Everything about Descalzas Reales totally explained
Descalzas Reales is a
monastery situated in
Madrid,
Spain.
History
El Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, literally the Monastery of Barefoot Royals, resides in the former palace of
Carlos I and
Isabel of Portugal. Their daughter,
Joan of Spain, founded this convent of
Franciscan nuns in
1557. Throughout the remainder of the
16th century and into the
17th century, the convent attracted young noblewomen that were either disappointed by love or looking for love in
Christ. Each woman brought with her a dowry. The riches quickly piled up, and the convent became one of the richest convents in all of Europe.
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Spain's finest Renaissance composer, worked at the convent from
1587 to the end of his life in
1611.
The demographics of the convent slowly changed over time, and by the
20th century, all of the sisters were in poverty. The convent maintained the riches of its past, but it was forbidden to auction any of the items off or spend any of the money it received from the dowries. The state intervened when it saw that the sisters were literally starving, and the
pope granted a special dispensation to open the convent as a museum.
Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz (died 1989) is buried in the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist next to his elder son Francisco (died 1984). Alfonso's younger brother
Gonzalo (died 2000) is buried in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian.
Today: Museum
Today the Monastery invites visitors into the once secret halls of
Madrid's arguably most mysterious building. The noblewomen's dowries lie in the Reliquary. One is said to contain pieces from
Christ's cross; another is said to carry the bones of
Saint Sebastian. Among the priceless art masterpieces are
Titian's
Caesar's Money and works by
Hans de Beken and
Brueghel the Elder.
Tours are given daily and almost exclusively in Spanish.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Descalzas Reales'.
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