The Convent of Santo Domingo el Antiguo is a foundation carried out after the Christian reconquest of the kingdom of Toledo. Some sources speak of the existence of a monastery located in the same place in the times of San Ildefonso. Shortly after reconquering Castile, King Alfonso VI founded a convent with the name of Santo Domingo de Silos, whose nuns followed the order of Saint Benedict until their change to the Cistercian order.
Currently it is known as Santo Domingo el Antiguo to differentiate it from the Royal, but the monastery was founded in honor of the friar Santo Domingo de Silos who had been a personal friend of his father King Don Fernando. The close relationship between the monastery and the Crown meant that will always count with privileges were respected by successive monarchs, allowing the growth of the convent at least until the 16th century.
Little remains of the original construction since In the 16th century, the will of Doña María de Silva, a lady of the Court of Isabel of Portugal, was buried within the Church. On the occasion of this and with the legacy of Mary of Portugal, the dean undertakes a comprehensive renovation of the building but the funds are not enough and the dean himself and his son contributed resources so that the space could serve as their pantheon. n too. The new reform was carried out with traces of Nicolás Vergara Mozo and Juan de Herrera.
The main chapel has an altarpiece with works made by El Greco. The artist and the son of the Dean of Castile had met in Rome, and after arriving in Spain it was one of the first commissions he received, although a large part of the originals are now in the Prado, still You can admire them here The Resurrection and the Juanes. The Cretan painter bought in this same space He found a site for his own burial, although there is some doubt as to whether he remains here. or it was moved by his son Jorge Manuel in 1617 to the church of San Torcuato, which now disappears.
Every day
Monday to Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. / 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Sunday: 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.