The Ancient Spanish Monastery

A 12th-century Spanish cloister rebuilt stone by stone in North Miami Beach, with quiet gardens.

Revisado octubre de 2026

The Ancient Spanish Monastery is for people who want a calm, unusual hour among very old stone; the trade-off is that it often closes for weddings and church events, so you have to plan around its schedule.

Why you go

You come to stand in a building far older than Florida. The cloister was built from 1133 to 1141 near Segovia, Spain. William Randolph Hearst bought it in 1925, had it taken apart and shipped in numbered crates, which then sat in a New York warehouse for decades. It was put back together here in the 1950s and is now an active Episcopal church with gardens. It rates 4.5 from 1,785 Google reviews. An hour is enough.

When to go

Google lists Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. The monastery says it often closes for church activities and private events, especially weddings on weekends, and posts a monthly schedule on its site, so check it the day before. Weekday mornings are the quietest. The gardens are outdoors, but the cloister walks give cover in a shower.

Know before you go

Check current prices on their site. Parking is on site. It is a working church, so dress modestly and keep voices low if a service is on. Professional photo shoots need a separate booking. Kids who like castles enjoy the stone arches, but there is not much for small children to do. It is in North Miami Beach, so pair it with Oleta River State Park or lunch in Aventura nearby.

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