Convent of Las Descalzas Reales

The hustle and bustle of the capital dies down as soon as you step inside. For this reason, many people refer to Las Descalzas as an oasis in the centre of Madrid. This convent has been characterised by its silence and seclusion ever since it was founded by Queen Joanna of Austria in 1559. In its day it was a centre of great power, a sort of parallel court that existed alongside that of the king. Today it is inhabited by a small community of cloistered nuns, though part of the building is open to public visits and used for other cultural purposes.

The building’s austere exterior façade contrasts with the valuable Royal Collections housed inside it, including interesting examples of Spanish imagery and one of the finest groups of sixteenth-century royal portraits, as well as a tapestry series designed by Rubens. The visit is structured around the lower and upper cloisters, connected by a large, completely painted staircase that is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding in the country.