El bejarano convento de san Francisco. Esbozo histórico

A complete study of the Franciscan convent of Béjar (Salamanca) does not exist but only small partial and fragmentary articles (never exceeding three pages). This work attempts a complete outline of its history, relying mainly on ancient sources, which, moreover, provide very little data. Only the work of Brother Ioseph of Santa Cruz records some meager information about the foundation. From very early on, the convent was under the tutelage of the ducal house of Béjar (of the Zúñiga). It initially belonged to the Franciscan province of Santiago, later passing to that of San Miguel after it was divided in two. The ducal interference in the convent and the successive improvements financed by the Zúñiga family are analyzed, including the construction (1599) of the still-existing cloister. Reference is made to the confraternities based in the convent, the festivals related to it, the construction of a new transept (1730), the devastating fire (1750), the alienation of the convent with the «Desamortización de Mendizábal» (1835), its progressive ruin, acquisition by the City Council and the various uses to which the building was dedicated until the present day.