Convento de San José, Ávila, Spain

The Convento de San José is a monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns in Ávila. It is situated not far from the center of the city but outside the medieval walls. Saint Teresa of Jesus was the driving force behind the foundation of the monastery, which was built from 1562 onwards. The statue in the facade was commissioned by King Philip III of Spain via artist Giraldo de Merlo.

In 25 August 1963, Pope Paul VI sent Cardinal Arcadio Larraona Saralegui to canonically crown their antiquated image of Saint Joseph, enshrined within their convent. The same Cardinal as prefect of Sacred Congregation of Rites executed their papal bull of coronation, initially signed by Pope John XXIII.

The convent was built in the year of 1562, although the church, its most important architectural element, was built only in 1607. The church was designed by the architect Francisco de Mora (1553-1610), who devised a church with a single nave covered with a vaulted ceiling and a dome over the transept.

Its main facade, which is set on two levels matches with the top pediment and portal of three arches at the bottom, was one of the most imitated in the religious buildings of the seventeenth century and was adopted as a model of Discalced Carmelite construction. Inside the church is the Chapel of the Guillamas family, which serves as the family crypt.

The Convent of Saint Joseph has been protected under Spanish law since 1968 when it was designated a national monument. The 'Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches' is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although the monastery is not one of the extra-muros churches listed in the nomination.

The convent currently houses a museum dedicated to Saint Teresa of Jesus.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Ada Marcos Marcos (15 months ago)
Absolutamente prescindible. Desde el punto de vista artístico no vale nada. El colmo es ver a la encargada haciendo ganchillo en su puesto de trabajo mientras hay público.

Ana Parada (16 months ago)
Este lugar es muy especial para mi aquí Tube muchos sentimientos encontrados con las hermanitas

Regi Oliveira (2 years ago)
Primera fundación de Santa Madre Teresa. Visiten allí el pequeño museo y la primera capilla de oraciones dónde estuvo Madre Teresa.

Олег Покровский (2 years ago)
Это бывшая часовня босоногих кармелиток,в которой Тереза,дочь крещеных богатых евреев из Авилы,устроила монастырь Святого Иосифа в 1562 году.Святая Тереза является одним из покровителей Испании, а также покровительницей испанских писателей. Для католиков Тереза Авильская – это культ,хотя экстаз святой Терезы,о котором я специально читал,привлек меня совсем с другой фрейдистской стороны.Святая Тереза провела реформу монашеского ордена кармелитов, заключившуюся в возвращении к первоначальному уставу, основала отдельную ветвь «босоногих кармелиток», а также стала первой испанской писательницей.Но меня книги,картины и скульптуры,посвященные ей,прямо скажем,не особо волнуют.А тем более четки и сандалии.Скучно

Fani Lv (2 years ago)
Muy bonito y la historia del convento que nos contó el guía improvisado aún mejor

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