Convent of the Salesas Reales, 18th-century religious complex in Justicia district, Madrid, Spain
The convent of the Salesas Reales is an 18th-century religious complex in the Justicia district of Madrid. The church shows a triple portico at the entrance, two towers, and tombs with relief work in the interior.
Queen Barbara of Portugal founded the convent in 1748 as a school and residence for noble women. After seizure in the 19th century, the building became the seat of the Supreme Court of Spain.
The marble and porphyry tombs inside the church honor Queen Barbara of Portugal and King Ferdinand VI, who chose this place as their final resting site in the 18th century. The relief work on the sarcophagi was executed by Italian sculptors brought to Madrid specifically for this project.
The building now serves both as the Supreme Court and as the Parish Church of Santa Barbara, located at Calle General Castaños 2. The church is open to visitors during daytime, while the court wing remains closed to the public.
Between 1963 and 1977, the building housed the Court of Public Order, which processed political cases during the Franco regime. Francisco Sabatini, the architect of the tombs, was later also responsible for expanding the Royal Palace of Madrid.
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