The building where I live is right in front of the convent of Santa Clara (founded in 1369), but I can’t actually see it from my own windows. I’m watering friends’ plants this week, so I took a shot of the convent this morning from their balcony.
On Sunday, I ventured inside the convent walls on a free guided tour. They didn’t show us much, just the church part and a couple of pretty interior patios. We were not allowed to take photos, and no access was granted to the archives, art collections or other much more interesting parts of this vast medieval building complex.
Santa Clara is home to just three resident nuns, the youngest of whom is 82. It’s pretty much the same story in all of Toledo’s convents and monasteries, of which there are dozens. In a decade from now, there is going to be nobody left, and what will happen to these properties and their hidden treasures then…?
Cool Door. Held open by my friend Catalina.
Saturday’s totally delicious dinner of tuna and stir fried vegetables in a new restaurant/bar just five minutes from my house. I can’t wait to have this again 🙂
Lady Of The Cakes 
Oh yes! cool door, yummy dinner and what IS going to happen to the buildings? Museums? Conversion to flats? Interesting question…
So what CAN you see from your apartment?
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I can’t see anything beyond the interior patio… pretty dull. But at least it has plenty of greenery 🙂
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I bet you didn’t mention nuns’ nasties when you were there – I bet you were as good as gold 😉
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I was… but my camera finger was twitching really badly… especially in view of all those life-size effigies enshrined in the walls. One of them was a dead ringer for Conchita Wurst!
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Ha! Now that would be worth a photo! 🙂
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That tuna looks perfect! The convent isnt so bad either.
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The tuna was perfect. More like really tender meat rather than “fishy”.
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Now even the restaurants are conspiring to keep you in Toledo!
That tuna does look delicious 🙂
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I’m never gonna leave… it’s like flippin’ Royston Vasey!
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The food looks dee-lish and that door is very cool. They don’t build ’em like that anymore, that’s for sure.
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It’s all plastic these days. Even the knockers 😉
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No kidding.
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What, doesn’t anyone want to be a nun anymore, then? Why aren’t they training up the new ones…?
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Yeah.. pop the habit on and the cork in, there can’t be much more to it than that, surely?!
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🙂
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love those old doors! hey, weren’t you moving to Madrid?
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Yes… I was… but I’m not doing anything to make it happen… evidently. Sigh. 😉
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there’s no hurry tho right?
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Not really… I just can’t seem to get my act together, the weeks pass by, life’s fairly entertaining… och, I dunno….
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😉
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What a beautiful building! I love the variegated roof tiles, and of course the amazing doors.
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Toledo’s the town for someone with a door fetish…
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Yeesh! The YOUNGEST is 82?! Guess they don’t make nuns like they used to, eh? What a remarkable slice of history and want a yummy looking couple slices of tuna… Argh! Mouth watering… mind wandering…
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I’ll swap you some tuna for your delicious pumpkin soup!
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Deal!
But wait.. they STILL haven’t invented a transporter yet?!?
Sheesh!
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Get to it, Sheldon Cooper!!!
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That door is quite fabulous : )
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I’ll tell you what will happen to those monasteries – I’ll impulse buy one and relocate! They’re gorgeous, and I love the door 🙂
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You may be in luck. They’re going cheap right now. Something about the Vatican’s mounting legal bills…
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Those spendy Catholics…. 😛
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Go buy that convent. I’d only have to move 200 yards. Can I have the East wing?
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Haha! It’s all yours!
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Thanks 🙂 You can have the church, and all the scary-looking Saint dollies.
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I would love to have that view from my window 🙂 Convents and monasteries are so interesting 🙂 I love peeking into them. The tuna looks super yummy! 🙂
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I just see an interior patio…. not very exciting 😦 I had that tuna again last night. It’s becoming a serious addiction!
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