The Seu Vella’s cloister, apart from being considered one of the greatest in Europe in terms of its dimensions, is one of the few cloisters, also on a European level, which, exceptionally, was left open to the city. A peculiarity which sets it apart from conventional cloisters given that, by definition, cloisters are closed courtyards. In fact, the word cloister is derived from the Latin word claudere, which means closed. The entire southeast gallery, where you are now, offers a wonderful view of the city, the river Segre and the agricultural fields of Lleida.

Although historical documents fail to account for this peculiarity, keep in mind that the cathedral was usually entered through the Gothic door of the Apostles, a door which leads directly to the cloister. This means that to enter the church, visitors had to cross the cloister first, thereby making it a kind of public square, which –a far cry from the typical silence, meditation, and seclusion– would have been full of people and the constant buzz of voices. A good way to show that the Seu Vella’s cloister wasn't like the others was to leave it open to the city.

It should be said, however, that like other cloisters, it was a big cemetery, as well as the scene of great processional routes.