The solid stone walls of the La Oliva Monastery contain centuries of history and art, and it is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. La Oliva is one of the 3 monasteries preserved in southern Navarre, and is currently home to 26 Cistercian monks who you will see, dressed in white robes, walking and praying in the monastery cloister.
Its wide church, one of the most impressive examples of Cistercian art in Spain, the Gothic cloister, the chapter house and the San Jesuchristo chapel reveal the artistic importance of this monastery, built in the 12th and 13th centuries; it is easy to spend hours here in complete quiet meditation.
Your visit will show you the value of silence, while you can also hear the sound of the daily liturgies sung by the monks in the vernacular, and the old cellar where the monks continue to make their own wine.