maribel, Ron and I do have 3 nights planned in Burgos.

thanks so much for your suggestions. Deborah

Maribel

I'm leaving tomorrow and will return to the forum on April 4. I promise to take good notes for you on Burgos. We're looking forward to the Good Friday processions!

We're staying at the NH Palacio de la Merced. I'll try to pick up brochures for you, so that I can pass more touring info along upon my return.

In the meantime, you can do some research/planning on the official Castilla y León tourism page (has a version in English) at

www.turismocastillayleon.org

DeborahAnn

Maribel, thanks for your help once again. I am wishing you a safe sojourn as well as many monumental memories

I look forward to your return and I promise of back off on the alliteration

Deborah

Maribel

Hi Deborah Ann,
Just an update about Santo Domingo de Silos.

We just came back from a visit on Friday, and I need to advise that timing there is everything!

The Monastery closes tight at 1 p.m., and its last guided visit of the morning (in Spanish) begins at twelve.

We arrived a few minutes after 12, rushed to buy our tickets and were able to join a guided tour in progress. Non-Spanish speaking friends were with us, so I translated.

Although no translation is needed to enjoy the incredible beauty of the two story, irregularly shaped Romanesque cloister with its magnificently preserved capitels.

The reason we joined the group is that we wanted access to the ancient pharmacy and the small museum, whose doors are kept locked-tour guide has the key.

At the 1:45 pm "sexta" services, there is just a small portion of chant. The "fuller' version occurs at 7 pm then at the "completas" at 9:40 pm, (which isn't a handy time to go, particularly since the afternoon visits to the Monastery end at 6 pm, and you'll have the drive from Burgos)

The town itself also closes up tight during siesta, so if you arrive late, you'll have nothing to do until 4 other than enjoy a nice, leisurely lunch,

We stopped in at the Tres Coronas de Silos before lunch, and the aromas really tempted us, but we had a 3 pm reservation at Casa Brigante in Lerma.

So a very full day would be an early departure from Burgos, a stop to see the interesting square, Parador and churches in Lerma (or to buy Lerma wine at Bodegas San Blas across from Parador, or to purchase cheese at Wed. market), then a stop in Covarrubias (the Visigoth Colegiata certainly deserves a look, but you'll need to pay an entrance fee-again, explanation in Spanish), then on to Silos well before noon.

Another important detail:
Don't plan this on Monday when the Monastery is closed! And on Sunday and holidays it's only open from 4:30-6 pm, closed in the morning,

The walk down to the small La Yecla gorge (steps is found after exiting the tunnel, about 2 km south of Silos (sign in white letters on the rock says "Bajada la Yecla&quot. Park the car on side of road and take the walk simply to cool off and get some exercise-takes 5 minutes. No picnic area.

Then you can be at the Palacio de Avellaneda in Peñaranda de Duero for its afternoon opening,

It's a beautiful drive from Covarrubias to Silos following the path of the Arlanza river.

Maribel

Hi Deborah Ann,
Forgot to mention that the visiting hrs. for the Palacio de Avellaneda in Peñaranda de Duero are 10-1:30, then 4-7, and by guided visit only (and in Spanish-typical of this area of Castilla). It's closed Mon.