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Monastery of Santa Clara la Real

The Monastery of Santa Clara la Real is a convent of Poor Clare nuns in Murcia, built on the site of a former Islamic palace. Visitors can explore the remains of the Alcázar Menor (12th-13th centuries), which include a large longitudinal pool measuring 27.5 x 7.50 m discovered virtually intact, a portico with three scalloped arches and a fountain, and a hall with original plasterwork. The 12th-century cruciform courtyard of the Mardanish palace is also preserved, with walkways, cross-shaped channels and a qubba. From the convent period, visitors can see the Gothic cloister with double arcading, the raised choir with a star-ribbed vault and paintings of dragons, and the 17th-century Baroque church with a latticed façade and Rococo interior decoration. The Museum of Santa Clara has two sections: Andalusi Art and Archaeology, with architectural remains such as carved wood, plinths with ataurique ornamentation, plasterwork and a muqarnas ceiling, plus pieces from the Archaeological Museum of Murcia such as gold hoards and dirhams; and Times of Silence, with sacred art from the monastery, including the altarpiece of St Clare by Jerónimo Ballesteros, works by Salzillo and Roque López, and paintings by Senén Vila.

Things to do at Monastery of Santa Clara la Real: 9 missions

• Visit the Monastery of Santa Clara la RealVisit the Monastery of Santa Clara la Real in Murcia and see the place for yourself.
• Visit the Church of Santa ClaraSeparate from the Museum visit, the baroque convent church has a rich collection of altarpieces and religious images.
• View the palace porticoThe palace's pool and gardens are preceded by an elongated portico made up of three scalloped arches, with small raised alcoves along its sides and a fountain in the centre.
• See the palace pool and courtyardThe monastery cloister partially recreates the original layout of the great open space of the Hudid palace, with a large longitudinal pool measuring 27.5 m x 7.50 m along the north-south axis and four leafy rectangular…
• Explore the Section of Islamic Art and ArchaeologyExplore this section, which displays architectural remains of the palace, such as stuccowork, muqarnas and calligraphic inscriptions, together with pieces from the Archaeological Museum of Murcia.
• Explore the Section of Andalusi Art and ArchaeologyLocated in the northern hall of the Hudid palace, it displays architectural remains such as carved and decorated woodwork, plinths with ataurique carving, carved and painted plasterwork, and the remains of a muqarnas…
• Discover the Patio de CruceroDeep excavation of the floor of the northern hall of the 13th-century palace led to the discovery of the remains of a large 12th-century cross-shaped courtyard belonging to the palatial complex that Ibn Mardanish…
• Admire the palace hallBeyond the portico of the Hudid palace stands the elegant doorway of the palace hall, which retains original plasterwork.
• Visit the Santa Clara MuseumYou can visit the Murcia Archaeological Museum's collection of Islamic archaeology, another of sacred art from the monastery, as well as the interior of the cloister and the upper choir, through the so-called Santa…

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