In Santa Marta de Tormes, a space has been launched that connects past and present: an exhibition tour and a medieval orchard that evoke the daily life of a former Benedictine convent. The initiative, located in The Fountain, aims to raise awareness of a little-known chapter of local history through horticulture, research, and heritage outreach.
The project was born from the work of the 12 participants of AFE 'Recreatio', with specialization in tourism and horticulture, which has documented the monastic legacy and transformed it into a visitable center and a historic garden. The proposal has institutional support and total funding of €299.754, contributed by the Ecyl (€250.666) and the City Council (€49.088).
Medieval origins of La Serna and the Benedictine convent
The research is based on documentary sources that prove the existence of a Benedictine monastery in the area around La Serna del Vado in Salamanca, today the municipality of Santa Marta. In 1194, King Alfonso IX He granted these lands to the monastery of Santa MarÃa de Carbajal (León), administered by the abbess Aldonza Froile, thus establishing the presence of nuns in the area until the middle of the 13th century.
To reconstruct the monastic context, the team consulted bibliography and archives, with special reference to the work of GarcÃa M. Colombás about San Pelayo de León and Santa MarÃa de Carbajal, as well as medieval references such as the Sankt Gallen plant (9th century) and the Book on the properties of created things Saint Hildegard of BingenThese sources have guided the distribution of spaces and the design of the garden.
What the new exhibition space offers
The center, installed in the old sales office of La Fontana, has been adapted to recreate environments that help us understand convent life. The main hall exhibits a replica of the donation document, accompanied by panels and maps that trace the itinerary of the Dueñas of the Priory of Santa MarÃa de la Serna, their administration of assets, disputes and subsequent documentary trail.
The tour continues through minimalist rooms that evoke the uses and rhythms of the cloister: chapter house with confessional, lectern, choir stall and desk; cell with a bed and kneeler; kitchen with fireplace y traditional pharmacy, and refectory with a table and bench for educational activities. The museography seeks clarity and context, with special attention to historical accuracy.
The medieval garden: design, areas and crops
The six students of the horticulture branch produced the plants in the municipal nursery-greenhouse and later moved the species to their final location in La Fontana. The exterior is organized on a plot of more than 1.600m² that reproduces the functional logic of monastic gardens.
- Hortus (kitchen garden): vegetables and spices intended for daily consumption.
- Herbolarius (medicinal garden): plants with healing uses and traditional pharmacy.
- Pomarius (wooded cemetery): fruit trees and trees in accordance with the convent tradition.
The composition of the garden follows historical descriptions attributed to Hildegard of Bingen and the Benedictine distribution model reflected in the St. Gall Plan, with defined squares, clear paths and plant separations. species selection and the management of the terraces has been adjusted to plausible practices of the time.
A training project with employment impact and public funding
'Recreatio' has offered training for several months to unemployed people in two areas with high demand: tourism and horticulture. Upon completion, participants will receive the certificates of professionalism, enhancing their employability and practical experience in tourism resource management and historic gardening; the initiative includes practical training applied in the garden itself.
The investment amounts to 299.754 Euros, with a contribution from the Ecyl of € 250.666 and the City Council of € 49.088This institutional collaboration has allowed Santa Marta to have a stable resource that enriches the municipality's cultural and educational offerings.
Mural art and environmental enhancement
The exterior of the museum center has been intervened by the local artist Robert Bece, author of three murals that allude to the agricultural uses of the nuns: vineyard, crops, gardens and orchard. At the back, a cloister painted using the technique of trompe l'oeil It provides scenic depth. The whole project was executed in about ten days, following historical clues to reinforce the coherence of the story.
Visits, stay and next steps
The official presentation was carried out by the mayor of Santa Marta, David Mingo, and the territorial delegate of the Board, Eloy Ruiz, along with members of the Corporation and the AFE team. After the inauguration, the agreement was signed in the guestbook, which will be available to those who come to see the place.
The City Council is working to ensure that the space has permanent character, with a system of scheduled visits through appointment and new aid for customer service. As for the garden, formulas will be sought collaboration with urban gardens of the environment, assuming that its conservation requires constant care.
This project brings together local history, practical training and enhancement of the cultural landscape: an exhibition center that documents La Serna's Benedictine past and a historic garden that makes it tangible, expanding Santa Marta's tourist resources and offering citizens a new space to learn and enjoy.
