Church of El Carmen, Herrerian church in Soria, Spain.
The Church of El Carmen is a Herrerian structure in Soria with a plain facade composed of five arches that create a large portico and a central window to light the choir gallery. Inside, eight altarpieces created between 1680 and 1700 decorate the space, including works dedicated to San Juan de la Cruz and Santa Teresa of the Child Jesus.
Construction began in 1648 under Fray Alonso de San José and was completed in 1670, replacing an earlier church that had fallen into disrepair. The building followed strict architectural rules set by the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, deliberately avoiding decorative elements common in other Baroque churches.
The church served a community of Discalced Carmelite nuns whose austere way of life shaped every aspect of the building's character. Their daily presence and spiritual practice continue to define how this space functions within the town today.
The church is straightforward to visit, located in a calm area of town and easily accessible on foot from the center. Keep in mind that regular religious services take place throughout the day and week, which may affect when you can explore the interior.
The building was designed according to strict rules that deliberately rejected ornamental elements like the columns popular in Baroque architecture. This rejection of decoration was a direct expression of Carmelite philosophy and set it apart from other churches built in the same period.
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