There are many buildings and attractions in Spain that look as they did centuries ago, but there are few that still operate like they did in the generations that have past. The Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales is one such location. It is the monastery of the barefoot nun, and while that may sound like a funny name, it is a location of serious religion and serious art.

The convent was originally created in 1559 by Charles V’s daughter. She envisioned the location as a noblewoman’s retreat. At that time, it was a royal palace that allowed the noblewomen of Spain to retreat to silence. The next 200 years saw the location known as a completely practicing convent. Eventually outsiders were kept out, and the property became solely a convent.

In addition to an area to contemplate and grow in their religion, those inside the convent could also grow in their appreciation for art, as it houses a private art museum with a number of pieces of art as well as historical artifacts.

In recent years, the convent opened its doors to tourists, who are allowed to come inside the walls during scheduled tours.

The convent is an architectural spectacle in itself. The walls are made of vibrant orange stone with inviting archways, Renaissance doors and construction. Walking through the grounds and the carefully tended gardens you will feel as if you have gone back to the time of Charles V himself.

The art collection is varied and beautiful. Many of the items that are in the collection were brought to the convent by those who wished to reside within its walls. They would bring the pieces of art and artifacts as their dowry or offering to become a 'bride of Christ'. Now all those items are one of the attractions many want to see when visiting the area. Among the paintings in the gallery are those by Brueghel, Titian, and Zurbarán . There are also Rubens inspired hand-woven tapestries and sculptures by Crescenci and Mena.

Since the 1960’s the public has been able to take part in enjoying the grounds that the Franciscan nuns have so lovingly cared for all these years. They opened the convent to the public, and tourists are invited to see the area through tours that they conduct. While many wonder if they can just wander the grounds and take it all in by themselves, that is not allowed. The only way an outsider can visit the convent is by being a part of one of the tours guided by the nuns. On the tour, visitors will see both the convent grounds and the art collection on the site.

If you don’t speak Spanish, you will not understand much of what is said on the tour, since it is only given in the native language, but as you walk through, you may well find the tour fulfilling without even knowing what is being said by the tour guide. If you do have questions, English questions are allowed at the end of the tour and answers will be given to your questions.

About the Author

Ray Walberg very often writes long articles on things dealing with La Manga and Madrid. His work on villa in costa blanca can be found on his website .

One thing Spain does better than many other countries, is offer magnificent buildings to see, and learn about. One such building is the Basilica de San Francisco El Grande, or church of San Francisco in Madrid. When it comes to the most important places to see in Madrid, this is right up there at the top of the list. To get an idea of how massive this building, the dome atop the church of San Francisco is larger than that on St. Paul's Cathedral. It is architecturally astounding. Inside the church are a number of sculptures and paintings that are a dream to view for art lovers.

Created with Neo-classical design, the church of San Francisco towers over a portion of old Madrid. The dome roof is a massive portion of the three-sectioned building. And while it looks large from the outside, you cannot really understand the magnitude of it until you view the 108 foot open ceiling from the inside. The interior is a vision, decorated with highly-detailed stained glass windows and frescoes. Considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in all of Europe, it is a sight that leaves many in awe.

When it comes to the history of the basilica, it was created under the reign of Carlos III in 1760. Even the grounds the church was built on had a religious history, having been a Franciscan convent in the past. It is believed the original convent was founded by St. Francis of Assisi himself in 1217. The entryway is a set of seven hand carved, fantastic walnut doors that take guests inside the chapels.

If you enter one of the three doors nearest the circular portion of the building, you may find the San Bernardino de Siena chapel. Look at the paintings on the wall here. One is a Goya painting of the saint, the other is a self-portrait from Goya.

While the church may not have been constructed until the middle of the 18th century, that does not mean everything inside is from the 18th century. On the contrary, many of the items in the church are much, much older. Even the choir stalls are from the 16th century, gothic pieces from Segovia.

In addition to the Goya paintings in the San Bernardino de Siena, there are other painted masterpieces by artists such as Maella, Cano, and Zurbarán, not to mention beautiful sculptures in marble by artists such as Benlliure and Bellver.

While it may seem like the church is more of an art sanctuary, with so many masterpieces inside, it is also a fully operational cathedral. While visitors are welcome, they will be accompanied by a guide and are asked to remain silent as a sign of respect as they pass through.

When you are planning your sightseeing tour schedule, the church of San Francisco is easy to get to. It is located in the Plaza de San Francisco el Grande, and can be accessed from the La Latina of Puerta del Toledo Metro stops.

About the Author

Robert Carlton often edits newsletters on information relating to Calpe and Madrid. His contributions on costa blanca homes for rent UK are published on his website.