Iona Nunnery, Medieval nunnery ruins in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Iona Nunnery is the remains of a medieval convent situated on a Scottish island with stone walls, arched passages, and a roofless chapel still standing. The site preserves the layout of the buildings and includes a restored cloister garden bordered by low walls.
This convent was established in the early 1200s as a religious community for women on the island. It operated until the 1580s when the wider dissolution of monasteries in Scotland closed this and other religious houses.
The women here dedicated themselves to prayer and study within stone walls that sheltered a spiritual community. The cloister garden and chapel spaces still carry the sense of devoted daily routines that defined life on this island.
The site is located near other historic buildings on the island and can be visited as part of exploring Iona's religious heritage. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven and weather on the island can be changeable throughout the day.
This is one of just two surviving medieval convents in Scotland, making it a rare example of where women religious once lived and worked. The standing stones and arches still mark the spaces where daily prayers and communal meals took place centuries ago.
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