The Monastery of El Parral sits in the wooded valley below the north wall of Segovia's old city, tucked against the cliff in a spot of great tranquillity. Founded in 1454 by the Marquis of Villena at the request of King Henry IV, it has been occupied by Hieronymite monks since the 15th century and is still an active monastery today. The church has one of the finest Gothic altarpieces in Castile, and the alabaster sepulchres of the Villena family are outstanding.
The monastery is open for limited visiting hours and the monks lead occasional guided tours of the church. Getting here on foot takes about twenty minutes from the city walls — walk down through the Alameda de la Fuencisla park and follow the river path. The setting, with the city walls rising above and the river below, is worth the walk even if the monastery is closed.