To spot the Convent of Santa Clara, look ahead for a long, rectangular stone building with two floors. The ground floor is lined with repeating arches, almost like a corridor of shadows, while the upper floor is dotted with iron balconies above each arch. It’s set behind a small, leafy courtyard that’s a bit sunken from street level, with elegant greenery and benches inviting you to pause. The convent blends in with its surroundings but gives itself away with those graceful Baroque arches and sturdy stonework.
Alright, you made it! Imagine yourself standing here in front of a building that’s been keeping secrets for centuries. In the 1200s, a group of fearless Franciscan nuns picked this spot-then the edge of Oviedo-to build their peaceful retreat. You won’t find the original Romanesque doorway or all the carved capitals here; legends say they wandered off to another palace in Llanera, perhaps for a quieter life. But what you do see now is the ever-stoic porter’s lodge and the remains of the cloister, which survived expansions, renovations, and a pretty dramatic makeover by an ambitious architect in the 1960s.
The façade you’re facing on Covadonga street stands on a tall stone base, as if it’s bravely pushing back against the city’s hilly terrain. Check out those chunky stone columns rising up-Baroque with a touch of drama! In the center, there’s a shell-shaped niche cradling a statue of Saint Clare herself. If you squint, you might make out a weathered coat of arms above her, a symbol of the order watching over all who pass by.
Now, here’s a fun detail: in the 18th century, workers hurried to finish the cloister before lunch, using only simple units-palms and feet. No fancy rulers for these folks! The three preserved sides of the cloister are pure rhythm, all smooth lines and proud arches.
And let’s not forget that strange twist; in the 1800s, the convent’s vegetable garden was auctioned away and ended up as a metal factory, so Saint Clare went from prayers to pistons next door. You see, life in Oviedo is always full of surprises!
Feel the cool shadow in the cloister, listen to the distant hum of the city. If these stones could talk, they’d whisper about the footsteps of nuns, architects, iron workers, and maybe even a mischievous guide or two.
And now, with your tour nearly complete, take a moment. The Convent of Santa Clara stands as a calm island in a fast-moving city, a reminder that history is never as quiet as it looks. Ready for the next adventure? Let's keep walking!
