Convento de las Salesas Nuevas

Gazing upon the Convento de las Salesas Nuevas, one might mistake its tranquil facade for just another peaceful sanctuary. But behind these walls lies a story brimming with royal aspirations, revolutionary upheavals, and the enduring spirit of faith. The Convento de las Salesas Nuevas, nestled on Calle de San Bernardo, stands as a testament to Madrid’s tumultuous past. In 1792, María Luisa Centurión y Velasco, the Marquesa of Villena and Estepa, embarked on a mission. Driven by a divine dream, she envisioned a new haven for the Salesian nuns, a second home distinct from the Salesas Reales. Securing permission was no easy feat. The Archbishop of Toledo had forbidden new convents in Madrid. The Marquesa, however, skillfully argued the benefit to the city, highlighting the convent’s role in educating girls from distinguished families. The site chosen? The former residence of the Duke of Abrantes, already appraised and repaired. Manuel Bradi, a prolific architect, was tasked with constructing the convent’s centerpiece: the church. Bradi, though a master builder, is best remembered for his urban planning, homogenizing Madrid’s late 18th-century cityscape. The church’s neoclassical facade, with its Tuscan granite pillars and triangular pediment, reflects this stylistic influence. Above the entrance, a relief depicts St. Francis de Sales presenting the Constitutions to St. Jane Frances Fremiot, a touching tribute to the order’s founders. Inside, a single nave stretches toward a flat apse, flanked by small chapels. A marble and wood retablo-marco dominates the main altar, showcasing an original painting by Agustín Esteve y Marquès, depicting St. Jane Frances Fremiot and St. Francis de Sales in prayer. The Convento de las Salesas Nuevas, however, was not destined for a solely religious existence. The year 1836 marked a turning point. The convent was suppressed, the nuns relocated, and the building repurposed as the Universidad Central. The church? Transformed into the university’s assembly hall. Yet, like a phoenix from the ashes, the nuns returned to their beloved convent around 1850, reclaiming their sanctuary after the university moved to its own grand building. The Convento de las Salesas Nuevas faced further trials during the Spanish Civil War, serving as a checa, a clandestine prison, and suffering significant damage. Restoration efforts in the 1970s and 1993 breathed new life into the scarred structure, ensuring its survival for future generations. Today, the Convento de las Salesas Nuevas endures. It is a place of quiet contemplation, a testament to the resilience of faith, and a fascinating window into Madrid’s rich history. The next time you pass its unassuming facade, remember the story within. Remember the Marquesa’s dream, the architect’s vision, and the nuns’ enduring devotion that brought the Convento de las Salesas Nuevas to life.