La Rábida Friary

La Rábida, Spain

The Friary of La Rábida (Convento de Santa María de la Rábida) is a Franciscan friary in Palos de la Frontera. It was founded in 1261; the evidence is a papal bull issued by Pope Benedict XIII in that year, allowing Friar Juan Rodríguez and his companions to establish a community on the coast of Andalucia. The first Christian building on the site was constructed over a small pre-existing Almohad building that lends its name (rábida or rápita, meaning 'watchtower' in Arabic) to the present monastery. The Franciscans have held great influence in the region ever since.

The buildings standing on the site today were erected in stages in the late fourteenth century and the early fifteenth century. The friary, and the church associated with it, display elements of Gothic and Moorish revival architecture; their walls are decorated with frescos by the twentieth-century Spanish artist, Daniel Vázquez Diaz (1882-1969). There is also a cloister and a museum, where numerous relics of the discovery of the Americas are displayed.

The buildings on the site have nearly 1,858 m2 of floor space and an irregular floor plan. Throughout its five hundred years of existence, the monastery has been refurbished and repaired countless times, but the most extensive modifications were undertaken as a result of damage from the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

Christopher Columbus stayed at the friary two years before his famous first voyage, after learning that King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella had rejected his request for outfitting an expedition in search of the Indies. With the intervention of the guardian of La Rábida and the confessor to Isabella, Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, he was able to have his proposal heard.

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Founded: 1261
Category: Religious sites in Spain

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Jacob Wuenschel (8 months ago)
I only stopped for the restrooms, which ended up being closed. I was pleased with the beautiful garden. The statue of Christopher Columbus was really interesting and had a lot of character.
Sonya Miteva (13 months ago)
An interesting place to visit. This Franciscan monastery is best known for the visit of Christopher Columbus in 1490 and his consultation with the Franciscan monks about the circumnavigation he was planning. Here he stands for two years. Currently, many relics from the discovery of America are exhibited here. The monastery consists of an authentic-looking church and a statue of Our Lady of Miracles, in front of which Columbus prayed for hours before setting off with his crew for the New World, and a hermitage with a garden, which has been converted into a Columbus museum. There is an exhibit hall where the flags of each of the countries in the Americas are on display and a small sealed vessel containing soil from the New World. Surrounding the courtyard are frescoes in a pre-cubist style done by the Spanish artist Daniel Vazquez Díaz in 1930. The subject of these paintings is Columbus and his expedition. Set aside at least half a day, as it is an interesting place, and around it there is a garden, a park, and nearby is the museum with Columbus's three caravels. Near to the monastery is José Celestino Mutis Botanical Park
Md Ashif Imran Yousuf (19 months ago)
Historic place. The nature all around is mind blowing. Interesting for the ones who like the history of C.Columbus and discovery of the America Sailor Imran
Tobias Madigan (2 years ago)
A thrilling experience to be in a very low-crowd, low tourist place where Columbus actually prayed and networked. - Well preserved, quiet, inspiring. - Very well done Museum with excellent English audio guide included and exquisitely friendly staff. Almost felt like I was in my hometown they were so nice. - Great art from contemporary times also gives and updated look into this place that changed the world forever. 500+ year old chapel and courtyards a must see. - the only negative was a film crew that was a bit rude in some of the rooms. Maybe that should be done on the day it’s closed.
Wilbur Torres (2 years ago)
Small but nice. They have audio guide de vicesecretario. Rich in history of Christopher Columbus.
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