Peralada - Cloister Sant Domènec

The town of Peralda, norheast of Figueres, had some importance during Carolingian times. During the 11th century a monastery was founded here by the Augustinians. Since 1578 Dominicans lived here until the secularisation in 1835. The buildings fell in disrepair all got demolished in the early 20th century. Only the wonderful small cloister from the 12th century survived.

The cloister has seven double pillars on the northern and southern side, while the eastern and western one has have six pairs of columns. The capitals are a bit roughly carved and have some interesting icons.

While the right capital just has a geometric design, the right one has a group of animals. These are for sure no lions (see the "paws"), but judging from heads, toes and fingers, this is a group of apes or monkeys. One of them is on a rope or leash, so there is a parallel to the apes on ropes, that can be found in France, especially in the Auvergne, where these icons are called "singe cordé".