{"id":3703,"date":"2026-08-22T23:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T21:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/?p=3703"},"modified":"2026-08-22T23:02:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T21:02:13","slug":"museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Museu de Santa Clara in Gandia: the treasure of the Poor Clares and the Borgia women"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Museu de Santa Clara in Gandia<\/strong> brings together the artistic treasure that the Poor Clares have kept for almost six centuries in their enclosed convent: Gothic and Renaissance panels, a Ribera, reliquaries, silverwork and the Franciscan cord linked to the birth of Saint Francis Borgia. It is housed in the <strong>Sala d\u2019H\u00f2mens of the old Hospital de Sant Marc<\/strong>, in the heart of the Centre Hist\u00f2ric, and it is one of the most revealing stops for understanding the bond between the women of the ducal house and the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenidos<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8d3f9e8d1a0\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8d3f9e8d1a0\"  aria-label=\"Alternar\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#A_convent_founded_by_the_dukes_daughter_1428-1457\" >A convent founded by the duke\u2019s daughter (1428-1457)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#The_Borgia_women_behind_the_cloister\" >The Borgia women behind the cloister<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#From_convent_to_museum\" >From convent to museum<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#What_to_see_in_the_collection\" >What to see in the collection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#Opening_times_tickets_and_guided_tours\" >Opening times, tickets and guided tours<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/museu-santa-clara-gandia-poor-clares-borgia-women\/#How_to_get_there_and_what_to_combine_it_with\" >How to get there and what to combine it with<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_convent_founded_by_the_dukes_daughter_1428-1457\"><\/span>A convent founded by the duke\u2019s daughter (1428-1457)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The museum\u2019s story begins with <strong>Violant d\u2019Arag\u00f3<\/strong>, daughter of Alfons el Vell, the first royal duke of Gandia, who in <strong>1428<\/strong> promoted the foundation of a convent of Poor Clares in the town. The privilege that consolidated the community was granted by the abbot of the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/valldigna-monastery-history-visit\/\">Monastery of Valldigna<\/a> on <strong>7 May 1431<\/strong>, and a second privilege, dated <strong>11 May 1457<\/strong>, introduced the reform of Saint Colette of Corbie: since then the nuns of Gandia have been Colettine Poor Clares, following the strict rule. The three dates explain why some sources speak of 1428, others of 1431 and others of 1457; the parchments of those privileges are among the items on display in the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Borgia_women_behind_the_cloister\"><\/span>The Borgia women behind the cloister<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The convent became the spiritual refuge of the women of the ducal house. <strong>Isabel de Borja<\/strong>, daughter of the second dukes, took her vows as Sister Francisca de Jes\u00fas, and her mother, <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/maria-enriquez-luna-regent-duchess-gandia\/\"><strong>Mar\u00eda Enr\u00edquez de Luna<\/strong><\/a>, the duchess who had governed the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/duchy-of-gandia-history-borgia-dukes\/\">duchy<\/a> during her son\u2019s minority, made her will in February <strong>1512<\/strong> and entered Santa Clara as <strong>Sister Gabriela<\/strong>. She was abbess in two periods, the first between 1514 and 1519, interrupted by the Revolt of the Germanies, and again from 1530.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later came several sisters of <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/who-was-saint-francis-borgia\/\"><strong>Saint Francis Borgia<\/strong><\/a> and one of his daughters, also called Isabel. Sister Francisca de Jes\u00fas herself, author of a set of <em>Exhortations to the nuns<\/em>, was chosen by Princess Joanna of Austria to help found the Descalzas Reales convent in Madrid. Every profession brought dowries, commissions and donations: that is how, piece by piece, the collection on show today came together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_convent_to_museum\"><\/span>From convent to museum<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The works remained inside the enclosure for centuries; the Poor Clares safeguarded them even during the Civil War. In <strong>2010<\/strong> the community signed a loan agreement with Gandia Town Council to put them on public display, and in <strong>March 2015<\/strong> the <strong>Museu de Santa Clara<\/strong> opened in the Sala d\u2019H\u00f2mens of the old Hospital de Sant Marc, the 14th-century Gothic hall that shares the complex with the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-archaeological-museum-maga\/\">Gandia Archaeological Museum (MAGa)<\/a>. The pieces remain the property of the Poor Clares and are exhibited on loan; some of them are studied and restored with the Heritage Restoration Institute of the Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Val\u00e8ncia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_see_in_the_collection\"><\/span>What to see in the collection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The visit covers painting, sculpture, silverwork and documents, with the Gothic architecture of the hall itself as the first attraction. These are the pieces not to miss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Panels by Paolo da San Leocadio<\/strong>, the Italian painter linked to Mar\u00eda Enr\u00edquez\u2019s patronage, with the <em>Adoration of the Shepherds<\/em>, the <em>Adoration of the Magi<\/em> and <em>The Ascension<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The <em>Death of Saint John the Evangelist<\/em><\/strong>, a panel attributed to Nicolau Falc\u00f3, from around 1515-1520.