Monastery of Fitero

The Monastery of Fitero is a Cistercian abbey featuring a church with three naves and five chapels enclosed by a Renaissance cloister. The complex was constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries and includes the chapterhouse, refectory, and remnants of the dormitory.

The monastery was established in 1140 through a royal donation and placed under the leadership of Raymond of Fitero, who later organized a militia. This militia evolved into the Military Order of Calatrava, transforming the community into a center of both spiritual and military authority.

The monastery displays medieval artworks including an Arabic ivory chest from the 10th century and a remarkable Renaissance altarpiece. These pieces reflect the cultural crossroads where different religious and artistic traditions came together in this space.

The complex is open for visitors on most days of the week, allowing exploration of the church, chapterhouse, and surrounding areas. It helps to allow time for exploring the cloister, which provides good understanding of how the monastery was organized.

The abbots wielded control over the surrounding lands and settlement with both religious and secular authority for centuries. This power ended in 1836 when legal reforms dissolved the monastery's hold and granted independence to the town of Fitero.