Royal Convent of La Encarnación

The existence of an underground passageway connecting it with the former Alcázar palace is sufficient proof of the power once enjoyed by this convent, which is still inhabited by a community of cloistered nuns today. It was founded in 1611 by King Philip III and Margaret of Austria-Styria, on the queen's personal wish. The art collections it houses make it one of the most outstanding religious buildings in Madrid, together with Las Descalzas. 

Its sober Carmelite façade set a trend, and for decades it served as a model for other Spanish religious houses. Its straight lines evidence the influence of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the designs of one of the most important Spanish Baroque architects, Juan Gómez de Mora, who was responsible for the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Inside, the main rooms are preserved intact, such as the cloister, the choir and the relics chapel, which bear witness to the Spanish Habsburgs’ relations with the European courts. 

Several films have been shot in La Encarnación, including ‘Asesinato en la universidad’.