★★★★★ 5.0
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Church of Saint Joseph
Every day thousands rush past on Calle Alcalá, completely missing that this 1912 façade was literally lifted and widened for Gran Vía. In 1586, Carmelite reformers built Madrid's first convent here, finishing in 1605. Demolished in 1730, architect Pedro de Ribiera redesigned it Baroque style, completing in 1748. The façade's three arches frame the Virgin of Carmen by French sculptor Roberto Michel. Notice the plaque documenting when Lope de Vega—Spain's greatest playwright—sang mass here in 1614. Step through into a soaring Latin cross interior: central nave flanked by two lateral ones with intimate side chapels, one honoring Saint Teresa of Ávila. The barrel vault ceiling overhead is pure architectural drama.
Did You Know?
- : The Church of Saint Joseph (Iglesia de San José) in Madrid was built on the site of the former Convento de San Hermenegildo, where the famous Spanish playwright Lope de Vega officiated his first mass, linking the church to both religious and literary history.
- The church's Baroque facade, designed by Pedro de Ribera, features a striking three-arched entrance and a prominent statue of the Virgin of Carmen sculpted by Robert Michel in 1750, making it a masterpiece of 18th-century Spanish art.
- Inside, the beautifully preserved Santa Teresa Chapel showcases intricate artworks and sculptures by masters like Alonso de Mena and Salvador Carmona, offering visitors a glimpse into Madrid's rich artistic heritage and the legacy of the Discalced Carmelites.