The monastery of Santa Clara was founded in 1231 by two direct disciples of Santa Clara and it was inaugurated in 1260, so it’s one of the oldest Sta. Clara monasteries in Spain. New constructions were added to the Mudejar building from the 13th and 14th centuries, until the 17th century, a period of great splendor thanks to Sister Luisa de la Ascensión, also known as “the nun of Carrión”. A woman endowed with great talent for music and to whom prodigious deeds were attributed. She was so well known, that even King Filippe III asked her for advice on occasion and thanks to her, that same king granted the town the privilege of the market, which continued to be celebrated on Thursdays. The current number of members in this religious community is small, compared with the old times. The monastery is characterized by having had an uninterrupted life throughout the centuries.
As a peculiar detail, near the entrance there is the Well of Health, also called Well of the Pilgrims, to quench the thirst of those who went to Santiago de Compostela. It also provided water to the people who lived around the patio. Traditionally it’s considered to be exactly in the center of the Camino de Santiago francés.
The monastery houses a museum of sacred art and Nativity scenes, which was opened to the public in 1987, in which various art works and curious everyday objects were preserved by the community over the centuries. A community, which also works in the traditional pastry, making different varieties of sweets that can be purchased in the monastery itself.
