Convent of Las Dueñas

The Convento de Santa María de Las Dueñas is a Dominican convent in Salamanca with a distinctive pentagonal cloister. The cloister has two levels, with the lower level featuring pointed arches and the upper level displaying straight lintels supported by columns.

The convent was founded in 1419 by Juana Rodriguez Maldonado in her palace, and took its present form when the church and cloister were built in 1533. These two construction phases combined the original palace structure with newly added religious spaces.

The name refers to its purpose as a residence for Dominican nuns, a role that is still reflected in how the spaces are arranged today. The carved capitals on the upper level display elaborate stonework depicting fantastical creatures and plants, showing the artistic ambitions of the place.

The convent is open Monday through Saturday with separate morning and afternoon sessions available. Visitors should check hours in advance and be prepared to walk through both levels of the cloister and the chapel.

The cloister has an irregular pentagonal shape that adapts to the original palace structure and continues to define its layout. This adaptation is visible in how the columns and arches wrap around the uneven corners and edges of the former building.