Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, Gothic monastery in Toledo, Spain
The Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes is a Gothic monastery in the Isabelline style located in central Toledo. The church has a single nave with side chapels tucked between the buttresses, and an octagonal dome rises above the crossing.
The Catholic Monarchs commissioned the construction in 1476 to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Toro. Architect Juan Guas led the work and created a building intended as the royal couple's burial site before they later chose Granada for their tomb.
The name honors John the Baptist and recalls the royal couple who sought to consolidate their dynastic power here. The stonework in the lower cloister shows lions, eagles, and other heraldic animals gazing at visitors from between the arches.
The monastery opens daily and sits in the old Jewish quarter, within walking distance from the center. The narrow streets around it can be slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is recommended for the visit.
The exterior walls carry chains and shackles worn by Christian prisoners from Granada during the Reconquista. These metal pieces were brought here after the liberation and attached to the facades, where they remain visible today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
