Monasterio de San Agustín

Monasterio de San Agustin is a 13th-century monastery complex near Puerta de Carmona in Seville, featuring a Gothic refectory and a main cloister with medieval Spanish religious architecture. The building displays typical Augustinian design with stone construction and original structural elements, some of which remain intact while others have been modified over the centuries.

The monastery was founded between 1248 and 1292 and became the principal establishment among 36 Augustinian convents in Andalusia. French troops occupied the building in 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars, marking a turning point in its function as a religious institution.

The name refers to Saint Augustine, whose life was depicted in paintings by Murillo that once decorated the monastery's interior spaces. These artworks conveyed religious stories that held spiritual meaning for the monks and those who visited.

The building is partially abandoned and has limited accessibility, with some areas preserving their original structure. It is advisable to check current conditions before visiting, as not all parts of the complex are open to the public.

After 1837 the former monastery was converted into a prison where inmates engaged in carpentry and shoemaking. This transformation from a religious space into a working facility reveals how the building radically shifted its purpose.