Miami is more than just parties and beaches. There are also historic places filled with culture and interesting details about our past. The Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach is such a place that delivers awe-inspiring history to locals and tourists alike. Dating back to the mid-1100s, the history of the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami began when St. Bernard de Clairvaux started its construction in Spain before it was dismantled and moved to the United States.
After a social revolution in Spain during the 1830s, the Ancient Spanish Monastery suffered as a result and was used as a granary and stable. A businessman by the name of William Hearst seized the opportunity to buy the building’s cloisters and outbuildings and took them to America, although construction of the monastery wouldn’t be completed until 1953. It was so difficult to figure out where all the stones and structures went that Time Magazine dubbed the Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami the “biggest jigsaw puzzle in history.” Today, the monastery is home to the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and holds weekly services on Sundays and weekdays.
Apart from their daily service, the Ancient Spanish Monastery is also a popular tourist location in Miami. Its ancient walls and beautiful gardens are a remarkable sight, making it a great wedding venue for couples. You can make reservations for chapel weddings, garden weddings, and receptions. The church is also the designated location for important events hosted by the Ancient Spanish Monastery Foundation. Their daily tours around the monastery are available most days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the last admission is at 4:30 p.m. The admission fee is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
If you want a taste of 12th century Europe right here in South Florida, be sure to check out the fascinating Ancient Spanish Monastery in Miami! Find more interesting things to do in Miami by registering on 305area, your free guide to all things Miami.
Cover photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