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Works from the workshop of Vicent Macip and Joan de Joanes<\/strong>: the <em>Altarpiece of the Annunciation<\/em> and the restored panel of the <em>Crucifixion<\/em>, from around 1530.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jos\u00e9 de Ribera\u2019s <em>Saint John the Baptist<\/em><\/strong>, a Baroque canvas of Caravaggesque chiaroscuro.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Ecce Homo<\/em> and <em>Our Lady of Sorrows<\/em><\/strong>, a pair of 17th-century polychrome carvings attributed to the workshop of Pedro de Mena.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ten reliquary busts<\/strong> in gilded and polychrome wood from the 16th century, plus monstrances, chalices and noble jewellery.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Franciscan cord<\/strong> which, according to tradition, Juana de Arag\u00f3n borrowed from the Poor Clares for protection during the difficult birth of her son, the future Saint Francis Borgia, in 1510.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The foundation parchments<\/strong> with the privileges of 1428, 1431 and 1457.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the paintings there is also a supposed portrait of Duchess Leonor de Castro, wife of Francis Borgia, and a <em>Saint Francis Borgia<\/em>, which close the circle between the museum, the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/ducal-palace-borgia-gandia-history-visit\/\">Palau Ducal<\/a> where the saint was born and the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/collegiate-church-santa-maria-gandia\/\">Collegiate Church<\/a> that his grandmother enlarged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Opening_times_tickets_and_guided_tours\"><\/span>Opening times, tickets and guided tours<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. From September to June, Tuesday to Saturday from <strong>9:00 to 19:00<\/strong> and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00; in July and August, Tuesday to Saturday from <strong>10:00 to 20:00<\/strong> and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00. A standard ticket costs <strong>\u20ac2.50<\/strong>, reduced \u20ac1.50, and children under 6 go free. One-hour guided tours (\u20ac2.50 per person, ticket included) run on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, with advance booking for groups of 10 or more. Times and prices may change: check them on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.museusantaclaragandia.com\/horarios-y-precios\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">museum\u2019s official website<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xecgandia.com\/espacios-culturales\/museu-de-santa-clara\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XEC Gandia page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_there_and_what_to_combine_it_with\"><\/span>How to get there and what to combine it with<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Museu de Santa Clara is at <strong>Carrer de l\u2019Hospital, 20-22<\/strong>, beside the Serpis and the old town walls, a few minutes\u2019 walk from the railway station and the Palau Ducal (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/search\/?api=1&amp;query=Museu+de+Santa+Clara+Carrer+de+l%27Hospital+22+Gandia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see on Google Maps<\/a>). The natural combination is to visit the MAGa in the same building and carry on to the Palau Ducal and the Collegiate Church; if you come with the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/la-visit-gandia-10-espacios-culturales-con-una-sola-tarjeta\/\">La Visit Gandia card<\/a>, check which sites it includes. The museum is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/5-must-see-places-gandia\/\">five must-see places in the town centre<\/a> and a good starting point for the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/borgia-urban-route-gandia\/\">\u201cBorgia Territory\u201d urban route<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Museu de Santa Clara in Gandia brings together the artistic treasure kept by the Poor Clares for almost six centuries: Gothic and Renaissance panels, a Ribera, reliquaries, silverwork and the Franciscan cord linked to the birth of Saint Francis Borgia. It is housed in the Sala d\u2019H\u00f2mens of the old Hospital de Sant Marc, in the heart of the Centre Hist\u00f2ric.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"borgia26_language":"en","borgia26_translation_group":"museu-santa-clara-gandia","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-los-borgia","category-visitas-y-monumentos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3703"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3705,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703\/revisions\/3705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}