With an intriguing history, elaborate façade and azulejo decoration, this charming monastery exudes majesty and doubles as a place for lodging.
The Convento de los Carmelitas Descalzos is a 17th-century monastery that adds to the tapestry of historic structures woven into the Toledo City Center. The monastery’s spacious nave and chapels are glazed with the azulejo ceramic panels typical of the region. Explore the ornate interior for a glimpse of the artistic styles and traditions of centuries past.
Admire the curved walls of the tower rising from the central portion of the façade, which is composed of exposed brick. A rose window with a cross marks the pediment. Notice the religious sculpture in the center of the front and pass through the arched portal beneath it. As you make your way around the church, appreciate the vaulted ceilings and frescoes portraying biblical scenes.
Enjoy the relaxing ambiance within the church and cool down here on hot summer days. Note that the religious building also serves as a type of hostel, where travelers and pilgrims can lodge, dine and take part in prayer ceremonies.
Consider the extensive history of the convent, in whose initial building it is thought that John of the Cross took refuge following his imprisonment. In the 1830s, the monks were forced out and the monastery took on the role of Minor Seminary of the Archbishop of Toledo. It was handed back to the convent toward the end of the 19th century, around which time many friars were killed in the Spanish Civil War.
Find the Convento de los Carmelitas Descalzos toward the northern end of the city center. Take a bus to a nearby stop or get here on foot from other parts of the historic zone. You can also drive and leave your car in one of the spaces in front of the church. Make sure to visit nearby gems, such as the Mesquita del Cristo de la Luz, the Puerta de Alarcones and the Plaza Santa Clara.
