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The cloister of the monastery.
I just got back from visiting the Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos and thought I would share a little information with you about the monastery and the monks that live inside it.
The monastery is located about 45 minutes outside the city of Burgos in a quaint little village known as “Santo Domingo de Silos.” It’s home to a group of Benedictine monks. Certain parts of the monastery are open to the public and visitors can pay three Euros to have a guided tour. On the tour you will see things like the beautifully landscaped cloister of the monastery and some very interesting (and very old) religious sculptures and carvings which line the walls of the complex.
One of the many religious sculptures housed within the monastery walls.
Still, the tour of the monastery was not what I found most interesting about my visit. You see, each day around 7:00 PM there is a vesper held in the abbey church in which the monks of the monastery sing Gregorian chant. The thing that makes this special is that the monks of this particular monastery are very well-known internationally for their Gregorian chant and they even have released two albums — entitled Chant and Chant II — which have actually topped the Billboard music charts. Thus, for me, the most interesting part of the visit to Santo Domingo de Silos was not the actual visit to the monastery. Instead, it was being able to watch the “monk concert” (which, incidentally, was a much more solemn affair than a Kiss concert).
If you’re interested in hearing what these monks sound like when they chant, you can check out their CD on Amazon. You may also be interested in taking a look at their official website. I would absolutely recommend a visit to Santo Domingo de Silos if you’re ever in the area — it’s a visit that can be done in as little time as one afternoon and, whether you’re religious or not, it’s extremely interesting to see how these monks live and to watch them chant.
Hasta luego,
–Chris
http://abroadinspain.com
Hi Chris
Where did you stay in Silos? I am very keen to go there next April , just before I start my camino.
regards
jenny Demmer
@Jenny – Honestly, I just was in Silos for the day. It’s a very small village and really can be seen in just one day. I do believe there are a pair of small “hostels/hotels” in the village though.
Males may be able to stay at the monastery (at least three days but not more than eight) and take time to enjoy the delights of the abbey and its surrounds. As a past pilgrim to Santiago I have stayed there three times and found it so relaxing and exhilirating at the same time. One learns how to “switch off” and that life outside those walls is something to escape from now and then. One must also learn how to spend a good part of one’s time in complete silence and contemplate just how we need “time out”.
@Vincent – Thanks for the information, I didn’t realize that you could stay at the monastery. It’s interesting to know that.
Hi Chris,
I was doing a dogpile search for info on the monks and their chanting and came upon your site. My husband and I will be in Santo Domingo de Silos in May and want to hear the monks chant. My Lonely Planet guidebook says they chant every day at 9AM and at 1PM on Saturdays and at noon on Sundays. You mention a 7PM Vespers. Do you know the official chant times/dates or where I can find out? I looked at one monastery website but it was in Spanish and I did not see anything that seemed to address my question (I do not speak/read Spanish). We are planning our trip and want to be sure we are there at a time that makes sense. Thanks in advance for any advice. Velda
@velda – I took a look at the official site of the monks and found the following link with the times of the various services for the public. The link is here:
http://www.abadiadesilos.es/activida.htm
Lunes is Monday in Spanish and Domingo is Sunday. The days in-between on the table correspond to the days of the week from Monday to Sunday.
Does that help answer your question?
Have just arranged another visit to stay in S.D de Silos for a week and then on to Rabanal del Camino in July to celebrate the Feast of St. James. It has become an annual event for me and, unfortunately, at my rather advanced age, I may not have many more. Sorry I did not discover it many years ago.