The cloister rewards studying capitals individually, finding plants, animals and human figures. Walk around once before choosing details rather than rushing from arch to arch. Do not confuse it with San Francisco Church, relocated to San Lázaro park. Check open spaces and allow for the uphill approach from the centre; cloister, museum rooms and other nearby sites may follow separate access arrangements.
Sources checked on 19 October 2026. Opening and access may change. The walk does not include admission; allow extra time for interiors. Routes have not been audited for accessibility.
Plan this visit
Compare two sides of the cloister
The Galicia listing notes that the sides do not have equal numbers of arches. Rather than counting them all, choose two galleries and notice how their rhythm changes. We suggest looking from a corner first and then approaching one capital: reading space and reading a small figure require different distances, and neither replaces the other.
Choose a theme among the carvings
Find a plant motif and a figurative one, comparing how carving adapts to its support. You need not identify every creature to appreciate the work. If adding San Francisco church in San Lázaro, treat it as another stop: it was moved and no longer stands beside the cloister. That separation can become a route theme rather than a confusion over addresses.
