Monasterio de las Benedictinas

Monasterio de las Benedictinas, known locally as "Las Benitas," is a historic convent in Jaca, built into the last surviving stretch of the town's medieval walls at the eastern edge of the old quarter.

Where did the nuns come from?

The community's story begins in 1555, when Benedictine nuns from the abbey of Santa Cruz de la Serós relocated to Jaca. The move wasn't arbitrary — Tridentine reforms required women's religious orders to settle within city walls rather than in isolated, hard-to-reach locations. The push for relocation had actually started earlier, in 1547, championed by Bishop Pedro Baguer, and it gained royal backing from Prince Philip — the future Philip II — who personally wrote to the abbot of San Victorián to support the plan. The community has occupied the site continuously ever since.

What's inside the monastery?

The complex is really made up of two churches. The upper church, dedicated to San Ginés, was handed over to the nuns in 1579 by the local brotherhood that shared its name. Beneath it lies something older: the original crypt, an underground church known as Santa María, sometimes also called San Salvador. This lower level holds the oldest architectural traces of the whole complex.

The monastery's most valuable piece is the sarcophagus of Infanta Doña Sancha, daughter of King Ramiro I and sister of Sancho Ramírez — both kings of Aragón. It ranks among the significant works of Romanesque art in the region and points to the monastery's ties to the Aragonese royal court from its earliest days.

How do you get there?

The monastery sits in the heart of Jaca's old town, an easy walk from the cathedral and the main historic sights. Jaca itself lies in Huesca province at the foot of the Pyrenees and is well connected by road to Pamplona and Huesca. Because the building still functions as an active convent, access to the interior can be limited to specific hours or occasions, so it's worth checking current visiting arrangements at the local tourist office before planning a stop.

When is the best time to visit?

Jaca has a mountain climate, so late spring through early autumn tends to be the most comfortable stretch for exploring the old town on foot. The monastery itself, as a living religious community, operates year-round — but it's worth remembering this is still a place of worship and daily convent life, not purely a tourist attraction.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Monasterio de las Benedictinas in Jaca? It's a Benedictine convent founded in 1555, established when the community relocated from Santa Cruz de la Serós. Locally it's known as "Las Benitas."

How many churches make up the complex? Two: the upper church of San Ginés, given to the nuns in 1579, and an older underground crypt known as the church of Santa María or San Salvador.

What is the monastery's most important treasure? The sarcophagus of Infanta Doña Sancha, daughter of King Ramiro I and sister of Sancho Ramírez, regarded as one of the region's key Romanesque artworks.

Is the monastery still home to an active community of nuns? Yes, it has functioned continuously as a Benedictine convent since the 16th century, which is why visiting hours can be limited depending on convent life.