The monastery of San Martín Pinario, located opposite the front of the Cathedral's azabachería, occupies more than two hectares. The original church was consecrated in 1102 by Archbishop Xelmírez, and some of the monastic buildings still remain from that period. It was rebuilt in the 16th century, mixing Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical elements.
One of the monastery's unique features is its grand staircase leading to the building's façade, the only element that breaks the simplicity and coldness of the lines. This façade, framed by severe Doric columns and featuring the figure of Saint Benedict, is divided into three parts and a central axis, flanked by two large four-storey canvases. Its five-section tower also contributes to breaking the monotony.
The original church has an attractive plateresque façade with an altarpiece structure and shows the figures of the Virgin and child together with several Benedictine abbots. On the outside, the façade of the church is also structured in three vertical bodies that correspond to the internal division of the church and are configured with an important decorative profusion, unlike the rest of the monastery.
