The Descalzas Reales Monastery is located in the centre of Madrid in an old palace that once housed King Charles I and his wife Isabella. Palace, which at one time housed King Charles I and his wife Isabella of Portugal. of Portugal. Here, in 1535, the royal couple had a daughter, Princess Juana. It was she who founded the Convent of the Clarice Nuns, which dates back to 1557.
The convent's novices were predominantly women from wealthy and noble families who sought protection within these walls from their families who wanted to give them a into arranged marriages. When they came to the convent, these girls brought their dowries to the cloister. their dowries, often including priceless works of art. and soon the convent of Descalzas-Reales became incredibly wealthy. At the same time. the girls didn't use their treasures - they vowed to spend their lives a life of poverty and service to God.
Although the monastery is active, today there is a museum, which has a rich collection of works of art. a rich collection of art to rival that of the most famous museums. to rival those of the most famous museums. Here you can see works by Rubens, Titian, Caravaggio, Luini, Surbaran and many other outstanding painters and sculptors. sculptors. There is also a collection of coins, marble sculptures, and silverware. silverware. There's also a collection of beautiful tapestries that were given to the convent by Isabella Clara Clara, daughter of Philip II of the Netherlands. Eugenia.
The interior of the former palace building is decorated in the Plateresco style. The staircase leading to the novices' quarters and the chapel are decorated with amazing frescoes. by various masters. The chapel where the founder of the convent, Donna Juana. Donna Juana, the founder of the convent, is buried in the chapel, which is decorated with a kneeling sculpture of her. sculpture by Pompey Leoni.
