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 Churches (II) |
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San Jeronimo el Real
Originally constructed in 1464, it is located near the Rio Manzanares .
When Henry IV ruled over Madrid , it was relocated to Calle Moreto and redesigned in 1503.
During the Napoleonic Wars in 1808, this gothic church was attacked and severely damaged. It was rebuilt again around 1848 and 1883. During this reconstruction, the towers were built.
Since its first construction, the church has been the primary location for numerous royal occasions such as the coronation of Juan Carlos I in 1975 and weddings of royalties such as Victoria of Battenberg and Alfonso XIII in 1906.
The bronze hanging lamps, stained-glass windows, and gothic chapels could give you goose bumps. The building s history could be felt and seen on every part of the area.
The church is open daily, free of admission from 8:00 am until 6:30 pm. The nearest railway station is Atocha , while the nearest metro station is Banco de España and Retiro .
You can visit the church by riding the metro to Tirso de Molina or La Latina
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Ermita de San Antonio - St. Anthony Hermitage
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In 1792, a hermitage was constructed by an Italian architect named Francisco Fontana . Inside the area were two churches both with elegant frescos on their domes and ceilings.
Originally a site of an ancient hermitage, today it is the location of Francisco de Goya s best art works. The year 1978 was when Goya s chain of frescoes was finished. The designs are based on St. Anthony s miracle story - where a man was raised from the dead to name his own killer.
When Goya died in 1919, his body, without the head, which was rumored to have been stolen for scientific study, was buried inside the church.
The St. Anthony Hermitage was officially declared as a national monument in 1905.
In 1928, the church was reopened as a museum and a personalized room of Goya s belongings such as etchings and drawings were added.
It was renovated in 1993, becoming one of the top attractions for art lovers.
The church is open during Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am until 8 pm. It is also open during weekends, every Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am until 2 pm.
There is a reasonably priced admission fee daily except on Wednesdays and Sundays.
You could visit the church by taking the metro and going down Principe Pio, Plaza de España or Norte stations.
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Convento de las Descalzas Reales - Royal Barefooted Nun s Convent
In 1559 until 1564, this brick convent was built by Juan Bautista and Antonio Silla. Founded by Juana of Austria, the youngest daughter of Carlos I, it was the site of her birthplace.
It was known that Doña Juana took care of the convent by being descalzas (which means shoeless). Until today, the nuns roam around the chapels barefoot.
It was only in 1570 that the church was finally completed by Diego de Villanueva.
In 1961, the Royal Barefooted Nun s Convent became a national museum. However, it is still a residence of around 40 Franciscan nuns. Each of the nuns of the Santa Clara order is assigned to take care of the 33 chapels located in the area.
Inside the convent, you could view exceptional art works by artists such as Murill, Tiziano, Sanchez Coit, Surbaran, Titan, Luini and Brueghel the Elder.
The convent can only be visited via a Spanish 45-minute guided tour every Tuesdays to Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm.
There is a fair admission fee, a discount for students. However, it is free of charge for European citizens every Wednesdays.
You can visit the convent by going down the Sol or Callao station.
Basilica de San Francisco el Grande - Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
The construction of this basilica started around 1761, directed by Francisco Cabezas . However, its completion in 1784 was accomplished by the architect Francisco Sabatini.
Its exceptional features are known throughout Europe . Its dome, which measures over 30 meters or 100 feet, surpasses the domes in Paris and London .
Other highlights of the basilica are Francisco Sabatini s neoclassical fascia, Goya s self-portrait of the Sermon of San Bernardino de Siena and Francisco Bayeu s frescoes.
Within the interiors of its seven chapels, a massive and exceptional collection of paintings is displayed. These art works are painted by artists such as Zurbaran, Maella, Casado del Alisal, Alonso Cano and Goya . There are also marble sculptures by Mariano Benlliure and Ricardo Bellver .
The church is open from Tuesdays until Saturday from 11 am until 1 pm and 4 pm until 6:30 pm. If you wish to visit this site alone, you can ride the metro station and stop at the Tirso de Molina or La Latina station.
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Santa Barbara las Salesas Reales
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The Santa Barbara church was constructed under the order of Barbara de Braganza - the wife of Fernando VI.
One of the most outstanding churches in Madrid , both its interior and exterior designs are extravagantly designed.
Its ornate frontage was constructed by Moradillo and Carlier, around 1750 and 1758.
The Santa Barbara las Salesas Reales is now home of Madrid s Supreme Court or the Palacio de Justicia.
You can visit the Supreme Court by taking the metro to Colon or Alonso Martinez .
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San Pedro el Viejo - St. Peter s the Elder
Since there are two St. Peters in Madrid , this church is named as St. Peter s the Elder to tell it apart from the newer church.
The church is located in an old mosque, which dates back from the 15 th century. However, most of its other features were built during the 18 th century.
San Pedro el Viejo is famous for its folklore. The original bell was known to be magical -- the night it was supposed to be carried up to the tower bell, the workers found it heavy and left it outside the church instead. The next morning came and the bell was found mysteriously hanging up in the tower. After this incident, people from Madrid believed that the bell had magical powers such as preventing storms.
However, in 1565, the bell was taken away.
The most visited feature of the church is the Mudejar tower from the 14 th century and the coat of arms entranceway.
The church is open every Tuesday to Thursday from 8 am until 12:30 pm and from 5 until 8 pm. Although visits are not allowed during mass, there is an all-day tour of the church during Fridays.
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