Royal Convent of La Encarnación

The Real Monasterio de la Encarnación is a monastery of the Augustinian Order in Madrid. It was. Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III, founded and took especially women from the higher layers. The Real Monasterio de la Encarnación is part of the Patrimonio Nacional and open to the public. It houses important Spanish cultural heritage.

The monastery was next to the Real Alcázar de Madrid, which was located on the site of the current Royal Palace in Madrid, built and had direct access to the royal family. The monastery complex was designed by the architect and monk Alberto de la Madre de Dios Herrera - style building was constructed 1611-1616 in white and black granite. On 2 July 1616, the monastery was inaugurated. It was artistically richly endowed among other altarpieces by artists who worked on the farm, such as Vicente Juan van der Hamen Carducho and y León and frescoes. From Carducho comes the painting of the high altar, showing an Annunciation. The beauty of the monastery was often praised. For example, Cassiano dal Pozzo of which emphasized especially the view in the galleries admiringly. His employer, the Cardinal Francesco Barberini, visited the monastery during his stay in Madrid nine times. In the 18th century, there was a reorganization which resulted in about altars were repositioned and new frescoes were painted by Francisco Bayeu. Since 1965 the monastery open to the public, which also allowed a greater art historical research and thus to new insights about the work of Juan van led Hamens. In recent years, the paintings of the monastery were restored.

View into the central nave of the abbey church

View of the dome of the Church