Within the year, the Monasterio of Caños Santos de Alcalá del Valle will be able to boast 25 rooms once used by the Franciscan monks who resided in the monastery from the 16th century until its confiscation by Mendizábal at the beginning of the 19th century.

The monastery, immersed in history and legends as well as lush countryside, will soon be restored to its original glory with period furniture from the times when the monks lived there.

The monastery was originally founded after locals claimed that the Virgin had appeared next to the fountain. Initially a small shrine was built but the devotion was such that in the 16th century the construction of a majestic monastery began within two hectares of grounds.

Having fallen into disuse, restoration work began fourteen years ago with the help and backing of various institutions, firstly to consolidate the building project and then to give the monastery a new function, which besides offering lodging will also have a restaurant with a seating capacity of 50.

The building, as the Mayor Antonio Rivera explains, will have a cultural function as will as a tourist one since the intention is to use various rooms for temporary exhibitions, a museum which will recreate monastery life and an auditorium with a capacity for 200 people.

The monastery is located some 6km from Alcalá del Valle, surrounded by chestnut trees, elms, olive trees as well as water - spectacular scenery to help make a stay in this medieval monastery an unforgettable experience.

Every year locals from Alcalá carry their patron, la Virgen de la Valle, to this site in a religious procession accompanying her on foot, on horseback and in carriages adorned with flowers and garlands so she can meet with the Virgin de Caños Santos who is always to be found in the church attached to the convent.

The church, built between 17th and 18th centuries, is baroque in style and its highlight is a baptism font from the ancient sanctuary and the high relief which remembers the apparition of the Virgin in that place.
 
The monastery, which the Andalusian parliament has officially recognised as an asset of great cultural interest, while technically falling within the municipal area of Olvera actually belongs to Alcalá de Valle since the Town Hall of that village acquired it at the end of the 1980s.
 
With the help of European Union funds, obtained through Cádiz council’s Cultur-Cad programme, restoration work has been carried out on the ground and mezzanine floors of the monastery. With the support and backing of the Ministry of Development and Promotion utility will be given to the first and second floors of the building when the second phase of building and development work finishes within the space of a year.


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