Royal Monastery of Santo Tomás

Santo Tomás is an extension southeast of the centre and deserves separate time. Construction began in 1482 under Martín de Solórzano, and the complex combines a church with three cloisters. Its connection with the Catholic Monarchs appears in their patronage and in the memory of their son Juan, whose tomb survives in the church. Do not reduce the visit to that monument: the courtyards allow comparisons of scale, decoration and the functions of convent life. The enclosure also houses museum collections, whose availability should be checked when arranging admission. Distance and the richness of the interior make it unsuitable for a hurried addition to the short walk. Set aside a morning or a quiet part of the second day and allow for the return journey.