Valladolid Monasteries
Monastery of Nuestra Señora del Prado
Founded in 1440 by Jerónimo monks. Known as the "El
Escorial" of Vallalolid. Built in the 15th, 17th, 18th and
20th centuries.
It was a Jerónimo monastery, the oldest part is the church
from the era of the Reyes Católicos. It underwent restoration
in the 17th century.Building with three cloisters. The vestry
is rectangular, above it there is a passageway giving access to
the vaults that are decorated with painted plasterwork.
There is an inscription on the façade of the monastery
showing that it was finished in 1726, it is a columnario façade.
Monastery of San Benito
Property of the Council. The foundation of the monastery is due
to Juan I who in 1390 donated it to the Benedictine Order although
the building was began in 1499. Dates to the 15th, 16th, 17th
and 18th centuries.
Church of three naves with arches and the choir below, it was
the head of the Benedictine Order. The portal was built by Rodrigo
Gil de Hontañon between 1569 and 1572. Juan Rivero Rada,
a contemporary of Juan de Herrera, designed the Patio de Contemplación,
which has later been called Herreriano.The patio of the guesthouse
are the Council offices.
The Gothic church is separated in two by a railing. The most important
pieces of work were transferred to the Museo Nacional de Escultura.The
first tomb next to the Gospel belongs to Francisco de Butrón.
It is covered with an arched vault. It is enclosed by Plataresque
railings.
Monastery of San Joaquín and Santa Ana
Felipe V ordered its construction in the 18th century although
Carlos III decided to rebuild it along Sabattini lines.Opened
in 1787.
Neo-classic building with circular church.The church has works
of art on Neo-classic altars by Ramon Bayeu and Francisco de Goya
(those in the Epistle) in his Neo-classic period.There is also
a patio, a choir, a cloister and the Museo de Gregorio Fernández
y Pedro de Mena.
Monastery of Santa Isabel
Sculpture Museum with works by Gregorio Fernández and Juan
de Juni.Founded in 1472. 15th century convent.
Church of only one nave with arched vault. The cloister dates
back to the 16th century and contains cells. Arched chapel and
library. Museum with paintings and sculptures.
The main altar is the same design as the Colegiata de Villargarcía
de Campos and is in two parts and an end room. Next to the Epistle
there is a 16th century altarpiece designed by Juan de Juni.Museum
showing local customs and a kitchen with domestic objects.
Monastery of Santa María de las Huelgas
Founded by Queen Doña María de Molina, wife of Don
Sancho el Bravo, the present monastery was built in 1579, planned
by Juan Ribero y Rada and carried out by Juan de Nates and his
surveyor Sebastian de la Vega.
It is the first building in the city of Vallalolid of Classical
style, following the example of the Iglesia de Villagarcía
de Campos.
The church is in the shape of a Latin cross inside a rectangle,
of one nave divided into three sections by arches resting on columns
decorated with Corinthian capitals and chapels between the buttresses.
The interior contains vaults. The materials used are mortar, brick
and stone columns.Access is gained through a simple square door,
made in stone with a triangular arch.
The monastery included remains from the palace of Doña
María de Molina, one of the gates from the fortified wall
and a 15th century tower with a rose window in Flamígera
tracery.
The chapel of San Bernardo, founded by the Abbess Ana Quijano
de Mendoza, is today a chapter room. It has two sections covered
by arches.Plataresque portal crowned with the coat-of-arms of
the family.
The main altarpiece follows the example of El Escorial, in the
centre of the transept is the 15th century tomb of Doña
María de Molina, made in alabaster.
In 1622 a new cloister designed by Francisco de Praves is built
and the dismantling of the old one is begun.It is square-shaped
and has two floors, the lower one with arches on square pillars
with Tuscany fronts and a stone turret and the upper one of brick
with windows.
There is another cloister, of which little remains, possibly also
the work of Praves.
Monastery of the Domicans Mothers of Santa Catalina
Founded in 1488.Church of one nave covered by tubes in the transept.Renaissance
cloister.
The main altar is the work of Diego Valentín Diáz,
the most important local painter of the Valladolid school of the
17th century.
Next to the Gospel is a painted 17th century altarpiece and a
Crucifix by Juan de Juni, who is buried in the church along with
the rest of his family.
In the nuns' choir at Easter the Cristo Yacente by Gregorio Fernández
is on display.
Valladolid guide