Royal Convent of Santa Clara, Tordesillas, Spain

The Santa Clara buildings were originally built by King Alfonso XI as his palace in 1344. His son Peter the Cruel had it embellished by Mudéjar artists, beautiful works at Santa Clara, though on a much smaller scale than they did in the Alcázar of Seville. The facade, a lovely small patio, a chapel and the baths remain of Peter the Cruel's palace. Blanche de Bourbon was held here after her abandonment by Peter for María de Padilla in 1353. The former portal, blocked off now, has a particularly fine Mudéjar doorway. In 1363 he ceded Santa Clara to two of his daughters by María de Padilla. They turned it into a convent, but it retained its role as a royal palace.

Santa Clara convent's saddest association is with Joanna I Queen of Castile and Aragon, the daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, widow of Philip I of Castile and mother of his six children including Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor - popularly known as Juana la loca (Joanna the mad) - who was confined here for almost half a century until her death in 1555.

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User Reviews

Woody Maynard (15 months ago)
Only does guided tours, & only in Spanish, so not very inclusive to tourists, so game over, really. Gets two stars rather than a petulant one because it meant, on the last day of my holiday, I didn’t have to endure yet another God awful, boring as Hell medieval ecclesiastical building.

Julia Piroddi (16 months ago)
Spectacular. Amazing experience ?? Definitely worth a visit.

Carmen Toro (2 years ago)
Such a beautiful place. We took a tour throughout the place guided by a local historian. The architecture is awesome and so well preserved. Tordecillas is a must if you enjoy history.

JJ SG (3 years ago)
The place is full of history and surprises. The guide was very good and friendly and took us in journey through the history of Spain

alvaro tascon (4 years ago)
Expectacular

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