Iglesia y Convento de San Joaquín y San Pascual, Cieza

Church and Monastery of San Joaquín and San Pascual, Cieza

The building of the Church and Monastery of San Joaquín and San Pascual is in the centre of the town, between calles Mesones, callejón de los Frailes and the plaza called Esquina del Convento.

 This is an attractive area of the town, with the Paseo, a long treelined walkway and open plaza containing several sculptures, an ideal place to stop for a coffee as part of an urban route.

Part of the convent has now been converted into the municipal library, the Biblioteca Municipal Padre Salmerón, which uses the ancient cloister as a temporary exhibition hall and library and the former water tank is now the Conference room.  

The first known date relating to the convert is 1603,  when the Franciscan monks of the Santa Ana Monastery of Jumilla are recorded as periodically coming to the town to preach, take confession and give mass, as well as collect alms from the faithful.

Between 1660 and 1674 there were a well documented  series of conflicts between family groups in the town and the monks were vital in restoring and maintaining the peace. Following this the decision was taken to build a convent in Cieza.

In 1671, Carlos II granted a license to construct a new convent, with architectural works undertaken  by the Franciscans: Brother Juan Blasco, Brother Pascual Pardo and Brother Juan Salaberría and construction work carried out  by both monks and residents. The first stone was laid in 1699 and the new monastery was inaugurated in 1699 with generous donations from the people of Cieza towards the running of the convent, grateful for the peace the presence of the brothers brought to the town.

In 1707 Brother Benito de Salazar built a grandiose altarpiece which was used until its destruction in 1936 during the tumultuous events which took place in the outbreak of Civil War in Spain, many churches and religious artworks destroyed in the wave of anti-church uprisings which occurred during this period.

In 1822 the monastery was almost abandoned by the Franciscan community leaving only three monks to look after the church until, in 1836, La Caridad (charitable society) was founded which used the simple bedrooms of the monastery for the old and helpless.

The monastery was disentailed in 1836 and relinquished to the Town hall in 1839. It was then used as a police station by the Guardia Civil. In 1876, the Town hall applied for the transfer of the building for public use and the School of La Purísima y San Luis Gonzaga was created and remained there until 1885, after which it became an old people’s home.

During the Spanish Civil War, the building was used as a hospital by the soldiers of the Brigadas Internacionales fighting  for the Republicans, following which it was partially used as the Comandancia Militar (The military headquarters in Cieza). It also offered accommodation for a maternity unit , whilst still remaining partially an old people’s home until the beginning of the 1980s.

Following this it became an adult education centre, as well as providing space for San Joaquin’s church.  In 2000, the church and monastery were declared of cultural interest and listed as a national monument.  

Finally, in the early years of the 21st century the old buildings around the monastery were demolished, exposing the original ancient fabric of the building and the cloisters opened as a municipal library.

Today the restored church can be visited during hours of service.

Click for map, Calle de los Frailes, Cieza
Click for dedicated Cieza municipality information.