- Address: Plaza de las Descalzas, s / n, 28013 Madrid, Spain
- Phone: +34 914 54 88 00
- Website: http://www.patrimonionacional.es
- Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday - 10: 00-14: 00, 16: 00-18: 30. Sunday and public holidays - 10: 00-15: 00
Descalzas Reales (Descalzas Reales), or the monastery of barefoot princesses - a monastery of the XVI century in Madrid , located on the same area of Descalzas. It was founded in 1559 by Juano of Austria, daughter of Charles V (her ashes are buried in the main chapel of the monastery) and is operational.
The history of the monastery
Infanta Juan, widowed after a short-term marriage with the heir to the Portuguese throne, Joao Manuel (the marriage lasted a few days less than two years), returned home. On the site of the former palace of her parents, in which she was born (at this time her parents visited the imperial treasurer Alonso Gutierrez, who owned the palace), she founded a monastery, transferring the buildings to the Order of Clarissa. Since its inception, the monastery has served as a refuge mainly for noble girls who joined the monastery in order to avoid unwanted marriage. Entering the order, they made a contribution - someone in the form of their dowry, someone - in the form of art objects, thanks to which the monastery acquired a very impressive collection of artistic values. Today Descalzas Reales is one of the richest monasteries of Europe. During the existence of the monastery his nuns were representatives of the most famous names of Spain, including the royal family, for example, the daughter of Emperor Rudolph II Anna Dorothea, daughter of the ruler of Modena Infanta Maria de la Cruz and others.
The grand opening was held on the Day of the Assumption. The church was built in 1564. The church is one-nave, the nave with the lunette is designed by the Italian Francesco Paciotto (who also worked in the Escorial). The altar was created in 1565, its author is Gaspard Beserr; The vestry and choirs were erected in 1612 according to the project of Gomez de Mora. As a result of the fire of 1862, the altar suffered very badly and was replaced by another, also by the authorship of Gaspar Becerra; he was brought from the Central University of Madrid (before that he was in the Jesuit monastery on the corner of the streets of Obedience and San Bernardo). The main altar is decorated with the image of Our Lady of the brush Paolo de Sen Leocadio. The work on the reconstruction of the church was personally supervised by King Philip V.
In 1679 the monastery courtyard was reconstructed - it was originally opened, it was closed to preserve heat in the building; in 1773 the open corridor turned into a closed gallery. The interior of the church was also changed in the 18th century, the works were directed by Diego de Villanueva. In 1715 by the decree of King Philip V the abatties of the monastery received the title of Spanish grandee. The monastery gradually expanded, the number of outbuildings increased, and later a large garden was laid out on the territory of the monastery.
What can you see in the monastery of Descalzas Reales?
In the monastery museum there are canvases of Titian and Rubens, Caravaggio and Zurbaran, Luini, Murillo and other famous artists, a collection of tapestries collected and presented to the monastery by Isabelle Clara Eugenia, daughter of King Philip II, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands. You can see here the works of outstanding sculptors of Europe, a collection of coins and products from crystal, silverware.
In the monastery yard you can see a cap in the Plateresque style - it has been preserved since the time when the palace was here. In the same style decorated and internal chambers of the monastery.
Noteworthy and a statue of the infant of Juan, installed in the chapel, where her remains rest. The author of the statue is Pompey Leoni. The staircase, leading into the covered arcade, is decorated with a fresco depicting members of the royal family, and the fresco "Crucifixion"; the plafond is painted by Claudio Coelho. The arcade itself is surrounded by small chapels, in which there are antiquarian objects and paintings.
4 altars adorn the cloister; they are painted in 1586 by Diego de Urbina. In one of the niches is the painting "Our Lady with the Child", authored by Luini. In the cloister of the monastery, solemn processions are held every year during Holy Week.
How and when to visit the monastery?
The Monastery of Descalzas Reales is open for visits from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:30. On Sundays and public holidays it is possible to get there from 10-00 to 15-00. The cost of the visit is 7 euros; you can see the monastery and free of charge - as part of the excursion group (accompanied by a guide who tours in Spanish). The museum was opened in 1960 by the decree of Pope John XXIII.
1 and 6 January, 1 and 15 May, 24, 25 and 31 December, the monastery for visits is closed.
You can reach the monastery by metro - lines 2 and 5; go to the Opera station.
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