I come back to sublime Toledo. This is the world city of old and new, we came here often too as family just between Toledo and Madrid . Always looking forward to be back eventually, There are wonderful monuments here to occupy just a blog ; I am glad to have found me these pictures in my cd rom vault to show in my blog for you and me. Therefore, let me tell you about the Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes of Toledo !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes (St John of the kings) is a Franciscan monastery, built under the patronage of Queen Isabel I of Castilla with the intention of serving as a royal mausoleum to commemorate the Battle of Toro and the birth of Prince Juan (John, her son). It is one of the most valuable examples of Isabelline Gothic architecture and the most important building erected by the Catholic Monarchs. The monastery also serves as a monument commemorating the achievements of the Catholic Monarchs and their political program. Considered the most representative example of Toledo Gothic architecture, the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes was commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs under the direct patronage of the queen, to the point that it is referred to several times in documents as the “Monastery of San Juan de la Reina.” Dedicated to Saint John in memory of her father, King John it was also built to commemorate the victory at Toro in 1476 and the birth of Prince John in 1478, as well as to create a collegiate church for canons that would serve as a royal pantheon. The care and custody of the monastery were entrusted to the Franciscan Observants. The choice of this order over others stemmed from the Observant Franciscans’ desire to return to a purer lifestyle, free from the excesses and luxuries of the Middle Ages, an idea also shared by the Catholic monarchs. The Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814) brought with it two successive occupations of Toledo by Napoleonic troops throughout 1808. The second of these, in December of that year, was the most destructive. Restoration began in 1835, but the work was not completed until 1954.
The church, of the “Catholic Monarchs type,” has a single nave, with chapels between the buttresses, a high choir at the west end above the vault that serves as a vestibule, and an altar raised on steps. Already in the 13C, it stands out from other churches due to the solution of the niche chapels in the nave and, above all, the dome at the east end. It has two portals, the west and the north, because it is a prime location, situated on high ground. The large square was created to alleviate the overcrowding of medieval urban planning. The side door is also important. These are the first urban planning principles of the Quattrocento. Circular temples are dedicated to virgins, fire, heroes, water, and death in the classical world. The concept of eternity, the serpent biting its tail, neither beginning nor end. The rotunda martyrium is equivalent to the concept of eternity. The church, completed in 1495, fully corresponds to the Isabelline style, with a single nave, niche chapels between the buttresses, and a raised choir at the west end. In 1484, the apse was transformed into a funerary chapel covered by a dome, intended for the burial of the Catholic Monarchs. This was never carried out, which is why the apse has a feeling of emptiness. The church’s profuse ornamentation displays the symbols of the Catholic Monarchs, as well as the eagle of Saint John and heraldic decoration. The altarpiece displays the coat of arms of Cardinal Mendoza, founder of the Hospital. The altarpiece features the following scenes: Jesus on the Way to Calvary, the Descent from the Cross, and Saint Helena with the miracles of the Cross.
The dome is the architectural metaphor for the crown, supported by impressive squinches that emphasize its octagonal shape. The decoration of fillets (wooden or stone sculptures placed above the keystones of the vault) is particularly noteworthy. Following an Italian tradition, it incorporates hieroglyphic elements. The emblem of the Catholic Monarchs (the Eagle of Saint John) appears, along with the letters I and F, also represented by the yoke and arrows, and the motto “tanto monta” (it’s all the same). The first section features a segmental arch connecting to the cloister, a gable with a mixtilinear arch and profuse decoration that houses the Franciscan coat of arms. Blind arches adorned with tracery and miniatures complete the structure, as does another section with saints on pedestals and the emblem of the Catholic Monarchs repeated ad infinitum. At the foot of the emblem appear the lions, symbols of the monarchy and of God, and the true hieroglyph (yoke and arrows alongside the motto “tanto monta”). The side portal is the main one. The transept is marked on the exterior, although it does not project from the floor plan. The coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs appears on the apses and buttresses of the portal. Chains hang from the crossing, an emblematic symbol representing the chains of the Christian captives who were freed when Fernando II the Catholic reconquered Málaga and Baeza. The cloister portal has a segmental arch with three centers, rich vegetal decoration mixed with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic naturalistic decoration. The cloister follows the same model as the church . Spatial equivalence, exterior and interior space. The cloister is paradise regained, the precept of ora et labora (pray and work), divided into four parts that lead to… a well, a symbol of life. The cloister consists of ribbed vaults without a central keystone and a mixtilinear ogee arch in the second-floor gallery. It was completed in 1476, while the rest of the convent took a few more years to be finished.
Following their customs, the Catholic Monarchs adopted a practice that would be repeated successively until Felipe (Philip) II: the itinerant court opted for convents as royal residences, and Toledo was one of these cities. Queen Isabel Ier conceived of it as a spiritual retreat. According to the building’s plan, it can be deduced that the dimensions of the royal chamber were the same as those of the sacristy: 23.5 x 7 meters. To the north, it bordered the stairwell that connected to the upper and lower cloisters. Nothing is known of the interior, but it would surely have been conditioned by the austerity imposed during the spiritual retreats of the kings, in times of mourning, and would have consisted only of a hall and small rooms covered with a coffered ceiling similar to that of the second floor of the courtyard. The definitive documentary proof of the existence of this royal chamber is the plan drawn in 1594 by Nicolás Vergara, where it reads “above the sacristy, Royal Chamber.”
The official Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes : https://www.sanjuandelosreyes.org/en/welcome-to-san-juan-de-los-reyes/
The cultural Toledo Monumental site of the City of Toledo on the monastery : https://toledomonumental.com/en/monument-san-juan-de-los-reyes-monastery/
The Toledo province tourist office on its heritage see Monastery : https://turismoprovinciatoledo.es/localidades/toledo/
The Toledo City tourist office on the monastery : https://turismo.toledo.es/recursos/museos-y-monumentos/id600-monasterio-de-san-juan-de-los-reyes.html
There you go folks ,another wonderful monument in the city of Toledo, plenty more to browse while in town. I have several posts on Toledo in my blog for more information on visiting, no need to tell you further, is a must. The choices are endless with beautiful architecture and a huge amount of history of Toledo, Spain, and Europe. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes of Toledo !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 