The 15th-century Convent of las Francesas in Valladolid

In the core of Valladolid, on Calle de Santiago, stands the Convent of Comendadoras de Santa Cruz, former home of the Dominican Franciscans. Established in 1487 by sisters doña María de Zúñiga and doña María de Fonseca, the institution was created as a place of rigorous cloister for distinguished women and daughters of high titles. The sisters took their own habit, and the initial church was built within the sisters' houses on Calle del Campo.

During the 17th century, doña María Ana Ladrón de Guevara, a widow of don Pedro Pimentel, marqués de Viana, was involved in the renovation of the site. She died in 1651 and was buried in the old church, leaving the main chapel of the new temple finished. Work on this new church continued until 1721. The convent functioned as such until the Desamortización, after which it was granted to the Dominicas Francesas, who maintained it as a college until the 20th century, when they moved to a building in Huerta del Rey.

Today, the renovated cloister of the convent serves as a commercial center. The church now functions as the Sala Municipal de Exposiciones. Parts of the building still showcase the 16th-century cloister, which features pillars and arches designed by Fernando de Entrambasaguas, and a 16th-century floor of stone and bone. The portal on Calle de Santiago, with its classicist style, is the only remaining part of the work by Francisco de Mora from 1593.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons