Convento de Santa María de Gracia, Religious convent and confectionery workshop in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
The Santa María de Gracia Convent is both a religious community and a working sweets production facility located in the center of Jerez de la Frontera. The nuns make traditional confections here that they sell directly to visitors.
The convent was founded in 1526 and took nearly two centuries before its buildings were finally completed in 1773. This long construction period shows how important the project was for the city.
The Augustinian Hermit Sisters keep their daily spiritual practices alive through prayer and the making of regional sweets. They sell their creations through a small revolving window that shows visitors how the nuns live and work.
The convent sells its sweets through a small revolving window where you can buy directly from the nuns. It makes sense to visit during daytime hours when someone is available to serve you at the window.
In a lesser-known event of 1784, fourteen nuns left the convent and sought refuge in another community. This rare occurrence sheds light on what daily life was really like behind the walls.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.