The Ancient Spanish Monastery and cloisters have a fascinating past dating to 1133 AD with their construction in northern Spain. The Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, named after an influential religious leader of the time, housed Cistercian monks for 700 years before being seized during the social revolution of the 1830s.

In 1925, American publisher William Randolph Hearst bought the monastery, shipping it to the U.S., only to have 11,000 crates storing the structure in a warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, for 26 years due to financial troubles. One year after his death, two entrepreneurs purchased the sacred building to make it an attraction.

The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery - one of the highlights of 10 Things to Do Off the Beaten Path in Miami (Read all about Miami here)

The Ancient Spanish Monastery highlights

Bringing The Ancient Spanish Monastery to Miami and putting it together was a feat, and one that Time magazine referred to as ‘The Biggest Jigsaw Puzzle in History.’ Eventually, Colonel Robert Pentland, Jr., a multimillionaire banker and benefactor to Episcopal churches, purchased the site, and it still hosts weekly services in English and Spanish.

The monastery attracts visitors drawn to the beauty of its cloisters and grounds, which have appeared in several movies, including Rock of Ages and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. For those who want to explore, brochures for self-guided tours are available at the admission desk.

Good to know when visiting The Ancient Spanish Monastery

A visit to The Ancient Spanish Monastery takes visitors back to the 12th-century with plenty to experience, from the lovely gardens to the chapel and the ancient architecture. There is a short 5-minute film that provides an overview of the monastery and gardens. There is also a small gift shop on site.

Visitors are encouraged to take pictures of the beautiful buildings and gardens, but if the site is used as a backdrop for portrait photography they charge a fee for the session. Any money the church receives is used for preservation and to support their programs.

The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery

Location: 16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, USA

Open: Wednesday-Thursday from 10 am to 4:30 pm, Friday-Saturday from 10 am to 2pm and Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm

Phone: +1 305 945-1461

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.

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