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by Josephine Quintero
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| Santa Paula Convents
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Seville is a city rich with convents and monasteries.
Groups of nuns scuttle down the streets going around their daily
business and school girls, dressed in smart plaid skirts and shirts
walk in single file throughout the city.
Although there is restricted entry to many of the
convents, most are inhabited by closed religious orders. Many of
the convents and monasteries are located in La Macarena in the north
of the city and which is a characterful mix of decaying Baroque
and Mudejar churches, old style neighbourhood tapas bars and washing
filled back streets. Its name is thought to derive from the Roman
goddess, Macaria, the daughter of the hero Hercules. La Macarena
is a traditional district and the power of the church is still strong
there.
The best way to enter is to walk north up Calle
Feria to the Basilica de La Macarena, a cult-worship shrine to Seville's
much-venerated Virgin de la Esperanz Macarena. Beside this modern
church stands a restored entrance gate and remnants of defensive
walls which enclosed the city during the Moorish era.
Among numerous churches and convents in this quarter,
are the Monasterio de San Clemente, the Convento de Santa Paula
and the Convento de Santa Clara. Elsewhere in Seville, the Monasterio
de Santa Maria de Las Cuevas is well-worth a visit.
MONASTERIOR DE SAN CLEMENTE
Calle Santa Clara 91
The imposing ancient walls of this monastery shield
a beautiful cloister with fruit trees and palms. This 13th century
was restored for Expo 92 and some galleries and courtyards are open
to the public. The church is also accessible and includes a fine
example of Mudejar architecture with the finely carved ceiling and
tile work dating from 1588. A Baroque main 'retablo' by Felipe de
Rivas is also impressive, as well as the 18th century frescoes by
Lucas Valdes.
CONVENTO DE SANTA PAULA
Calle Santa Paula 11
Convento de Santa Paula (c) Michelle ChaplowLooping
down towards the river, you reach the Monasterio de Santa Clara,
once part of the palace of Don Fadrique, brother of Alfonso X and
with a Romanesque - Gothic tower dating from 1252. A couple of blocks
away are the distinctive columns of the Alameda de Hercules.
This leads back towards the town centre, with two
more churches worth a look on the way, the Renaissance chapel of
the Universidad Antigua and Baroque San Salvador, the latter built
on the site of Seville's first Friday mosque - part of whose minaret
is incorporated in the tower.
CONVENTO DE SANTA CLARA
Calle Santa Clara 40.
This evocative building dates from the 13th century,
however unfortunately only the tower of Don Fadrique can be visited
these days. The hours are from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 17.30 pm
to 19.30 pm.
MONASTERIO DE SANTA MARIA DE
LAS CUEVAS
La Cartuja (Expo site)
This monastery has links with Christopher Columbus
and was later used as a pottery. It has been beautifully restored
and part open as a permanent museum.
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