Royal Monastery of La Encarnación

A CONVENT OF AUGUSTINIAN RECOLLECT NUNS

Augustinian nun Mariana de San José was chosen to take charge of the Monastery which was built between 1611 and 1616. The building was commissioned to royal architect Juan Gómez de Mora.

In 1734, the fire that destroyed the Alcazar cut off the passageway between the royal building and this complex and the remodelling of today's Plaza de Oriente during the Bonapartist government entailed the demolition of the passageway and the Treasure House.

 

ARCHITECTURE OF HERRERA´S FOLLOWERS

The Monastery of La Encarnación, declared a Cultural Heritage site on 3 June 1994, corresponds to a classical design that follows the architectural models implemented by the disciples of Juan de Herrera in El Escorial, with the participation of Francisco de Mora, his nephew Juan Gómez de Mora and Fray Alberto de la Madre de Dios. The interior of the church was completely decorated by Ventura Rodríguez between 1755 and 1775, in an exquisite neoclassical style inspired by Rome.

 

PAINTINGS, RELICS AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTS

One of the most important spaces is the Kings' Hall, arranged to exhibit all the portraits of various members of the House of Austria linked to the Royal Foundations. The convent's main cloister, choir and reliquary have also remained completely intact, the latter being an exceptional room due to its state of conservation and the richness of the pieces, reflecting the interest in creating sacred spaces to house the relics rescued from other parts of Europe where the Lutheran reform had taken place. The variety of the works of art offers testimony to the relations that this dynasty maintained with other countries, fruit of the alliances of the time.