Monasteries

Delve into the heart of Spanish history with a visit to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a monumental complex that will leave you breathless. Located in the picturesque town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, this impressive architectural complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses a royal palace, a basilica, a pantheon, a library, a school, and a monastery, all in one place.

Built in the 16th century under the visionary King Philip II, El Escorial is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance and a symbol of the power and influence of the Spanish monarchy. Philip II conceived this grandiose project as a royal residence, family pantheon, and center of learning, also celebrating the victory at the Battle of Saint Quentin.

Located at the foot of the majestic Mount Abantos, El Escorial was designed by architects Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, who captured their genius in every corner of the complex. The Herrerian style, characterized by its geometric rigor and sobriety, is evident in the imposing façade and in each of the interior spaces.

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a true museum that houses an impressive art collection:

Hapsburg Palace: Tour the royal apartments and the Battle Room, and admire masterpieces of Spanish, Italian, Venetian, and Flemish painting.

Bourbon Palace: Admire the elegance of its rooms, adorned with tapestries by Goya and Bayeu, and the majestic Villanueva staircase.

Library: Immerse yourself in knowledge among its more than 40,000 volumes and admire the Tibaldi frescoes that decorate its vault.

Basilica: Be awestruck by the grandeur of its dome, the choir and main altarpiece, and the royal mausoleums of Charles I and Philip II.

Royal Pantheons: Descend into the crypt to see the tombs of the kings of Spain and admire the delicate detail of the Pantheon of Infants.

Chapterhouse: Enjoy an exceptional art gallery, with works by Titian, Velázquez, and Van Dyck, among other great masters.

Visiting the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a journey through time, an opportunity to admire the grandeur of Spanish history and art. Don't miss this unique experience.

The monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Visitación, also known as the Descalzas Reales, is a cloistered monastery of Poor Clares founded in 1559 by Juana de Austria, widow of Prince Juan Manuel of Portugal, sister of King Philip II and mother of the future Portuguese king Don Sebastián. It is located in the heart of Madrid, in the Plaza de las Descalzas, near Puerta del Sol, Plaza del Celenque and Calle Preciados.

The monastery was built on the site of an old palace, which may have belonged to Alfonso VI. In the 16th century it belonged to the royal treasurer Alonso Gutiérrez de Madrid, and it was the birthplace of Juana of Austria.

The work to transform the palace into a convent was directed by Diego Sillero. The church, completed in 1564, is said to be the work of Juan Bautista de Toledo, although recent studies suggest that it is the creation of Francesco Paciotto. The cloister is known for the processions that take place in it during Holy Week.

The Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales boasts an important artistic heritage, including the tapestries of The Eucharistic Apotheosis, designed by Rubens and produced by the Flemish looms of Raes and Geubels, and the Madonna and Child by Bernardino Luini.

The Royal Monastery of La Encarnación is one of the most emblematic Baroque monuments of 17th century Madrid and was founded in 1611 by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III, as a cloistered convent. 

The church, work of Juan Gómez de Mora, is richly ornamented with sculptures and paintings, including works by artists such as Alonso Cano, Gregorio Fernández and Francisco Rizi. Of particular importance is the reliquary which houses a collection of 700 pieces made of bronze, coral, ivory and fine woods from Italy, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest, the monastery also includes a series of monastic rooms, which can be visited, including the cell of Queen Isabella of Bourbon, the refectory and the choir.

If you want to discover more about the Madrid Baroque, don´t miss out a visit to the Royal Monastery of La Encarnación.

The Monastery is located at Plaza de la Encarnación, 1, in the centre of Madrid. 

For more than six centuries, the imposing Monastery of Santa María de El Paular has overlooked Rascafría.

Set in the majestic landscape of the Lozoya valley, it houses around fifty paintings by the Venetian painter Vicente Carducho. Located about two kilometres from the town centre, the architectural complex of the Monastery of Santa María de El Paular consists of the monastery, the church and a palace. The latter, which was intended to house the kings, was converted into a hotel in the 1970s and is currently temporarily closed.

The Carthusian monastery of Nuestra Señora de Santa María de El Paular, the first Carthusian foundation in Castile, was an important cultural and economic centre for centuries, until the confiscation of the monastery in the 19th century caused its decline. From the mid-20th century onwards, a Benedictine community dedicated to monastic life and to the care of guests and visitors settled here.

The monastery is a jewel of monastic art with a rich collection of paintings by Vicente Carducho. Here we can admire 52 of the 56 original paintings, on loan from the Prado Museum.

The Monastery of Santa María La Real de Valdeiglesias, located in the town of Pelayos de la Presa, is one of the oldest and most iconic monuments in Madrid Region.

Founded in the 12th century by Alfonso VII, it is one of the most outstanding examples of Cistercian architecture in Spain.

The monastery has witnessed the history of Madrid for centuries, being sacked, burned and abandoned. Yet always rising from the ashes to reveal its history.

It features a Latin cross plan, with a central nave and two aisles with the chevet formed by a polygonal apse and two side chapels.

The monastery houses a collection of valuable religious art, including paintings, sculptures and liturgical objects. Some of the most outstanding pieces include a 14th-century Gothic altarpiece, a 15th-century image of the Virgin of Valdeiglesias and a 16th-century Plateresque choir stalls.

Park of the Monastery :

Next to the Monastery there  is a 20-hectare park. The park is inhabited by a great variety of trees and plants, including pines, eucalyptus and cypresses.

How to get to the Monastery of Santa María La Real de Valdeiglesias:

The monastery is located in the town of Pelayos de la Presa, some 60 kilometres from Madrid. It can be reached by car, bus or train.

By car, take the M-501 road, at exit 43. By bus, get the 664 bus service, which leaves from Madrid bus station.

Visit the Monastery of Santa María La Real de Valdeiglesias and discover this exceptional monument, with its history, architecture and charm.

The monastery was built as a cloistered nuns convent by the architect Juan Gómez de Mora and houses a museum showing the way the nuns lived and where you can admire the monastery's magnificent art collection.

It was founded as a cloistered convent for Cistercian nuns by order of the Archbishop of Toledo, under the direction of the architect Juan Gómez de Mora, who designed the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, the Clerecia in Salamanca and the Pantheon of Kings at the Escorial.

The construction of the monastery began in 1618, and inside it there is a majestic oval dome, the largest of its kind in Spain. In addition to the church, the monastery had a cell area, a large and small cloister, an upper and lower choir, a chapter house, two sacristies, kitchen, pantry, cellar, porter's lodge, parlours and a small inn.

Note the façade and Saint Bernard statue , a work attributed to the Portuguese sculptor Manuel Pereira, whose hands also created the carvings for the Church of the Society of Jesus. 
In the upper gallery of the church is the Cistercian Cloistered Museum of San Bernardo, which recreates a cloistered cell and kitchen, along with part of the magnificent art collection that the monastery has guarded for centuries.

The adjoining building is the Archbishop's Palace, the official summer residence of the archbishops and bishops of Toledo and Alcalá, which suffered a fire in 1939 that affected the monastic complex. Thanks to various restoration projects, the dome and the lantern that crowns it were restored to their splendour.