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Monastery of San Benito

Talavera de la Reina, Talavera, Toledo

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Monastery of San Benito

Monument · Talavera de la Reina, Talavera, Toledo

The monastery of San Benito is a female Cistercian community in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) and the oldest in the city. According to tradition, its origin lies in a women's monastery founded in the 7th century outside the city walls, where Saint Florentina of Cartagena died in the year 615. By the 12th century there already existed a community known as San Antolín de las Dueñas, and in 1126 the Archbishop of Toledo don Raimundo ordered its transfer inside the walled precinct, adopting the Cistercian reform and the new name of San Benito. Its cloister, from the 16th century and in Isabelline style, together with some remains of the town wall, bear witness to centuries of the community's civil and religious history.

Photo: Dixflips (Public domain)

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