Discalced Carmelite College of St. Cyril

Discalced Carmelite College of St. Cyril is a former Carmelite college and convent in Alcalá de Henares, now part of the historic complex of the University of Alcalá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building sits in the city centre, only a short walk from the university's main courtyard, and although little remains of the original monastic structure, its history is tied to one of the defining moments in the story of the Discalced Carmelite order.

Who founded the college, and when?

The college was established in 1570 by friar Francisco Espinet. Its first rector was John of the Cross, the mystic, poet and future Doctor of the Church who stood at the centre of the Carmelite reform movement. The new foundation also had the backing of the Princes of Éboli and of Teresa of Ávila, a sign of how much weight was placed on it from the outset.

Why is it called St. Cyril's College?

The college was originally dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Its name changed in 1581, during the chapter that formally split the Discalced Carmelites from the older branch of the order. Because the proceedings fell on the feast day of Saint Cyril, the college took his name as its definitive title.

What makes this site significant for the order?

1581 brought more than a new name: within these walls, the Discalced Carmelites held their first general chapter as an independent branch of the order. It was the formal act that established them as a fully separate community, a turning point for their subsequent history in Spain and beyond. Alcalá de Henares was, in effect, the place where the order first gathered on its own terms.

What happened to the building after the monastery closed?

The complex's fortunes changed sharply in the 19th century. Between 1882 and 1978, the former college-convent operated as a women's prison known locally as "La Galera." Over a century of use for an entirely different purpose meant that little of the original monastic fabric survived intact.

What is there to see today?

The simple monastery church is the part of the complex that has been preserved. Once the prison closed, the building passed to the University of Alcalá, which now uses it as a university theatre — fittingly still named "La Galera" after its years as a jail. The site remains active today, just in a role far removed from the one it was originally built for.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the building located?
In the centre of Alcalá de Henares, right next to the buildings of the University of Alcalá.

Is it still a working monastery?
No. After serving as a women's prison from 1882 to 1978, the building became part of the university, and its former church now functions as the "La Galera" university theatre.

What is its connection to St. John of the Cross?
He was the college's first rector when it was founded in 1570 by friar Francisco Espinet.

Why was the name changed to St. Cyril's?
During the 1581 chapter that separated the Discalced Carmelites from the older branch of the order, the proceedings coincided with the feast of Saint Cyril, whose name replaced the original dedication to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.