[4] Building began in 1482 on a site outside the walled city, and was completed already in 1493,[3] led by Martín de Solórzano.

[4] The complex has three cloisters: The main large polyptych altarpiece in the church was painted by Pedro de Berruguete, showing scenes from the life of Thomas Aquinas.

[4] The same artist also painted St Dominic presiding over an Auto da Fe for the monastery: this work is now in the Museo del Prado.

[5] The monastery became the burial place for John, Prince of Asturias, the son of Queen Isabella I of Castile, and King Ferdinand II of Aragon.

[3] The monastery is protected as part of a World Heritage Site, "Old Town of Avila and its extra muros churches"; the monastery with a defined area of 1.02 ha is listed as one of ten extra muros churches (that is, outside the walled city) included in the site.