Monasterio de la Encarnación, Madrid
The Monasterio de la Encarnación (Monastery of the Incarnation) is the second of Central Madrid's royally-endowed Hapsburg monasteries (the first being the Descalzas Reales).
The Monastery of the Incarnation nestles quietly in a charming little square between the Royal Palace and Plaza España. Although it pales slightly in comparison to the Descalzas Reales, it still remains by any other standards a must-see.
Founded by Margaret of Austria and Philip III in 1611 and rebuilt after a disastrous fire by Ventura Rodriguez in 1767, the convent is still inhabited by Augustine Recoletos nuns who remain out of sight in their cloisters during visiting hours.
The monastery's facade is a fine example of post-Herreran style and inside there's an impressive selection of polychrome sculptures and paintings, highlighted by Ribera's superb portrait of John the Baptist.
Most extraordinary of its many salons is the Reliquario (relics room), where the solidified blood of St. Pantaleon, permanently kept in a glass orb, supposedly liquefies for 24 hours every year beginning at midnight on July 27 (the eve of his saint's day). According to legend, if it does not liquefy disaster will follow.
On display all around it are the bone fragments and bronze, copper, and gold reliquaries of other saints and martyrs. The main cloister and church are also well worth a look.
As in the Descalzas, tours are conducted in Spanish.
Quick Facts
| Address: | Plaza de la Encarnación 1, Madrid, Spain |
| Phone: | 91-547-05-10 |
| Metro: | Opera or Santo Domingo |
| Bus: | 25, 39, or 148 |
| Hours: | Tues-Thurs and Sat 10:30am-12:45pm and 4-5:45pm; Sun 10:30-1:45pm |
| Cost: | €3.50 |
Main source: Frommer's Madrid, 1st ed.
Travel Resources
- Madrid City Maps - Sacred Destinations
- Madrid Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Madrid Day Tours - Viator
- Madrid Car Rentals - AutoEurope
- Madrid Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
