Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida, Royal chapel and museum in Madrid, Spain
The Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida is a place of worship and museum in the Príncipe Pío neighborhood of Madrid with a circular floor plan. Below the central dome opens an interior with narrow windows through which soft daylight falls onto the painted walls and vaulted surfaces.
The building arose in the late 18th century at the request of King Charles IV as devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua grew in the region. Filippo Fontana designed the structure following classical forms, and later the building was declared the resting place of painter Francisco Goya.
The ceiling presents a scene where people gather below a balustrade that seems to stand between the painted world and the real space. Women in simple clothing, men in hats, and some figures leaning out create the impression that viewers look directly into the biblical story.
The building sits somewhat away from the city center and can be reached easily by metro or on foot from the nearby Manzanares riverbank. Access is at ground level, and a visit on quiet weekday mornings is especially worthwhile to view the murals in peace.
Since 1919 the painter Francisco Goya rests in the floor of the sanctuary, making this place a double monument. His tomb lies exactly where visitors view the frescoes that he once painted on the ceiling himself.
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