Il Cartuja Monastery located on the Isla de la Cartuja in Seville, it is also known as Monastero di Santa Maria of the Caves. The monastery was renovated on the occasion of the Expo of '92 and today it is also a fine arts museum.
Article index
- 1 History of the Cartuja Monastery
- 2 What to see in the Cartuja Monastery?
- 3 Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art and Museum of Contemporary Art of Seville
- 3.1 Opening hours and prices Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art and Cartuja Monastery
- 3.2 How to get to the Cartuja Monastery
- 3.3 Hotel near the Cartuja Monastery
History of the Cartuja Monastery
During the twelfth century the area where the Cartuja Monastery it was used for making pottery thanks to the abundance of clay present. This work was then continued by the inhabitants of Triana, the neighborhood of Seville, until according to legend they found an image of the Virgin Mary inside one of the caves and for this they built a small church of Santa Maria de las Cuevas.
Solo in 1400 the Monastery of the Virgin of the Caves was built thanks to Archbishop Gonzalo de Mena and to the financing of the Ribera family. The Order de los Cartujos was also established at the end of the 1810th century. In XNUMX during the invasion by the French the monastery was looted and all the decorations disappeared and the place was used as the headquarters of the French operations and the church was converted into a stable.
A few years after the Monastery of La Cartuja it becomes an English-style ceramic factory, all until 1982 when the factory had to change its location. The building was renovated on the occasion of the 1992 International Expo held in Seville and used as royal pavilion of Spain. In 1997, after a few years of disuse, it became the Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art and Museum of Contemporary Art of Seville.
What to see in the Cartuja Monastery?
Definitely worth a visit, the Cartuja Museum is one of the most interesting places in the city of Seville, it is located not far from the historic center and easily accessible. What to see inside the Monastery? Here is our selection:
- Chain Gate: it is the entrance door to the monastery, in Baroque style and very decorated. Here you can find the tiles with the shield of the Order of the Monks of the Monastery and of the Founder of the same;
- Outside chapel: in baroque style of the seventeenth century, the altar is well preserved inside. This small chapel was used for the sick and the poor;
- Lobby: it is a small patio where it is possible to admire the entrance to the church in Gothic style dating back to the XNUMXth century, on its sides there is a gallery, on the left some archaeological finds are exhibited and you have access to the priory cell.
- The Church: a church dating from the same period as the Seville Cathedral, the facade is in the Gothic style with clear signs of Mudejar decoration and with tiled details. The interior is made up of a single nave and perfectly preserves the decoration of 1614. The three chapels attached to the church are also very important. Chapel of Sant'Ana, that of Santa Catalina and that of San Bruno. Inside the Chapel of Santa Ana Christopher Columbus was buried for over 30 years is in Mudejar style and dates back to the XNUMXth century.
- Sacristy: Do not miss the visit to the sacristy of the sixteenth century, also in Mudejar style with the ashlar interior of the choir. During the invasion by the French, the sacristy was used as a butcher's shop.
- Chiostro Mudejar with marble columns and sloping arches. Through the various corridors present it is possible to access the Refectory, the Maddalena Chapel and the Sala del Capitulo, here it is possible to admire the statue of Juana de Zúñiga and her daughter Catalina buried in the convent Madre di Dio in Via Águilas. Inside the Sala del Capitulo it is possible to observe triumphal arches with the recumbent Christ figures dating back to 1520. Around the church, on the other hand, stood the Great Cloister which today is completely destroyed.
Due to the past as a factory inside the Cartuja Monastery it is possible to meet ovens, industrial buildings and chimneys.
Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art and Museum of Contemporary Art of Seville
Inside the Monastery there is the Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art, also known as the contemporary art museum of Seville opened since 1997, inside you can see exhibitions of modern art and bizarre permanent works of art such as Alicia by Cristina Lucas, or a huge head and an arm that protrude from the two windows of the monastery, inspired (apparently) by Alice in Wonderland. Among other pieces bizarre we find Bus Stop a singular bus stop.
Timetables and prices Andalusian Center of Contemporary Art and Cartuja Monastery
It is possible to visit the monastery and the art gallery at a cost of 3 euros for the complete visit (1,80 € per monument and exhibition) from Tuesday to Friday from 7 to 21, on Saturdays the entrance is free.
- Tuesday - Friday: 7am - 21pm
- Saturday and Monday: 11am - 21pm
- Sunday 11h - 15h
How to get to the Cartuja Monastery
To reach the Cartuja monastery located in Calle Américo Vespucio 2 you have to take bus c1 from the center of Seville, you can get more information by consulting the map below:
Hotel near the Cartuja Monastery
If you want to stay in the Monastero area you can search for a hotel using the form below, you will be offered the best hotels in the area based on quality and price:
- Cartuja Monastery and Seville Contemporary Art Museum
