La Encarnacion monastery in Madrid - Madrid monuments information - Spain
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MADRID Information: REAL MONASTERIO DE LA ENCARNACION |
 The short Encarnacion Passage leaves Marina Española Square and goes along the monastery, one of the great jewels in the architecture of Madrid. It was founded in the early 17th century by Felipe III and Margaret of Austria, to keep a promise made if the Moors were expelled. The buildings were designed by Juan Gomez de Mora, and are dominated by the church, with the actual convent on the left, inhabited by a small community of cloistered nuns, and the chaplain's house on the right with other rooms. The outside is extremely simple brick and stone work, which contrasts with the rich decoration inside. Visits can be made in guided groups. The rooms leading to the cloisters hold a modest collection of paintings for visitors to e~oy, the most important being a portrait of Felipe V, a fine St. John the Baptist by Jose Ribera, a Blessed Virgin by Carrerño, and a historical picture: The delivery of the Princesses Ann of Austria and Elizabeth de Bourbon, by Van der Meulen. The sculpture collection includes wood carvings from the school of Gregorio Fernandez, one of which is an impressive Christ lying down, and an ivory crucifix on a mahogany base made by Michael Perronius. In the curio section, it is worth stopping to look at two small display cases depicting St. Antonio and St. Teresa in their cells. These are very meticulously worked in wax. However, the monastery is worth visiting to see the reliquary alone. This is a room with ceilings decorated by Bayeu, one of the precursors of the style of Goya. It holds a very large collection of over 1,500 relics ranged on rosewood shelves, and even contains a phial of the amazing blood of St. Pantaleon, which turns into liquid every year on the 27th of July, or when a catastrophe is drawing near. The only original part of the church left standing is the facade, since the interior was destroyed by a fire. It was restored in the middle of the 18th century by Ventura Rodriguez. 
Tunnels and passages As the Oriente Palace was so close to the Encarnacion Convent, it was easy to build a tunnel which would allow the monarchs to attend prayers more discreetly. It also gave rise to several less edifying speculations. For example, it is said that the tunnel branches off to the Casa de Campo, underneath the Manzanares river, so that the monarchs could flee at critical times. It is also said that Godoy used another passage to go from his palace to the Queen's rooms without being seen. |
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