The Convent of the Salesas Reales is an 18th-century architectural complex in central

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...

, Spain. Formerly a convent, specifically the convent of the Visitación de Nuestra Señora ( Visitation of Our Lady), it was constructed and occupied by the

Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary , image = Salesas-escut.gif , size = 175px , abbreviation = V.S.M. , nickname = Visitandines , motto = , formation = , founder = Saint Bishop Francis de ...

, which had been founded by

St. Francis de Sales Francis de Sales (french: François de Sales; it, Francesco di Sales; 21 August 156728 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to ...

and St Jeanne de Chantal. The convent's church (dedicated to St Barbara) is now a parish church, and the remainder of the complex houses the Supreme Court of Spain.

History

The convent was founded in 1748 by Queen

Barbara of Portugal Barbara of Portugal (Maria Madalena Bárbara Xavier Leonor Teresa Antónia Josefa; 4 December 1711 – 27 August 1758) was an Infanta of Portugal, and a Queen of Spain by marriage to Ferdinand VI of Spain. Life Princess of Portugal The marriage ...

, the wife of King

Ferdinand VI , house = Bourbon-Anjou , father = Philip V of Spain , mother = Maria Luisa of Savoy , birth_date = 23 September 1713 , birth_place = Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Madrid, Spain , death_date = , death_place = Villavic ...

as a school and home for young noble women. She not only sought to establish a convent, but also a convenient place where she could retire. The convent was designed by François Carlier, construction being started in 1743; the original plans were modified and completed by 1750 by Francisco Moradillo. In 1870, the nuns were evicted, and the building converted in the Palace of Justice. During the twentieth century, the palace-convent suffered two fires, and required restoration by Joaquín Roji. The stairwell at the entrance was completed in 1930, opening to the new Barbara de Braganza street. The Tribunal de Orden Público had its headquarters in the Convent from 1963 till 1977. The present building has a muted exterior compared to the original 18th century design, which while adhering to Neoclassic love of balanced and rigorous design, also was overflowing with decorative elements such as pilasters and lintels on every floor. In addition, unlike many convents, this building was full of windows. The convent commissioned by the Queen was derided in its time with the lines: :''Bárbara Reina; bárbara obra; bárbaro gusto; bárbaro gasto.'' which translates to: :''Barbara Queen, barbarous work; barbarous taste; barbarous waste (expense).''''Art in Spain and Portugal'', by Marcel Dieulafoy, Charles Scribner's Sons (1913).

Church

The church contains the funeral monuments for Ferdinand VI and his wife Bárbara de Braganza (Barbara of Portugal). The church and the convent are separately listed as ''bienes de interés cultural''.

References

External links

Website of the Supreme Court

Website of the Parish of Santa Bárbara
{{Coord, 40, 25, 28.3, N, 3, 41, 37.94, W, type:landmark_region:ES, display=inline,title Salesas Reales Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in Madrid Convents in Spain National supreme court buildings