Santa Maria de las Cuevas, Seville
The Santa María de las Cuevas Monastery, commonly known as the Cartuja Monastery, is a historic religious structure located on Seville's Isla de La Cartuja. This expansive, walled complex, built from honey-toned stone, has experienced a varied and eventful past.
Its history includes hosting monks who greeted Christopher Columbus, serving as Napoleon’s troop barracks, operating as a ceramic factory under an English manager known for exquisite porcelain, and currently functioning as a center for contemporary art and an outdoor music venue.
Dating back to the 16th century, the monastery features an impressive entrance, a lake-bordered property, a domed church with several chapels and Mudejar-style cloisters, multiple courtyards, a dining hall with a wooden beamed ceiling, a crypt, and a chapterhouse with burial sites.
According to legend, the area's Moorish settlers once dug caves here for clay extraction to craft pottery. In 1248, a statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered, leading to the establishment of the Virgen de la Cuevas shrine.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the monastery was repurposed as a military barracks by French forces, causing considerable damage. The monks returned in 1812, only to leave again in the 1830s due to the closure and seizure of numerous religious sites.
Today, the monastery houses the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo (CAAC), which showcases various exhibitions and events. It also hosted the Seville international art biennale (BIACS) three times (2004, 2006, and 2008) and annually welcomes the Interestelar music festival in May. For the 1992 Seville Expo, the monastery was refurbished and used as the Royal Pavilion, the expo's primary venue.
Its history includes hosting monks who greeted Christopher Columbus, serving as Napoleon’s troop barracks, operating as a ceramic factory under an English manager known for exquisite porcelain, and currently functioning as a center for contemporary art and an outdoor music venue.
Dating back to the 16th century, the monastery features an impressive entrance, a lake-bordered property, a domed church with several chapels and Mudejar-style cloisters, multiple courtyards, a dining hall with a wooden beamed ceiling, a crypt, and a chapterhouse with burial sites.
According to legend, the area's Moorish settlers once dug caves here for clay extraction to craft pottery. In 1248, a statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered, leading to the establishment of the Virgen de la Cuevas shrine.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the monastery was repurposed as a military barracks by French forces, causing considerable damage. The monks returned in 1812, only to leave again in the 1830s due to the closure and seizure of numerous religious sites.
Today, the monastery houses the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo (CAAC), which showcases various exhibitions and events. It also hosted the Seville international art biennale (BIACS) three times (2004, 2006, and 2008) and annually welcomes the Interestelar music festival in May. For the 1992 Seville Expo, the monastery was refurbished and used as the Royal Pavilion, the expo's primary venue.
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Santa Maria de las Cuevas on Map
Sight Name: Santa Maria de las Cuevas
Sight Location: Seville, Spain (See walking tours in Seville)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Seville, Spain (See walking tours in Seville)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in Seville, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Seville
Creating your own self-guided walk in Seville is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Seville Introduction Walking Tour
19th-century American writer Washington Irving noted that in Seville “the past lingers like perfume.”
Seville is the largest city and provincial capital of Andalusia, located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Ancient tradition credits the city’s foundation to Hercules. Historically, early Phoenician settlers called the site Hisbaal, invoking the god Baal, a name later Latinised by... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
Seville is the largest city and provincial capital of Andalusia, located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Ancient tradition credits the city’s foundation to Hercules. Historically, early Phoenician settlers called the site Hisbaal, invoking the god Baal, a name later Latinised by... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.9 Km or 3 Miles
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In his famous book Don Quixote, Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes referred to Seville as a city where the bustle of life never seemed to stop.
Old Seville, the historic heart of the Andalusian capital, reflects more than two thousand years of cultural layers. The area developed along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, which for centuries connected the city to the wider Mediterranean world.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Old Seville, the historic heart of the Andalusian capital, reflects more than two thousand years of cultural layers. The area developed along the banks of the Guadalquivir River, which for centuries connected the city to the wider Mediterranean world.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Flamenco Walking Tour
They say if it's Flamenco – it's Andalusia, and if it's Andalusia – it's all about Seville. Indeed, with its roots deeply embedded in the Andalusian culture, Seville is a prime destination for experiencing the essence of Flamenco and is largely considered to be the home of this fiery dance.
Flamenco sites are found all over the city – in bars, theaters, or specialized... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Flamenco sites are found all over the city – in bars, theaters, or specialized... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
16 Uniquely Spanish Things to Buy in Seville
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