Description of the attraction
The Monastery of Encarnacion is one of the largest active monasteries in Spain, located in Madrid. The monastery of Encarnacion was founded in 1611 by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III, who provided every assistance in its construction.
The monastery was built in the period from 1611 to 1616 by the design of the court architect Alberto de la Madre Dios. The building was erected on the land where the houses of the Marquis de Pozas were previously located, bought from them by the king. Brick and stone slabs were used in the construction of the main Herresco-style façade. The façade is adorned with the shield of Queen Margaret and the marble relief of the Annunciation. The beginning of construction was marked by a solemn ceremony at which the first stone of the building was laid by the king himself with the blessing of the archbishop. Unfortunately, the queen did not wait for the completion of the construction of the monastery - after 3 days from the start of construction, she died.
The interior of the building was significantly altered by the architect Rodriguez Ventura after a fire in the monastery in the 18th century. The talented architect introduced elements of neoclassicism into the interior of the monastery, adding original altar decorations and paintings. The interior of the church is also decorated with murals by Luca Giordano, works by Francisco Bayeu, magnificent tiles, as well as sculptures by Gregorio Fernnades and an excellent collection of paintings by José de Ribera and Vincenzo Carducci.
The reliquary contains the relics of the saints, as well as a vessel with caked drops of St. Panteleimon. Every year, on July 27, on the day of the death of the saint, the blood becomes liquid, and if one day this does not happen, then, according to legend, terrible troubles await Madrid.
In 1965, the monastery was opened to visitors.
