Description of the attraction
The majestic building of the Monastery of St. Teresa is located in Avila in the Plaza de la Santa Teresa. This monastery is one of the main pilgrimage sites for Catholics in Spain.
The monastery is dedicated to Saint Teresa of Avila, one of the most revered saints in Spain, who is a reformer of the Carmelite monastic order and is recognized as a Teacher of the Church.
Born into a noble family, Teresa from childhood was distinguished by special piety. From the age of six, the favorite book of a girl who already knew how to read was The Lives of Saints and Martyrs. Her father was categorically against her desire to become a nun, and yet at the age of 20 she ran away from home and took tonsure at the Carmelite monastery of the Annunciation. A wise, practical woman devoted to monastic life, she became the founder of religious communities and a reformer of the Carmelite monastic order.
The building of the monastery of Teresa of Avila was erected in the 17th century after her canonization. The monastery was built on the site of the house where the saint was born and lived. This nunnery is active today, which is why pilgrims and tourists have the opportunity to inspect the ancient building only from the outside, and go inside only to the chapel located at the church. The walls of the chapel are decorated with images of St. Teresa and scenes from her life. The chapel also contains the relics of St. Teresa and her companion and follower of St. John of the Cross. Here you can see Teresa of Avila's rosary and sandals and more. Preserved at the monastery and the garden, in which, according to legend, little Teresa spent a lot of time in childhood.
