Monasterio de Santa Clara
14th-century Mudéjar monastery in Moguer, a Columbian site and national monument, visited with a guide and home to a contemporary art room.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Santa Clara monastery in Moguer was founded in 1337 by Alonso Jofre Tenorio, Grand Admiral of Castile, and his wife Elvira Álvarez, the first lords of the town, for a community of Franciscan Poor Clares. It is one of the most important examples of Mudéjar architecture in western Andalusia and covers about ten thousand square metres. Its patrons, the Portocarrero family, turned it into a family pantheon, and for centuries it had great social and religious influence in the region.
The monastery is linked to the discovery of America. Its abbess, Inés Enríquez, corresponded with Christopher Columbus, and the navigator attended a mass of thanksgiving in the convent church in the early hours of 16 March 1493, on his return from his first voyage. The caravel that would become known as the Niña was named Santa Clara. For this reason the site is part of the Lugares Colombinos (Columbian Sites).
After the Poor Clares left, the building passed to the Esclavas Concepcionistas, who ran a school and a novitiate there between 1930 and 1955, and then to the Capuchins, who occupied it from 1956 and ran a philosophy college there until 1975. Declared a national monument in 1931, it has been restored since 1963, including works under the Plan Colón 92 of the Junta de Andalucía. Today it belongs to the Diocese of Huelva, houses the Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro and is visited with a guide.
Highlights
- Mudéjar architecture covering about 10,000 m², founded in 1337
- Convent church, great cloister and lower choir with Nasrid choir stalls
- Tomb of the first lords of Moguer
- Columbian site where Columbus prayed after his return in 1493
- Exhibition room of the painter Teresa Peña
Permanent exhibitions
- Recorrido guiado por el monasterio – Guided visit of the church, the great cloister, the lower choir with Nasrid choir stalls and the tomb of the first lords, with the Columbian history of the site.
- Exposición de Teresa Peña – Contemporary art room with paintings by Teresa Peña Echeveste, whose original works can be bought at the monastery.
- Operated by
- Obispado de Huelva
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50Pensioners and students in general. |
| Seniors | €2.50Reduced rate for pensioners. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50Reduced rate for students in general. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €2.50 per personRate for groups of 20 or more people. |
| Families | €9Family group: parents and children up to 18 years old, from three people. |
Visits are always guided; individual admission costs €3.50.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
Moguer is about 15 km from Huelva. The main access is from the A-49 motorway via the A-494; you can also arrive via the N-422 and the H-624 from Palos de la Frontera, via the A-494 from Almonte, and via the A-486 from Lucena del Puerto. The nearest airport is Seville, about 85 km away.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The online shop and the monastery's gallery sell original works by the painter Teresa Peña.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
The monastery offers catering and celebrations (weddings, communions, corporate events and presentations); bookings are made by phone or through the form on the website.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | All visits are guided. They can be booked using the form on the website or by phone. |
