San Millán de la Cogolla

The visit of San Millán de la Cogolla was something I had wanted to do for a long time. It might be because I have it internalized since I was a kid, when we learned at school that this place is the cradle of two vital languages in Spain: Castilian language (commonly known as Spanish) and Euskera (of the Basque Country).

Or maybe because it has a legacy protected by UNESCO, who declared the monasteries (Yuso and Suso) as World Heritage.

Or maybe, because, despite its fame, San Millán is still humble, small, silent and beautiful. It is crammed in a valley where they say the hermit Emiliano decided to stay, impeding his transfer to the Monastery of Nájera.

Silence, calm, spirituality. Magic places of the rising Christianity in Europe. Monasteries of San Millán: the one of Suso (above) and the one of Yuso down in the valley. Gonzalo de Berceo. Some of the first texts in Spanish. Codex. Miracles of Our Lady. All this cultural and spiritual richness can be found in this village of La Rioja.