Dominican priory, La Guardia de Jaén

The Dominican priory of La Guardia de Jaén (Convento de Santo Domingo de La Guardia de Jaén), known from its dedication as the Convent of Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz (Convento de Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz), was founded for a community of friars of the Dominican Order (otherwise the Order of Preachers) in the town of La Guardia de Jaén in the province of Jaén in Andalusia, Spain. Construction at the current location began around 1539. The priory was shut down and confiscated during the Trienio Liberal (1820–1823), and the buildings are now mostly ruined. The church however remains in use as the present Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (iglesia parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción). At first Gothic in style, its layout initially followed a design by Domingo de Tolosa. It was later extensively revised by Andrés de Vandelvira, who imprinted his personal Renaissance stamp on the church and the cloister loggia. Although the contract signed by Vandelvira set an execution period of two and a half years, his work actually took 26 years, which led to a new commission for Francisco del Castillo el Mozo, who undertook the construction of the vaulted ceiling over the choir, the enclosure of the west end and the completion of the loggia (or gallery) of the cloister with the addition of a fountain dedicated to Mary Magdalene, the patron sai

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