Monasterio de la Encarnacion
Monasterio de la Encarnacion
4
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Austrias
How to get there
- Ópera • 4 min walk
- Santo Domingo • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
179 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
55
Average
25
Poor
13
Terrible
11
MDOGP
Dallas, TX1,227 contributions
Sept 2020 • Solo
This monastery was built in the 17th century by Queen Margaret of Austria, the wife of Philip the third. It used to be a monastery for royal members, so they keep many beautiful religious pieces of art. The building is really austere, but the interior is very bright. I did not visit the monastery but the church.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MDOGP
Dallas, TX1,227 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
This was a guided visit that lasted 85 minutes. It was really instructive. I really learned about the different benefactors, art, and religious life in Spain in the 17th century. It is not a popular place for tourists, only 6 people were visiting the museum at the time. I highly recommend it along with the discalced monastery.
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael K
London, UK544 contributions
May 2023
This 17th century monastery still has a community of nuns but is looked after by the Patrimonio Nacional. It is an Augustinian convent founded 1611 by Margaret of Austria, wife of Felipe III. We had booked for the 11 am guided tour. It was very detailed, but entirely in Spanish, so we didn’t understand a word of it. We spent a lot of time at the start looking at paintings, mainly of 17th century nobility and clerics – goodness knows who! (no guide book in English was available). We were able to go “round the back” to see the nuns’ chapel, at right angles to the church behind a grille, so that they cannot be seen from the nave but can see the altar. Thence into the reliquary chamber, a very ornate room, ceiling by Cartucho, stuffed with containers with parts from miscellaneous saints, including St Pantaleon. It is claimed that his dried blood liquefies on July 27th, the anniversary of his death. To those who like this sort of thing, the tour will be very appealing.
Written May 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3LoveLife
Margate City, NJ210 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Book a guided tour through patrimonionacional.es, limited tickets available. The hour and half tour was completely in muy rapido espanol, but worth it to see the Relic Chapel, thousands of relics including the blood of St. Pantaleon.
Written March 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harriet E
16 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
My boyfriend and I visited this evening, as part of a guided tour in Spanish. When we arrived, the security guard explained that the guide spoke no English and gave us a guide book to acquaint us with the monastery. He was happy to explain some of the basics and was very friendly.
Then the tour began. What a guy! Neither my boyfriend or I speak Spanish but we could pick up bits here and there. The security guard (I am embarrassed to say I did not ask his name) was bringing up the rear and he talked to my bf and I the whole way round. It was like having a private tour! He apologised profusely for his (really good) English and talked to us about the artworks, the reliquary (oh my - a sight to behold!) and the fascinating history of the monastery.
Both of us agreed that it was a fantastic tour - not only is the building rich in history and beautiful artefacts, but the staff were charming. I'm really glad we made the trip and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in religious art and history. But... Perhaps speak a little Spanish first!
Then the tour began. What a guy! Neither my boyfriend or I speak Spanish but we could pick up bits here and there. The security guard (I am embarrassed to say I did not ask his name) was bringing up the rear and he talked to my bf and I the whole way round. It was like having a private tour! He apologised profusely for his (really good) English and talked to us about the artworks, the reliquary (oh my - a sight to behold!) and the fascinating history of the monastery.
Both of us agreed that it was a fantastic tour - not only is the building rich in history and beautiful artefacts, but the staff were charming. I'm really glad we made the trip and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in religious art and history. But... Perhaps speak a little Spanish first!
Written March 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ches_perth
Perth, Australia27 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
You get to see the inside of the building and access some areas that would not be opened to the public. You can only do that through the guided tour and they do not seem to have many English tours.... well, none on the day we were there.... or the day after. The guy at the reception was pretty rude when we asked about a English tour. Not our favourite site that we have visited.
Written July 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DCTerry
Alexandria, VA175 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
If you speak Spanish and you’re REALLY into religious art, then MAYBE you’d enjoy this tour.
I thought the reliquary would be worth the wait through the rest… but oh my… it is excruciating and LONG! Before getting to the really quite impressive and interesting reliquary and pretty church, you have to stand for well over an hour listening to a lecture ask you walk through a few rooms of art. If there was any way to leave the tour and escape, we would have!
If you’re brave enough to go… go early and get a free timed ticket.
I thought the reliquary would be worth the wait through the rest… but oh my… it is excruciating and LONG! Before getting to the really quite impressive and interesting reliquary and pretty church, you have to stand for well over an hour listening to a lecture ask you walk through a few rooms of art. If there was any way to leave the tour and escape, we would have!
If you’re brave enough to go… go early and get a free timed ticket.
Written September 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BennyMalaga
Malaga, Spain89,732 contributions
Dec 2010 • Couples
The Convent of La Encarnacion was founded by Felipe III and his wife Margaret of Austria in 1611. The building was finished in 1616 by the royal architect Juan Gomez de Mora. The convent today has many important works of art and people who enjoy art will enjoy their guided visit in this convent. In the Nun’s Lobby, there is the painting of St. Augustine and St. Monica, by Luca Giordano. In the Painting Room there is the St. John the Baptist by Jose de Ribera and Margaret of Austria painted by Bartolome Gonzalez. In the Sculpture Room there is the Recumbent Christ by Gregorio Fernandez, one of Spain’s best sculptors. The Hall of Kings holds very many large format paintings of the kings and queens of Spain. The Relics Chapel has to be seen as it has cabinets containing the relics of many saints. This chapel is unique in Spain. The church in the convent is one of the most beautiful in Madrid. Visiting this convent will please everyone who does it.
Written September 15, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ulrikljungberg
Madrid, Spain88 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
Don’t get me wrong, this was ok but I think you have to be really interested in history/religion to really appreciate Monasterio de la Encarnacion. We took a guided trip which lasted 1h and during that time we literally got an explanation of every painting and items within the monasterio and church. It felt like it was a bit too much. I much more appreciated the visit to Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales.
Written March 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
apancake
Austin, TX4 contributions
Dec 2015 • Solo
This is a real place, a working convent, a "living" reliquary - it's fantastic - the fact that people are rating it based on the convenience of tour hours or the fact that they don't speak Spanish is insane. You have to know what a religious relic is, for Christianity. There is no better window to the past than to be able to visit a place that is still living that past in many ways. If you love history, art, the bizzareness of Catholicism, go. Just plan - hours are limited and you have to take a tour, you can't just wander on your own.
Written November 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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