mcnyc

Hello there,

It's been a while since I've been here, but I'm glad I'm back. Especially since I'm planning my trip to southern Spain in mid-June! My first trip to Europe in who knows how long. Plus my new passport needs some stamps.

I'll be in Seville alone, and meeting up with a friend in Granada, and had read about dulces made by cloistered nuns, and wanted to bring some home for my mom (I come home the day before her birthday).

Was curious to know if anyone has any recommendations in either city? Or any of the cities I have on my docket: Malaga, Cordoba, Cadiz, and maybe, just maybe, Gibraltar.

Thanks.

ekscrunchy

Here is a list for Sevilla; although it is in Spanish, you can read the addresses. It also lists the types of sweets they sell, and their hours. You might want to double check the latter before making a special trip:

http://www.visitasevilla.es/es/event...nto-de-sevilla

Here is a convenient one in Granada:

http://www.monasteriosanbernardodegr...ndeestamos.php

samoca

There was a convent right near where I stayed in Granada just uphill from Plaza Nueva. Can't remember right now. I would just ask someone (there are scads of people around--tourists and locals) to direct you to it. If they're open when you're there, just ring the bell and say something like (my Spanish is ok not great): Es possible de comprar dulces ahora por favor Hermana (Sister)? Or ask somebody who speaks English to tell you how to say it. The sisters didn't seem to speak English but I could be wrong. In Spain I always tried to be as polite as possible. Anyway, the cookies were FABULOUS and filling. (Oh yes, as I recall, Rick Steves tells you where to buy them in his guidebook for Sevilla and Granada.)

samoca

I just checked the link in the post above mine for the location in Granada. Calle de Gloria was indeed my street. It is right opposite a pretty church. Very easy to find from Plaza Nueva.

mcnyc

Thank you for these suggestions. I'll be checking them out, especially as I was just informed that my host in Madrid will be celebrating a birthday upon my return from the south.

Momddtravel2

I missed it in Madrid..will try to get to one in Seville in the next four days - really want to do this. Thanks for posting this!

mcnyc

I didn't know they have convent sweets in Madrid! Do you have any suggestions? I'm now thinking I'll get my mom convent sweets from each city in Spain.

joannyc

This is the one I went to in Madrid, I believe:

http://www.gomadrid.com/shopping/Con...us-Cristi.html


Here's a list from TripAdvisor:

Convent Sweets (Dulces) in Madrid

Many nuns in the convents of Madrid earn their living selling sweets and confections. Their recipes come from the times of the Romans and Moors, which they have preserved over the ages. Unfortunately many convents are closing because they have fewer nuns. So this art may be lost in the future. Buying their sweets will help their convents and tourists can try something completely Spanish.

1. Monasterio de la Visitacion
Calle San Bernardo, 72
T el: 914-478-979
Specialties: Pastas, bizcochos y cocas.

2. Monasterio del Corpus Christi aka Las Carboneras
Plaza del Conde de Miranda, 3
Tel: 915-483-701
Specialties: Naranjines, mantecados de jerez y de yema, huesos de Fray Escoba, pastas de te, los nevaditos, los tocinitos de cielo, pastas de almendras, polvorones.

3. El Jardín del Convento
Calle del Cordón 1, close to the Plaza de la Villa. This shop sells pastries and jams from some convents and monasteries of Spain (except from Las Carboneras in nearby). Closed on Monday.

4. Convento de San Diego
Plaza de San Diego, 7.
Alcalá de Henares
Specialty: Almendras, garrapiñadas.


The procedure for buying the sweets is very archaic, but very charming. You enter the convent to a very small room with a lazy Susan installed on the wall. You never see the nun with whom you do the transaction, since the nuns are cloistered and avoid direct contact with the public.

On the wall beside the lazy Susan will be a pricelist. You look it over and decide which sweets you want to buy. Then you ring a buzzer on the wall. After a while you will hear the voice of a nun greet you and ask you what you want to buy. You tell her your order and after a few minutes the lazy Susan will turn and you will find your order on it. You then put your money on the lazy Susan and turn it so that the nun can get it. If there is change, the nun puts it on the lazy Susan and you then can get your change.

The transaction is completely based on trust, and that is why it is so very charming.

mcnyc

Thank you for this joannyc! I did see that particular post on these sweets, but since I trust my fellow Fodorites, thought I'd come for suggestions...