- Address: Plaza de la Encarnación, 1, 28013 Madrid, Spain
- Phone: +34 914 54 88 00
The Royal Monastery of Encarnación , or the Incarnation of the Lord - is one of the pearls of the Spanish capital. This Augustinian convent was founded in 1611 for nuns from the upper class. The monastery is rich in various cultural values - traditionally rich ladies who wished to join the monastery (or noble families who want to send their adolescents) as a contribution to the monastery donated a variety of art objects.
The monastery still operates today - and is still intended for the representatives of the most aristocratic families of Spain.
There is an Encarnacion monastery on the Plaza Encarnacion Square with the same name, you can reach it by metro (go to Opera station). In front of the monastery is a monument to Lope de Vega, set here in the 70s of last century. The author of the sculpture is Mateo Inurria. By the way, near the monastery is the legendary Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - one of the three Golden Triangle of Arts, which also includes the Prado Museum and the Queen Sofia Arts Center .
A bit of history
The initiative to create the monastery belonged to Queen Margarita of Austria, the wife of Philip III. In honor of this, sometimes the monastery is also called Las Margaritas. The foundation of the monastery was dedicated to the expulsion of the Moriscos from Spain, which took place in 1609. Construction of the project, developed by the monk-architect Alberto de la Madre Dios, began soon after the decree was issued.
King Philip not only laid the first stone in the foundation of the monastery - the royal couple itself controlled its construction (Margarita - not for long, since she died in the same year of 1611, in which the monastery was founded), so the construction was completed in a unique short time - just for 5 years. But the first nuns appeared before they had a new "house" prepared for them and lived at first in the monastery of St. Isabel. They arrived from the Augustinian monastery of the city of Valladolid, and the first novice of the monastery was the goddaughter of the king and queen, Aldons de Sounig. Monarchs, thus, made one of the first gifts in the treasury of the monastery - an agate cup, encrusted with gold and decorated with rubies. This cup was used during the participle procedure.
The facade of the monastery is built in the style of the erresco (the style is a "spanized" variation of the Renaissance and is named after architect Herrero). He served as a model for the creation of many other temples in Spain. The facade is made of brick and stone slabs.
The official opening of the monastery took place in 1616, July 2, when the construction work was completed. The ceremony was held with unprecedented pomp and lasted all day. Evening Mass was served by the Patriarch of India Diego Guzman de Aros.
In the 18th century, the church was seriously damaged by fire, after which restoration work was carried out under the leadership of Ventura Rodriguez, who changed the style of the interior, adding elements of neoclassicism to it.
In 1842 the monastery was officially dissolved, the nuns were ripped off, the church property was confiscated. Some of the buildings were demolished. However, already in 1844 a project for the reconstruction of the monastery was developed, and in 1847 two events occurred simultaneously: the nuns were allowed to return to the monastery and began its reconstruction.
Legends of the monastery
In addition to other shrines, and more than 700 of them in the monastery (they are in the reliquary), the monastery stores the blood of St. Januarius and St. Panteleimon, and the blood of the latter annually becomes a liquid on July 27 (the day dedicated to this saint). According to the legend, as long as this happens, Madrid will prosper and prosper, but as soon as this event does not happen for some reason, the city is threatened with innumerable disasters.
What to see in the monastery?
Today the monastery has a unique collection of art objects - for example, there are works by Jose de Ribera, Vicente Carducci, Pedro de Mena, Lucas Hordan, Gregorio Fernandez and other famous painters and sculptors; All these canvases and statues can be seen in the museum, located on the territory of the monastery. Access to the museum is free.
For a public visit, the monastery was opened in 1965. Visiting the whole territory of the monastery will not work - precisely because it is acting. For tourists only part of it is open, and then you can visit it only as part of the excursion group.
The interior of the monastery is very beautiful; it is made in the style of neoclassicism. Its decoration is made of marble and bronze sculptures, including the famous "Reclining Christ" and "Christ bound to the column" (sculptor Gregorio Fernandez), as well as the painting of Francisco Bayeu (brother-in-law Goya) and Luca Giordano. Very beautifully decorated altar.
How to get to the monastery and when it can be visited?
It is possible to get to Encarnación Square by the 2nd or 5th line of the metro (Opera station) and municipal buses No. 3 and 148 (at the Baylen-Mayor stop).
Opening hours of the monastery: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 to 18.30 (with a lunch break, which lasts from 14.00 to 16.00), on Sundays and other public holidays - from 10.00 to 15.00. Monday is a day off. You can visit the monastery at any time of the year, but it is best to do it in spring or summer - at this time, thanks to the blossoming greenery, it is especially beautiful, and even the very heat you can hide under the canopy of trees and fully enjoy the beauties of this historical and cultural monument.
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