Convento de San Juan de la Penitencia

The Convento de San Juan de la Penitencia is a Baroque convent in Alcalá de Henares with a church built in Latin cross shape and a recessed facade decorated with stone carvings of religious figures. The complex combines the church with a museum displaying various artworks and historical objects from the religious community.

A cardinal established this Franciscan convent in the early 1500s for spiritual purposes. The community later moved to its current location on the grounds of a former college in the late 1800s.

The name comes from Saint John, known for preaching repentance in Christian tradition, reflecting the spiritual purpose of this place. Today visitors see rooms filled with religious artworks that show how the monks lived and worshipped here.

You can visit the church and museum during regular hours, with guided tours available through the religious complex. It is helpful to check in advance if there are special times or access rules for certain areas.

In the oval sacristy behind the church dome, Franciscan nuns keep a personal testament written by the cardinal who founded this place. This document is a rare record of the convent's origins and has been carefully preserved by the community for centuries.

Location: Alcalá de Henares

Inception: October 11, 1508

Founders: Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Part of: University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares

Address: Calle Santiago, 37

GPS coordinates: 40.48415,-3.36550

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:05