Convento de San Pedro Mártir facts for kids
The Convento de San Pedro Mártir (which means Convent of Saint Peter Martyr in English) is a very old and important building in Toledo, Spain. It was originally a Dominican convent, which is a type of religious community for monks. In 1407, the convent moved from its first location outside the city walls to some houses given by a woman named Doña Guiomar de Meneses. Over time, it grew and changed, becoming one of the richest and most important convents in Toledo.
This huge convent is built around three main courtyards. The one closest to the entrance is called the Real (Royal) courtyard. The smallest one is known as the Silencio (Silence) courtyard. And the courtyard called Naranjos (Orange Trees) or Procesiones (Processions) is located next to the church.
History of the Convent

The Oldest Parts
The courtyard known as the Silencio (Silence) is the oldest part of the convent. It might have been a regular house before it became part of the convent. This courtyard has three floors. The bottom floor has rounded arches resting on columns. Some parts, especially on the north side, have pointed arches. The columns and their tops (called capitals) are made of marble and look like they might have come from Italy. The second floor has arches that are set back, also resting on columns similar to the ones below.
The Silencio courtyard looks very different from the Real (Royal) courtyard, which is much bigger. Building the Real courtyard started in 1541. It was designed by a famous architect named Covarrubias, and his student, Hernán González de Lara, carried out the work. This courtyard has three floors, all made entirely of stone. The ground floor has rounded arches supported by columns. The decorations used here, like the slate mirrors and balusters, were typical of Covarrubias's other works from that time.
Around the same time, the main entrance door to the convent from San Pedro Mártir street was built.
The Naranjos (Orange Trees) courtyard, also called the Procesiones (Processions) courtyard, was completely changed in the mid-1700s. Today, its first floor has arches resting on columns.
The Church and Sacristy
Nicolás de Vergara el Mozo was in charge of building the new church and the sacristy (a room where priests prepare for services and sacred items are kept). Construction began in 1587. The sacristy has two main areas: a larger rectangular space that serves as the main sacristy, and a smaller square space that holds a small chapel. The walls in both areas have arches with special spaces (niches), which makes the two parts feel connected. Between the arches are tall, flat columns (Doric pilasters) with a continuous decorative band above them, further connecting the spaces.
The larger sacristy space has a flat, decorated ceiling with curved sections (lunettes) that allow light in. The easiest way to get from the church to the sacristy is through a door at one end of the main side. Here, you can find the Chapel of Santa Inés, which has a Gothic style with vaulted ceilings and some interesting tombs.
The construction of the current church started in 1605, also based on designs by Nicolás de Vergara el Mozo. However, Vergara passed away two years later, and Juan Bautista Monegro took over the project.
The church has three main sections (naves), with a choir area high up and a flat area for the altar (presbytery) with two chapels on the sides. The naves are separated by three arches with Doric pilasters that support a decorative band, above which a barrel-shaped ceiling rises. A beautiful fence from the early 1600s separates the presbytery from the transept (the part of the church that crosses the main body).
The church's outer door, designed by Monegro, stands out. It is made of stone and contrasts with the brick tower of the nearby San Román church, which is built in the Mudéjar style (a mix of Christian and Islamic art). Monegro's design for the door shows his skill and his connection to Herrerian architecture (a style known for its simple, grand, and geometric forms). The main part of the door looks like a triumphal arch. Above it, there's a small temple-like structure with a sculpture of the convent's saint on a base. On top of this, there are two pyramid shapes with balls. The upper part of the church's front has two simple windows that light up the entrance hall.
Current Use
Between 1992 and 1993, the convent underwent major renovations. It was updated and connected to the new buildings of the University of Castilla-La Mancha. During this work, parts of the original structures underground were uncovered. Today, the Convento de San Pedro Mártir serves as the university headquarters for the Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences of Toledo.
See also
In Spanish: Convento de San Pedro Mártir para niños