Monastery of St Saviour, Jerusalem, Franciscan monastery near New Gate, East Jerusalem, Israel.
The Monastery of St Saviour is a Franciscan friary in East Jerusalem, close to the New Gate, built in a traditional basilica style with a notable clock tower. The complex includes a print shop, an organ workshop, and administrative offices that serve the wider Franciscan community in the region.
The land was handed over to Franciscan monks in 1560, following permission granted by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. From that point on, this site became the main Franciscan base within the walled city of Jerusalem.
The monastery houses active educational facilities and a substantial theological library that remain central to its function today. These spaces reflect its ongoing role as a place of learning and spiritual knowledge for the local community.
It is worth calling ahead before visiting to check current access conditions, as parts of the complex are reserved for internal use. Finding your way around is straightforward once you are inside, since the different sections are clearly separated.
The church inside the complex follows a north-south axis rather than the east-west orientation common in most sacred buildings. This was shaped by the plot of land available to the monks when the church was built.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
