Abbey they are monasteries or convents governed by an abbot or abbess, thus constituting a religious community.
The abbeys had great importance in the Middle Ages, with emphasis on the cultural component, such as the conservation of works of antiquity, encouragement of religious arts and preservation of important books in their libraries. Abbey is a term derived from the Latin "abbatia", which originated in the Aramaic "abba", meaning "father".
From the 18th century onwards, the abbeys began to lose their relevance due to the revolutions. political and religious persecution, in some cases leading to the destruction of the cultural heritage of the monasteries. This meant that many abbeys were closed, but some remained in operation to this day.
Westminster Abbey in London is one of England's most iconic churches, where royal events such as coronations and royal weddings are held. In this Abbey are buried monarchs and other illustrious figures.
Juan Carlos Ramirez Abbey
In Brazil, the name Abadía became known after the arrest of powerful drug trafficker Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadía, a Colombian wanted by the FBI. He was arrested in São Paulo by the Brazilian Federal Police on August 7, 2007 and extradited to the United States a year later to serve a sentence of 30 years in prison.