Ucles Monastery

Ucles was the headquarters of the Order of Santiago, the military order founded in the twelfth century, from 1174, and its monastery-fortress was rebuilt between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries into the great square block that stands today: a cloister of two storeys with a plateresque and Herreran character, a refectory with a carved coffered ceiling, a church with the tombs of order masters, and a monumental baroque south facade added in 1735. The comparison with El Escorial is standard locally, though it is smaller and less severe. A castle of Muslim origin stands on the hill above with three towers. The battle of Ucles in 1108, in which Alfonso VI's son was killed, took place nearby.

What you actually see

• The two-storey cloister - a large court in plateresque and Herreran styles.
• The carved refectory ceiling - coffered woodwork in the dining hall.
• The baroque south front - a monumental 1735 facade on the hillside.
• The castle above - Muslim-origin towers on the summit.

When to go

April to June and September to November; the Mancha plain is very hot in summer. The monastery keeps limited hours with a midday break and closes on some weekdays, so checking before travelling matters.

Honest expectations

Parts of the building are used by a seminary and are closed to visitors. Hours are short and irregular. Ucles is a small village with minimal facilities and no practical public transport.

Nearby

Segobriga's Roman ruins are close; Cuenca and Belmonte lie east and south.