Tour of the Convents in Madrid

*17th century. A process of urban concentration took place and  Monasteries would move from the outskirts to the city centre so that their churches would recieve more visitors and become more important. The old monasteries and convents in towns moved to the big cities such as Madrid.

*Monarchs supported  monasteries economically because their religious beliefs and to have a place to rest in peace and silence. Monasteries were provided with and orchard, gardens, a library, a reliquary and a burial place. 

*From the Middle Ages convents also hosted  widows (crowned or not crowned) or illegitimate descendants.

*Medieval and Baroque convents were a repetition of the outer life in society: At the cloister the individual differences were reflected. Some noble nuns had servants and assistants. Some of them also had their own orchards and were allowed to furnish their cells. Sometimes they even had a living room, a kitchen and a bedroom for their maids. Some complaints from the Court were made to stop these situations. However there were also noble nuns who set a good example of how to live according to the Convent´s rules.

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"Carboneras" Convent. (Jerónimas del Corpus Christi)

*Founded in 1607 by Beatriz Ramírez de Mendoza, countess of Castellar and grandaughter of Beatriz Galindo "La Latina" (Isabel I´s private tutor)

*It was nicknamed as "Carboneras" because a painting of the Inmaculate Virgin (that can be seen inside) was said to be found in a coal bunker and it was donated  to this Convent as it was miraculous.

*Only one nave. Barrel vault. Extraordinary altarpiece from Felipe III´s time. The central canvas is "The last supper" by Vicente Carducho. (see the unusual position of the table for the supper).

*Cheap materials that try to look rich and expensive.

*Grilles covering windows (Typical from convents)

*At the choir there is a painting of "Jesus Nazareno" which belonged to Saint Teresa. The painted was given to the Convent by Father Gracián (Teresa´s confessor)

*National Monument since 1981.

                                                The Last Supper (by Vicente Carducho)

Inmaculate Virgin (found in a coal bunker).

Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel (since 1892)

*It is in the same place where the parish church of Saint Justo and Saint Pastor used to be until it was demolished in the XVII century to build a bigger one.

*The construction started in 1739 and ended in 1746 under D. Luis Antonio de Farnesio´s sponsorship. (Cardenal Infante de Toledo, Carlos III´s brother).

*Italian-French Baroque not very usual in Spain (as Ribera´s Baroque was).

*The facade is made of granite and is divided in two main bodies subdivided by doric pilasters (the ones below) and ionic pilasters (above). It shows four sculptures which represent the "four virtues". Faith, hope and charity. (Prudence, strength,  restraint and justice are the cardinal ones)

*Architect: Giacomo Bonavía.

*Relief of the saints Justo and Pastor with Daciano (between the statues of the faith and hope.

*At the top the Cardenal - Infante´s coat of arms.

*It is currently the Opus Dei´s main Basilica.

*Narrow and high nave. The arches cross each other. 

*Oval dome over the transept.

*Set of altarpieces by Ventura Rodríguez.

Former Convent of Bernardas del Sacramento. (Bernardas cistercienses Descalzas)

*Founded by Cristóbal de Sandoval y Rojas (Duke of Uceda), Felipe III´s favourite (valido) in 1615.

*Former orchard that is currently a quiet garden in the centre of Madrid. It is attached to some City Hall offices and it´s open to public during the working timetable. After that it is  open just for the neighbours of the attached building. 

*Its temple is the Arzobispal Castrense church. (Acquired by the Defence Department in 1982). It was built in 1744.

*Facade by Bartolomé Bustamante following the model of the Encarnación Convent.

*Made of granite.

*Small square at the front. ("compás")

*Facade formed by a big rectangle framed by vertical pilasters and divided by three horizontal spaces clearly distinguished.

*Grilles covering windows (As it is a convent)

*Cross of Malta over the main gate.

*Saint Bernardo and Saint Benito relief (founders of the Císter Order).

*Cheap materials which look luxurious. 

*Dome supported on pediments.

*The crests on the Military orders: Santiago, Calatrava, Montesa and Alcántara (under the pediments.)

Cristo de los Alabarderos.

Saint Nicolas church. Mudejar tower. The oldest church in Madrid (12th century) that got burned and was rebuilt later. Juan de Herrera was buried here.

Saint Nicolas church or "the Italians´church".

Ramales Square.

Site where the old church of San Juan was. The column commemorates that Velazquez´s body was buried in that church.

Encarnacíon Convent. Agustinas Recoletas nuns.

Lope de Vega in priest´s clothes in  his latests years.

Descalzas Convent.

Literary Madrid

Location of Juan de la Cuesta´s printing press where the "Príncipe Edition" of the first part of "El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote" was printed (1605). Atocha street. Cervantes Society headquarters.

"Edición Príncipe". Very first edition.

Location of Juan de la Cuesta´s printing press where the "Príncipe Edition" of the second part of "El ingenioso caballero Don Quijote" was printed (1615). 7 San Eugenio street. It was Juan de la Cuesta´s  widow who moved the printing press to this new place after he passed away.

Location for Teresa Mancha´s funeral home. She was the woman José de Espronceda loved . He spent the whole night there in tears and he composed "Canto a Teresa" in "El Diablo Mundo". Santa Isabel street.

Doré Cinema. Next to "Doré Lane". Gustave Doré was a very well known illustrator in the 19th century.

Gustave Doré. Illustrator.

Doré´s illustration for "Don Quixote".

San Sebastián church. Atocha street. Lope de Vega was buried here 1635.

Baptism plaque.

Deceases plaque.

Lope de Vega´s burial plaque.

Baptisms, weddings, deceases.

Santa Ana Square. Teatro Español at the back and Calderón de la Barca sculpture (low left angle). The oldest Corrales de Comedias were located here. (Corral de la Cruz, Lope´s favourite, and Corral de la Pacheca.)

18 Huertas st.

 

 

 

Trinitarias Convent. Here lies Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ribera´s area. Maravillas area. October 2011.

When the first Borbon in Spain, Felipe V, arrived in Madrid, he didn´t like what he saw as he came from France (Versailles) where art showed great splendour. He wanted to introduce the French "taste" in Madrid so local architects became relegated. However, Pedro de Ribera was lucky enough to keep building.

Pedro de Ribera. Baroque architecture.

Cuartel de Conde Duque.

Church of Montserrat.

San Cayetano church.

Toledo bridge.