Convento de San Juan de la Penitencia

Convento de San Juan de la Penitencia is a historic Franciscan convent in Alcalá de Henares, in the Madrid region, known locally as "de las Juanas". The site carries several layers of history, from a Renaissance-era religious foundation to today's exhibition hall and an active convent community.

Who founded it, and why?

The convent was established in 1508 on the initiative of Cardinal Cisneros, one of the most influential figures of the Spanish Renaissance and the founder of the Complutense University. From the start, the building served three purposes at once: a convent for Franciscan nuns (Poor Clares), a school for girls from poor families, and a hospital for women. Combining all three under one roof was unusual for the period and reflects how ambitious Cisneros's vision was for the growing university town.

Why did the convent move buildings?

The original convent stood on what is now Calle San Juan and occupied an entire city block, with eleven courtyards separating its different functions. After the 19th-century disentailment, when church property across Spain was confiscated and sold off, the building passed into private hands. It wasn't until 1884 that its new owners donated it back to the Franciscan nuns, who relocated to a different building nearby: the former Augustinian college of San Nicolás de Tolentino on Calle Santiago, constructed from 1616 onward. This is the building where the convent still operates today as a living religious community.

What can you see there?

The original convent church has served since the 1960s as an exhibition space known as Casa de la Entrevista, a name that commemorates the legendary meeting between Christopher Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs, traditionally said to have taken place in Alcalá de Henares. Restored by the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica, the space now functions as a gallery and library.

Inside the convent itself, a small museum displays a copy of Cardinal Cisneros's will, his crosier and pectoral cross, along with artworks from the 16th and 17th centuries — a rare chance to see objects directly tied to the founder of the university town.

How do you visit?

Because it remains an active convent, visiting is limited to set dates. Individual guided tours run on the second Saturday of each month at 11:45 AM (except during Holy Week and religious holidays), with a symbolic ticket price of €3. Groups can arrange a visit on other days of the week, excluding Sundays and church holidays, by booking ahead by phone or email.

When should you go?

Plan your visit in advance and check the current tour schedule, since access to this partly cloistered building is limited and guided-tour slots can fill up quickly — especially during Alcalá de Henares's busy tourist season, given the city's UNESCO World Heritage status.

Frequently asked questions

Is the convent still in use? Yes. Franciscan nuns still live and worship in the building on Calle Santiago — this isn't an abandoned monument but an active religious community.

Can you visit every day? No. Individual tours are offered only once a month, on the second Saturday. Group tours can be arranged on other days with advance booking.

What is the connection to Christopher Columbus? The former convent church, now the Casa de la Entrevista exhibition hall, commemorates the traditional site of Columbus's meeting with the Catholic Monarchs in Alcalá de Henares.

Is the museum worth visiting? Yes, particularly for anyone interested in Cardinal Cisneros — it holds personal items connected to the founder of both the university and the convent.