Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares, Santiago de Compostela

The Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares is a historic Spanish convent. The monastery has been affiliated with the Benedictine Order since its establishment.

Originally, Antealtares served as a monastery for monks dedicated to San Pedro (Saint Peter). However, during the mid-12th century, it underwent a transition and became dedicated to San Pelayo, the Galician child martyr, replacing San Pedro as its patron saint.

The community of the Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares played a significant role in the devotional and cultural center known as "Locus Santi Jacobi," established by Alfonso II of Asturias during the early 9th century. From the High Middle Ages onward, the monastery focused on various important tasks, including the care of the Altar of the Apostle, providing liturgical services, and offering assistance to the first pilgrims. With the presence of the monks from Antealtares, Compostela became a thriving hub of spirituality and culture.

In 1499, under the orders of the Catholic Monarchs, a reformer named Fray Rodrigo de Valencia designated the Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares as the center for reforming female monasteries of the Benedictine Order in Galicia. This decision was confirmed by papal bulls issued by Innocent VIII and Alexander VI, as well as the authority of the General Chapter of the Congregation of Valladolid on July 23, 1499.

Even after five centuries since the reform, the Monastery of San Pelayo de Antealtares remains the sole monastic presence in Antealtares, representing the continuity of the monastic tradition that has been present in the city of Santiago de Compostela since its early beginnings in the 9th century. The devoted Benedictine nuns of the monastery carry on the legacy of spirituality, cultural heritage, and service that has defined the institution throughout its rich history.