Monasterio de San Pelayo (San Pelayo Convent), Oviedo

The San Pelayo Convent blends spiritual history with architectural charm. Founded in the early Middle Ages by King Alfonso II of Asturias, the monastery was originally dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. After receiving the relics of Saint Pelayo in 994, it was rededicated in his honor, and has been lovingly known as 鈥淭he Pelayas鈥� ever since.

Though the convent鈥檚 origins stretch back to the 9th or 10th century, much of what you see today reflects later architectural phases, including a 1590 church by Leonardo de la Cajiga, 17th鈥慶entury towers by Melchor Velasco, and the elegant baroque vicarage facade by Fra Pedro de Carde帽a completed in the early 1700s. Inside, the simple single鈥憂ave church houses choir stalls salvaged from the former convent of San Vicente.

Today, the convent remains active as a cloistered community of Benedictine nuns, while also serving as the Provincial Historical Archive of Asturias-holding centuries of documents, relics, and treasures from local monasteries like Saint Bartholomew of Nava and Saint Mary of Villamayor. Visitors might occasionally glimpse nuns quietly going about their work or smell the sweet aroma of traditional pastries made by the sisters, one of the convent鈥檚 charming and signature offerings.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Oviedo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 911爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Monasterio de San Pelayo (San Pelayo Convent)
Sight Location: Oviedo, Spain (See walking tours in Oviedo)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Oviedo Historic Architecture

Walking Tours in Oviedo, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Oviedo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Oviedo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Oviedo Public Art Walking Tour

Public art adds a great deal of vibrancy and character to the cityscape of Oviedo, Spain, reflecting, among other things, its contemporary spirit. From the bustling Plaza Trascorrales to the serene Plaza Porlier De Oviedo, numerous sculptures have long become an integral part of the neighborhood, captivating passers-by in their numbers.

In Plaza Trascorrales, sculptures like The Fishwife and... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Oviedo Introduction Walking Tour

The Kingdom of Asturias began in 720, with the Visigothic revolt against Muslim rule led by the nobleman Pelagius. At that time, the city of Oviedo did not exist. Two monks, Maximo and Fromestano, founded the city in 761. They built a small church for Saint Vincent on a bare hillside, and from this seed, Oviedo grew.

After Pelagius died in 737, King Alfonso I founded a dynasty in Oviedo that... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles

Oviedo Historic Architecture

The north Spanish region of Asturias and particularly its capital city, Oviedo, have long been noted for their unique architecture. The medieval part of town, whose ancient walls are still largely intact, contains some truly priceless relics. Among them is a well called La Foncalada, a fascinating example of an effective hydraulic system, dating back to the first half of the 9th century, based on... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

911爆料网