Church and Convent of St Teresa the place where Teresa of Jesus was born

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The church was built on the house in which Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was born and is part of the Carmelite convent. Underground, the large vaulted burial crypt, which is currently used as the Museum of St Teresa, is the only example of its kind in Spanish religious architecture. The work was directed by the Carmelite architect Fray Alonso de San José and began in 1629. The building was opened on 15 October 1636.

In the purest Carmelite Baroque style, the church has a Latin-cross layout with a central nave and four chapels on each side. With the main altar in the northwest, it does not keep to established liturgical orientation as the presbytery was built to coincide with the room in which Teresa of Jesus was born. The entrance to the chapel of St Teresa opens up on the right arm of the transept and coincides with the area in which her family home once stood, together with the 'small garden where the saint prayed' opposite.

The front, which was designed in the style of an altarpiece, is separated into three bodies, giving prominence to the marble statue of the saint and the coats of arms of the Cepeda and Ahumada families, the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites, that of the Duke of Olivares, that of the Governor and that of Doctor of the Church.

Inside, the sculptures by Gregorio Fernández (17th century) and his school are of particular interest.

The plaza is also home to a room containing relics and remains and a small souvenir shop.

In 1886, the church and convent were designated a Historical Monument.

Consult Information about Accesibility

CONVENTO DE LA SANTA

ACCESIBILIDAD FÍSICA

Entorno

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â El convento está situado en una plaza peatonal, dividida en dos alturas, comunicadas mediante una rampa de 450 cm de longitud, 155 cm. de anchura y una pendiente del 6%.

Acceso principal

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â El acceso principal a la iglesia se realiza por la zona superior de la plaza, mediante una pasarela que tiene un ancho de 120 cm. La meseta de la entrada tiene 150 cm. de ancho. Primeramente se accede al pórtico de la iglesia mediante un hueco de paso de 210 cm. En el interior del pórtico existe una rampa, de 300 cm. de longitud y con una pendiente del 6,5%, tiene el mismo ancho que el pórtico, por lo que afecta a las tres puertas de entrada, dos laterales, de doble hoja, que dejan un hueco libre de paso de 63 cm. cada hoja y una central que se abre ocasionalmente.

Distribución interior

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â El espacio interior está distribuido en tres naves, que dejan unos pasillos cuyo ancho libre es superior a 150 cm.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Existe un hueco de paso para acceder a la capilla de la Santa que tiene un ancho libre de 104 cm. Frente a éste hay otro hueco de paso que da acceso a la huerta de Santa Teresa, que deja un ancho libre de 76,5 cm.

ACCESIBILIDAD VISUAL

Acceso principal

Deambulación interior

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â El espacio interior está distribuido en tres naves, que dejan unos pasillos cuyo ancho libre es superior a 150 cm. y están libres de obstáculos.