Convent of the Dominican Mothers

The Dominican Nuns' Convent, or Monastery of San José, is located on Calle de las Monjas and maintains one of the oldest and longest-standing religious presences in La Solana. It was founded between 1593 and 1595 by Juan Díaz de Sabina, a bachelor of arts, and his sister Francisca González, who contributed houses, income, and properties for the establishment of the Dominican community. The complex still retains its conventual function and should therefore be understood as a space of enclosure, prayer, and community life.

The building follows the model of a modern-era convent for women, with a sober and enclosed exterior architecture, integrated into the urban fabric and with little monumental presence from the street. Its most outstanding feature is the convent church of San José, in the Baroque style and recently restored. Inside, an altarpiece presided over by Our Lady of the Rosary is preserved, with the image of Saint Joseph in one of its niches and Saint Dominic in another. Also of interest are the decorated vaults in the choir area, a fundamental space in the cloistered liturgy, from where the community participated in services without breaking the convent's separation.

The visit reveals a modest yet highly significant heritage for understanding the urban religious life of La Solana since the late 16th century. In addition to the historical and architectural value of the church, there is the enduring presence of the Dominican nuns, who were involved in crafts such as embroidery and traditional sweets, including "suspiros" (meringues). It is, therefore, a complex that combines Baroque architecture, female convent life, and local history, although its cloistered nature necessitates a respectful visit limited to the accessible areas.