A Place Of Interest For Every Tourist

While traveling through Madrid, you will find that every time you think you've seen the most interesting thing, you suddenly find one better than the previous one. Such is the case with the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, which is known as the Monastery of Barefoot Nuns. Founded in 1559 by Joan of Spain, it is located in the palace formerly owned by her parents, Charles V. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, women that were unlucky at love or wanted a life with Christ would come to the Monastery along with their dowry. The values of all these possessions turned this nunnery into the richest convent in the world. Thanks to all those dowries, today this monastery is not only a place of God for the nuns, but also a museum with wonderful attractions.

The grounds were not always open to the public. For over 200 years, it was private. A couple centuries later, the nuns were living in poverty due to different demographics and things had changed inside the monastery. No longer was the convent allowed to auction off the dowries. Any money that was received in exchange for the dowries could not be spent either. The women used the place as a way to worship Christ as well as enjoy the beauty of the private art museum it had become. Renaissance architecture helped to make this the beautiful piece must more than just a building. The period this was built in is evident in the large archways and doors.

The art collections increased in size as each woman that came to become the bride of Christ each brought a dowry. Some are valuable paintings by artists such as Titian, Brueghel the Elder and many Mena sculptures. A marble mausoleum designed by Leoni is part of the exhibits as well as a Crescenci sculpture of Emperatriz Maria. All of these exhibits and more are available for viewing by the public. These have all only increased in value. Today Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales is a very rich art museum/convent that serves many purposes.

In 1960, the grounds were opened to the public by the nuns, who also conducted the tours-the only possible way to see the place or collections inside. The tours are very interesting whether you speak Spanish or English. Although they are give in Spanish, questions can be asked and answered in English. These tours have never been a disappointment. Many choose to check out the Convento de la Encarnacim, which is right next door.