In the Monastery of Suso, which used to be a Visigothic cenobium of the VI century, were found the first phrases written in these languages. One of the principal scriptoria of the peninsula has been maintained in the Monastery of Yuso for centuries.
The XXI World Heritage Convention of the UNESCO, in the Italian city of Naples on December 4, 1997, included these ‘emilianense’ monasteries in the World Heritage list.
In San Millan, there has been for years an aspiration for the recognition of the decisive role of these two cenobiums of La Rioja in the history of Spain, of the religious communities in the peninsula, and most specially, of the Spanish language. After obtaining the recognition from the UNESCO, a very intense work of restoration began that has continued uninterruptedly for 15 years. There have also been efforts to make San Millan de la Cogolla a cultural research center of the Spanish language.
For this purpose, annexed to the Monastery of Yuso, the Centro Internacional de Investigación del Español (Cilengua) – International Research Center of the Spanish Language has been created. It has become the first center in its field of research. Likewise, it organizes activities that deals with the Spanish language at the international level.
Investment
In order to offer the best image possible to visitors, an intense restoration began in 1997 that practically has been done in the two monasteries. Since then, an investment of 20 million euros has been spent in both monasteries, first in Suso, which has been closed for more than two years, and then in Yuso, whose master plan is already finalized.
The government of La Rioja has invested some 12 million euros in the said project, while there rest of the expenses was assumed by different ministries, foundations, companies, and by the Order of Augustinian Recollects, which has a religious community in Yuso in-charge of the tourism, maintenance of the building and the spiritual needs of the small towns within the valley.