Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Monastery of Saint John of the Monarchs
Toledo Spain
2008

San Juan de Los Reyes - Entrance – Toledo, Spain - Pelican’s Nest On the top of the empty heavily carved gothic crucifix is a stone Pelican in a nest bending over feeding her two chicks. According to tradition, the pelican is depicted with an open beak giving blood to its chicks.

https://www.sanjuandelosreyes.org/en/welcome-to-san-juan-de-los-reyes/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_San_Juan_de_los_Reyes

This monastery was initially named "San Juan de la Reyna" and was conceived to be the mausoleum of the Catholic Monarchs. They would change their plans later, choosing Granada as their burial place, after its reconquest in 1492.

The monastery's construction began in 1477 following plans drawn by architect Juan Guas, and was completed in 1504. It was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist for use by Franciscan friars. In 1809 the monastery was badly damaged by Napoleon's troops during their occupation of Toledo, and abandoned in 1835. Restoration began in 1883 but was not completed until 1967. The monastery was restored to the Franciscan order in 1954.