The Monastery of the Incarnation in Madrid: Spanish guardian of relics since the seventeenth century

In the heart of Madrid, a few meters from the Royal Palace, the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation stands as one of the great testimonies of art and spirituality of the Spanish Golden Age. Founded in 1616 by order of Philip III and, especially, by the wish of his wife, Margaret of Austria-Styria, recently, an article in the newspaper EL DEBATE, has highlighted how this monastery of Augustinian Recollect nuns keeps in its interior more than 1,000 relics, a unique collection that is only surpassed by the Vatican.

An architectural jewel of Madrid de los Austrias

The monastery was designed by the royal architect Juan Gómez de Mora, in an austere and elegant style that set the architectural model for the Hapsburg era. Built on the lands of the Marquises of Pozas, acquired by the king for its proximity to the Royal Alcazar, the building stands out for its sober Herrerian facade and a functional layout that houses both the cells of the nuns and the impressive reliquary.

Among the most outstanding pieces in the reliquary is a silver heart with the scapula of Saint Thomas of Villanova, as well as a phial that, according to tradition, contains the blood of Saint Pantaleon and is liquefied every July 27th. The monastery not only preserves these relics, but also exhibits them to the public, making it a place of pilgrimage and cultural tourism.

Legacy of a devoted queen

The initial collection of relics, composed of 740 reliquaries, was a legacy of Queen Margaret of Austria-Styria, who entrusted the nuns with the mission of praying permanently before these sacred objects. Mariana de San José, founder of the Augustinian Recollect nuns and considered one of the great mystics of the Golden Age, was the first prioress of the monastery and personally supervised the construction works. King Philip III laid the first stone in a solemn act in 1611, although the queen did not get to see her work completed, dying shortly before the inauguration in 1616.

The reliquary: a living treasure

Unlike the Vatican, the reliquary of the Monastery of the Incarnation is open to the public and offers the opportunity to contemplate relics of saints, martyrs and confessors ranging from the first centuries of Christianity to the twentieth century. One of the most curious elements is the chest where an unpublished manuscript of Teresa of Jesus was found, five centuries after her death.

The Hall of Kings, another of the outstanding rooms, exhibits portraits of the members of the House of Austria related to the Royal Foundations, reinforcing the historical and symbolic connection between the monarchy and the religious community.

Spiritual and cultural heritage

The monastery, which belongs to the National Patrimony, has been inhabited since its origins by a community of Augustinian Recollect nuns. Coming from Spain and other countries of Latin America and Africa, the nuns combine their life of prayer with other work for the sustenance of the community. Preserving the part of the monastery dedicated to the cloister, since 1965, both church and museum are open to the public. In addition to the collection of relics, it houses important works of art by artists such as Vicente Carducho, Gregorio Fernández and Francisco Bayeu. Its main altar, designed by Ventura Rodríguez, is a masterful example of baroque art.

With more than four centuries of history and a legacy that combines faith, art and architecture, the Monasterio de la Encarnación is a living symbol of the splendor of Hapsburg Madrid and a unique jewel that connects visitors with Spain’s spiritual past. The presence of the Augustinian Recollect community makes it a place that exudes spirituality in the heart of Madrid.