Given the rather remote location of Guadalupe, one might expect that only a few people visit the monastery. But quite the contrary, it is extremely popular. The monastery is associated with two significant historic events: the Reconquista and the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The Catholic monarchs Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon received Christopher Columbus here several times before he set out on his journey.  Later, it became a tradition that conquistadors prayed to Our Lady of Guadelupe for support for their raids. And thus, the Black Madonna became the symbol of the Christianisation of Latin America and is a popular pilgrimage destination for Spaniards and all Christians from Spanish-speaking countries until today.

Without a doubt, the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe is on the World Heritage List mainly for its historical significance rather than its architecture. Having said that, the fortress-like façade is impressive and the cloister is a fine example of the Moorish influences on the Gothic style.
But it was not the architecture that I remember most about Guadalupe. It was rather the fact that almost all the points that could annoy me on such a visit occurred here.

Annoying point 1: a boring drive to the site
Guadalupe is in the middle of nowhere in the east of Extremadura, a one and a half hour drive from Mérida. Usually not a problem but the route runs through a particularly boring landscape. Parking was no problem, I had arrived early enough.

Annoying point 2: guided tours only
Usually, I prefer to visit a site by myself. There are exceptions, of course, but not in the case of a monastery, palace, cathedral or the like. You also have to wait for the tour to start. Usually not a problem, you can always find something to kill the time. Taking photos of the cathedral façade, for example? This brings us to…

Annoying point 3: people in front of a monument
Every visitor had to wait for the tour to start. For lack of alternatives, everyone hung around in front of the cathedral spoiling my photos. The same applies for…

Annoying point 4: cars in front of a monument
In my case, it was a bright red car and a big white van. Fortunately, both had disappeared at the end of the tour.

Annoying point 5: no photos allowed
I respect when photography of sacred objects is not allowed, regardless of religion. But in the cloister of a monastery? That has nothing to do with faith.

Annoying point 6: large tour groups
A number of almost 50 people is definitely too much for such a site. Especially when most of the tour goes through the museum.

Annoying point 7: no explanations in English
I do not expect tours in English in every WHS. Guadalupe offers English tours. My fault if it does not fit into my schedule. However, the museum of a WHS should have English labels for the items or offer info sheets in English.

Of course, I cannot blame the site for all these points, but some could easily be changed or improved. On the other hand, it is not so bad when these annoying points accumulate at a site you do not expect so much from anyway. And only one bad day on a trip with eleven WHS is not that much. Finally, after having spent the afternoon and evening in the wonderful Toledo, I was reconciled with my "annoying visit" to the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe.