Royal Monastery of St. Thomas in Avila
Royal Monastery of St. Thomas or Real Monasterio de Santo Tomásin Spanish, is just five minutes walking from Avila Cathedral.
This monastery was constructed in 1482 with funding from los Reyes Católicos, Fernando and Isabel, and is the burial place of their only son, Don Juan, who died here aged 19. The prince's tomb is modelled from alabaster carved by Florentine Domenico di Sandro Fancelli. The headquarters of the royals' adviser and confessor, the notorious Friar Tomás Torquemada, were also based here.
Torquemada was Spain's first Grand Inquisitor who was the zealous leader of the witch-hunts of the 15th century. The Inquisitor is also buried here.
This Avila monastery is a three-cloister complex - Noviciado (Noviciate), Silencio (Silence) and Reyes (Kings)- with the third cloister's regal rooms housing the Dominican's Oriental Art Museum
It has eight side chapels with ribbed vaults.
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