Let an expert guide introduce you to the Cartuja Monastery, also known as the Monastary of Santa Maria de las Cuevas—a religious site with a long, dramatic history. As you discover the monastery’s fine art, architecture, and gardens, learn the stories of how the site has evolved over the centuries.

Meet your guide just outside the grounds of the former monastery and begin your tour with a walk through its beautiful orchard and gardens. Then, move inside for a look at the interior, which has been transformed into a contemporary art museum. Your guide reveals the colorful stories of the expansive walled complex through the centuries, tracing its evolution from a monastery visited by Christopher Columbus, to barracks used by Napoleon’s troops, to an English ceramic factory during the 1800s.

Visit the chapterhouse that contains the crypts of the monastery’s promoters, view the cloister’s chimneys once used to produce world-famous porcelain, and hear about the Spanish kings who frequented the monastery seeking a spiritual retreat. End your tour with time to enjoy the serenity of the gardens, as well as learn about their interesting history, before parting ways with your guide.