Convent of las Comendadoras de Santiago, Religious monastery in Plaza de las Comendadoras, Madrid, Spain.
The Convent of las Comendadoras de Santiago in Madrid is a religious building centered on a church with a Greek cross floor plan. The structure features a central dome supported by pendentives, with four equal-length arms extending from the center.
King Philip IV founded the convent in 1650 as a residence for nuns of the Military Order of Santiago. In 1773, architect Francisco Sabatini carried out a major reorganization of the facilities surrounding the main church.
The name refers to the nuns of the Military Order of Santiago who lived and worshipped here for centuries. Visitors can sense the blend of monastic life and knightly devotion in the spaces today.
The convent sits in central Madrid and is easy to reach by public transport. The metro stations Noviciado, San Bernardo, and Ventura Rodriguez provide access, and several bus lines serve the neighborhood.
The high altar features a painting by Lucas Jordan showing Santiago at the Battle of Clavijo. This artwork is a notable example of how Baroque art brought religious legends to life in Spanish convents.
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