Santa Bárbara Church

Santa Barbara church was built in 1757 for the Convent of the Salesas Reales, housing nuns belonging to the order of St. Francis de Sales. The convent was founded in 1748 by the Queen Bárbara de Braganza, wife of Ferdinand VI of Spain. The church, which stood next to the convent, was designed by Francisco Carlier in collaboration with Francisco Moradillo. In 1870, the monastery was closed, and the government used the monastery as the Palace of Justice, now as the Supreme Court. In 1891, the church was open to parish worship.

The exterior is noted for the statues of St. Francis de Sales and St Jeanne de Chantal, founders of the Order, sculpted by Alfonso Giraldo Vergaz. In the interior, are the burial tombs of Ferdinand VI and his wife. These were commissioned by Charles III of Spain and completed by the architect Francisco Sabatini and the sculptor Francisco Gutiérrez. 

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Calle del General Castaños 2, Madrid, Spain

Details

Founded: 1757
Category: Religious sites in Spain