Royal College of Noble Maids

THE ROYAL COLLEGE HOUSING THE SUBLIME TOMB OF CARDINAL SILICEO, A MASTERPIECE BY RICARDO BELLVER

CONOCE EL MONUMENTO

What to see in the Royal College of Noble Maidens

One of Toledo’s lesser-known heritage treasures with a precious educational history dating back to 1551.

Founded in 1551 by the Archbishop of Toledo and Cardinal Juan Martínez Silíceo under the co-patronage of King Felipe II with a revolutionary mission for its time: to educate young women to be good mothers and to give them a Christian and human formation.

The Noble Maidens students came both from humble families, at the suggestion of the archbishop, and from noble families from all over Europe, at the suggestion of the king.

One of the jewels of the building is the superb marble tomb of Cardinal Silíceo, the work of Ricardo Bellver in 1890 in the Neoplateresque style, sculpted three centuries after the death of the prelate.

Lose yourself in the different rooms of this enormous building, where different styles coexist and where valuable works of art such as paintings, sculptures and period furniture are preserved.

Most of the present building dates from the 18th century, according to the designs of José Hernández Sierra between 1757 and 1768 and Ventura Rodríguez between 1775 and 1787. The excellent two-storey courtyard carved in granite stands out.

It is also famous for its late 19th-century Art Nouveau-inspired glass and iron passageway, built to connect two separate buildings that once belonged to the Maidens’ College itself.

History, Education and Art in the Heart of Toledo

Cardinal Silíceo founded the Royal College of Noble Maidens with the revolutionary vision of offering education of high distinction to the lower classes.

The co-patronage of Philip II, maintained today by Philip V, made it one of the finest colleges in Europe. Although unknown to many, it opened its doors to the public in 2015.

Its collegiate atmosphere and architectural treasures captivate visitors. Cardinal Silíceo, buried here, left an imposing tomb, testimony to his affection for this great project, which is unique in Toledo.

The College took in young girls of limited means from the archdiocese of Toledo, offering them Christian and human formation. Philip II accepted the co-patronage, extending access to maidens from other regions.

It operated under its original statutes until 1988, becoming one of the most prestigious schools in Europe. Housed in the houses of Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, it was renovated in the 18th century by Ventura Rodríguez. Adapted in the 1990s as a university residence, it preserves historical elements and the tomb of Cardinal Silíceo, an outstanding humanist and mathematician.

The chapel-church monument is in Renaissance and early Baroque style, with a Latin cross plan and a barrel vault. The main altarpiece, the work of Alejandro Sémino, shows the Virgin and Child, the maidens and the founder. The Baroque altarpieces of the Virgen del Pozo and San Jerónimo also stand out. The choir of schoolgirls, decorated with grilles containing the cardinal’s coat of arms, and the medallions of Toledo saints are remarkable. The tomb of Cardinal Silíceo, sculpted by Ricardo Bellver, features liturgical details and christian virtues.

The courtyard, designed by Ventura Rodríguez, is an artistic and historical space of great value.

Visit the Monument

Buy your tickets to visit the Royal College od Noble Maidens

Toledo tourist wristband ticket

The best option for those looking to get to know the historic centre of the city of Toledo. See 7 of the main monuments with a great discount and save time on your visit.

Buy your tickets online and visit comfortably. With the tourist bracelet we offer you the possibility to visit 7 of the most important and emblematic monuments of Toledo.

Toledo Monumental - Pulsera Turística

Buy online the Toledo Monumental tourist wristband and save on your visit to 7 of the main monuments of Toledo.

14,00€ 28,00€

Buy the tourist wristband

Single Ticket

Would you like to visit the Royal College with friends or family and you are less than 20 people?

Buy your tickets online and visit comfortably. The single ticket to the Royal College of Noble Maidens includes:

· Individual entrance to the Royal College of Noble Maidens (Cloister and Precinct).
· We have audioguides in Spanish, English and French, not included in the price of admission or the tourist bracelet.

General admission

Access to the college and grounds for visitors over 16 years of age.

4,00€

Admission for children, students and Carnet Joven

Admission for children from 11 to 16 years old, student card holders and Carnet Joven (presenting the student or youth card).

3,00€

Entrance fee for large family and disabled up to 64%

Special discounts for large families (presenting the large family card and ID) and people with disabilities under 64% (presenting the disability card).

2,50€

Resident entrance Toledo

Every Sunday afternoon, from 15:00, free entry.

2,00€ 4,00€

Prices per person. Children up to 10 years old free. People with disabilities over 64%, free. Must show at the ticket office the document proving the condition in the cases of Large Family, Youth Card, Students and Residents.

Buy tickets

School visits

Entrance for educational groups: Schools, Institutes, Universities, Vocational Training Centres, etc…

Schools, upon presentation of a letter of introduction from the school in question, may purchase tickets for individual monument visits or purchase the tourist bracelet. For every 10 bracelets purchased, one free ticket will be provided for the teacher or person in charge.

