The Monastery of Santa María de La Rábida is located in the municipality of Palos de la Frontera. It was erected between the XIV-XV centuries.

The Gothic-Mudejar church, the rooms decorated with frescoes by Daniel Vázquez Díaz, the cloister and the museum, where numerous commemorative objects of the Discovery of America are preserved, stand out for their artistic interest.

In the church is the image of the Virgin of the Miracles. It is a Gothic-style sculpture, dating from the 13th century, made of alabaster.

The monastery is 2,137 m² in size and has an irregular plan.

Throughout its more than five hundred years of history, it has undergone modifications, especially as a result of the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

Christopher Columbus stayed there years before leaving for the New World, when he was still preparing his project.

Martín Alonso Pinzón is buried in this monastery, who died a few days after returning from the first Columbian trip.

Likewise, upon the return of some of his conquest expeditions, Hernán Cortés, Gonzalo de Sandoval and Francisco Pizarro arrived at this Franciscan monastery.

In the declaration of the IX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Presidents of Government, in Havana, La Rábida was recognized as a meeting place for the Ibero-American Community of Nations.

The founding letter of the convent is a bull from Pope Benedict XIII, which dates from December 7, 1412, and which grants Fray Juan Rodríguez and his religious companions, residents of the Hermitage of Santa María de La Rábida since 1403, the papal permission to settle in community.

Given the enclave it occupied, the place was from the beginning a refuge or fortress to defend itself from the frequent attacks of pirates that roamed the coast.

Pope Eugene IV granted a bull of indulgences for anyone who helped travelers in need on this site. Much of the monastery rooms were built in those years (early 15th century). The nobles of the region and the residents of the place helped and collaborated greatly.