The
Convent of Santa Clara
is a cloistered convent belonging to the order of the Poor Clares. It was founded in the 13th century, in 1260, by order of Queen Violante of Aragon, wife of King Alfonso X the Wise, using her dowry and popular donations.
Initially, it was located in the vicinity of the Sarela River. However, due to the poor conditions of the place, it was moved to its current location, on a piece of land donated by the Vidal family, near the so-called Porta da Pena.
Many lineages of the Galician nobility of the time, such as the Moscoso or the Andrade, took some of their wives to this new order. It was enlarged in the XVI century thanks to the donations of Doña Isabel de Granada, abbess of the convent, enlarging the choir to respond to the increase of consecrated women in the temple.
Between the 17th and 18th centuries the building was rebuilt due to lightning damage. This reconstruction fell into the hands of numerous architects, such as Domingo de Andrade, Fray Gabriel Domínguez, Pedro Arén or José Domínguez Bugarín.
The facade of the convent was remodeled by Simón Rodríguez, one of the leading figures of the baroque style in Galicia. It is a false façade, since it does not lead directly to the church, but to the porter’s lodge.
The figure of Saint Clare herself takes center stage in this structure, surrounded by different decorative forms that frame her in the center and highlight her presence. Just above it is the coat of arms of the Order, topped centrally and laterally by three cylinders that give it a touch of modernity.
Inside, at the bottom of a small garden, is the real facade, simpler, which gives access to the church. Inside there is an altarpiece by Domingo de Andrade from the year 1700.
The Convent of Santa Clara has a close relationship with the Camino de Santiago. For centuries, many pilgrims have visited this sacred place on their journey to the Cathedral of Santiago in search of spiritual guidance. The Poor Clare sisters have welcomed these people, giving them a place of rest and prayer. This hospital tradition continues to this day and the sisters welcome those who wish to enter and learn about its history.
The temple celebrates a mass every day at 7:00 pm and a rosary at 6:30 pm. In addition, the lathe is open from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