School Visits – General Admission

Individual visit to the Royal College of Noble Maidens.

3,00€ 4,00€

School Visits Tourist Wristband

Buy the Toledo Monumental tourist wristband online.

14,00€ 28,00€

Buy online

Choose your type of ticket, the day you plan to visit, the number of tickets and pay securely online with Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.

Receive your tickets

We will send you the tickets in PDF to your email and you will be able to access the monument by presenting your tickets or by saving them in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay wallet.

Take the tour

Show your ticket at the monument’s ticket office and don’t forget your camera, as you are allowed to take photographs and videos without flash inside the monument.

Where to find it

How to get to the Royal College od Noble Maidens

Pl. Cardenal Siliceo, 1, 45002 Toledo, España

Opening hours

Visiting hours

You can visit the monument from Monday to Sunday with the following timetable:

Summer schedule
From March 1st to October 15th
10:00 – 18:45 h.
Winter schedule
From October 16th to February 28th
10:00 – 17:45 h.

Open from Monday to Sunday

  • The ticket offices will close 10 minutes before closing time.
  • 1st January and 25th December closed.
  • 24th and 31st December until 13:00.

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Related news

Follow the monument’s news and keep up to date with all the latest news: masses, celebrations, workshops, exhibitions, concerts and much more!

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Frequently asked questions

Are there any discounts?

The wristband itself is a discount voucher, so no extra discount is applied to the price. You will save more than 60% compared to visiting the monuments individually.

Is there a specific route to visit the 7 monuments?

No, the wristband is intended for the convenience of the visitor, so you can buy the bracelet at any of the 7 monuments, and visit them all in the order you prefer.

Which monuments can I visit with the tourist wristband?

The Toledo Monumental tourist wristband allows you to visit San Juan de los Reyes Monastery, Santa María La Blanca Synagogue of , El Salvador Church, Santo Tomé Church, Cristo de la Luz Mosque, Jesuits Church (San Ildefonso) and the Royal College of Noble Maids.

How much does the Toledo tourist wristband cost?

The tourist wristband on the official website costs €14 per person.

How much is the individual ticket for each monument?

Individual entry to any of the monuments of Toledo Monumental costs €4 per person, each monument.

How does the tourist wristband work?

If you buy the wristband online, you must validate the voucher that you receive by email after purchase at any of the monuments and you will be provided with the physical wristband. The bracelet must be worn on your wrist to gain access to the different monuments.

Can I take photos inside the monuments?

Of course! You can take photos without flash at any of the monuments.

How much does the children's wristband and individual tickets cost?

Access to the monuments is free for children under the age of 11 when accompanied by an adult who has access.

How long is the wristband valid?

The bracelet is valid for seven days from the date of purchase. The material of which it is made even allows bathing, so you can wear it for all the days of your stay in Toledo.

Is it possible to buy tickets at the ticket offices of the monuments?

Both the individual tickets to the different monuments and the tourist bracelet can be purchased at the ticket office of any of the monuments, but if you want to save time, we recommend you to buy your tickets online through this link.

Are there any additional discounts for school visits?

No prior booking is required for school visits, and there are special rates for school groups, university groups, etc. All that is required is accreditation from teaching groups in the form of an official letter from the school, stamped and signed with the group’s details.
Visits to a monument have a reduced price of €3 for students.

Is it possible to visit all the monuments in 1 day?

It depends on how much time you spend at each monument but there are many tourists who visit all 7 monuments in one day. You can organise your visit to suit you and to make it easier, we ask you to share your location anonymously to show you how far you are from each monument and we show you the opening and closing times of each one.

COMMENTS

Visitor´s reviews

1882 Reviews

4.2
Oscar
El sitio está bien, no es muy grande lo que se puede visitar pero es bastante bonito. Viene incluido en la pulsera de Toledo. Para ser pequeño tiene bastante arte y la tumba que hay es impresionante. Por lo que vi, no suele haber mucha gente, en mi recorrido por el lugar, no había nadie más que nosotros y el guía, cosa que mejoró mucho la experiencia.
CMC
Una corta visita incluida con la pulsera turística. Un sepulcro del creador del colegio ricamente decorado, una reja del coro preciosa, un claustro sobrio, una escalera noble y un precioso salón donde tendrían lugar los actos del colegio. Los tour turísticos de la pulsera no suelen pasar por aquí, pero lo puedes visitar en un ratito.
Moisés Valls
Muy interesante aunque prescindible si vas a Toledo por poco tiempo. Si compras la pulsera turística te entra la visita.
Stefania Vassalotti
Interesante lugar, con historia. El recorrido es bastante corto, ya que hay una parte del edificio que es utilizado para residencia de universitarios. Detalles inimaginables, parada rápida y segura. No dejen de entrar. (Si compran una pulsera para realizar los paseos a los monumentos, este es uno)