Towns and Franciscan Monasteries in Andalusia at the End of the Middle Ages. Urban Hierarchies and Settlement Expansion Processes

One of the most frequent features of the medieval urban world was the monastic houses of the Mendicant Orders. They were distributed in different parts of the urban layout depending on several factors. The aim of this work is to analyse how this process occurred from its inception until 1520 as regards the towns chosen for their foundation. In addition, the different rhythms of establishment and the sites selected within the towns are studied. The article reveals the deep imprint that the Franciscans and especially their friaries have left in the urban layout of Andalusia