The causes and the consequences of the 1951 fire at the Monastery of San Julián de Samos. New data to be studied

Abstract

During the morning of 24^th September 1951, a fire began in the monastery of San Julián de Samos (Lugo-Spain) and soon it was spread across its rooms. In the present article we propose, on the one hand, to analyze what were the causes of the beginning of the fire and, on the other hand, what were its consequences on the monastic architecture. In other words, we aim to know what was the state of the religious house at the end of the fi re, which took place on 26^th September, and just before the beginning of the first works made to accomplish its restoration, two months later. In order to achieve these goals, we carry out the revision of the existing bibliography as well as the search of new documental written and graphic sources. The reading and detailed study of all of them allow us to contribute new data about the image of the monastery after this disaster and to accurately determine not only the remains but also the losses that this accidental event caused in this ancient monastic complex.