Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, Toledo

Northwest of the Judería is the Franciscan convent of San Juan de los Reyes, founded in 1476 after the victory over the Portuguese in the battle of Toro as the burial-place of the Catholic Monarchs and their descendants but not completed until the 17th century. The church, begun in 1553, has an Isabelline doorway by Covarrubias, and on the outer walls are the chains of Christians freed from Moorish captivity. Notable features of the sumptuous interior (by Juan Guas) are the friezes of the arms of the Catholic Monarchs supported by eagles in the transepts, the vaulting of the choir gallery and the retablo by Felipe Vigarny and Francisco de Comontes. The cloister (1504), to the southeast, is one of the finest achievements of Late Gothic architecture in Spain. The upper gallery has a very decorative artesonado ceiling.

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Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes Map

Important Information:

Address: Calle de San Juan de los Reyes 2, E-45002 Toledo, Spain

Opening hours: 10:30am-2pm, 3:30pm-6pm; Fri: 10:30am-2pm, 3:30pm-7pm

Entrance fee: Adult Admission Cost

Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.

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Related Attractions

Gate of the Thorn-Bush

Northwest of the San Juan de los Reyes, lower down, stands the imposing Puerta del Cambrón, a double gateway dating from Visigothic times, which was rebuilt in the 11th century by the Moors and again in the 16th century.

Ermita del Cristo de la Vega

From the Puerta del Cambrón a road goes down, passing under the road encircling the north side of the town, to the Ermita del Cristo de la Vega outside the town walls. It occupies the site of a small fourth century church which was rebuilt after 660, when St Leocadius is said to have appeared to St Ildefonso, archbishop of Toledo. Of that church only the apse survives.

Puente de San Martín

From the Puerta del Cambrón a road follows the town walls, from which there are extensive views, to the 30m/100ft high Puente de San Martín, built in 1212 and renovated in 1390, from which there is a magnificent view of the Tagus gorge.