In 1683 a new chapter began for the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús in Madrid. Don Nicolás Gaspar Felipe de Guzmán Príncipe de Astillano and his wife Doña María Álvarez de Toledo purchased land. This land was part of the Jardín del Príncipe de Parma near the Barquillo street. They decided to build the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús there. A community of nuns from Ocaña moved to this new location.
The Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús officially opened on September 9 1684. Eight founding nuns arrived at dusk that day. Mother María Francisca de los Ángeles led the move from Ocaña. She was instrumental in establishing the convent in Madrid. The Queen Doña María Luisa wife of Carlos II supported the convent’s creation.
Five years later in 1689 the patron-founder passed away. He left behind invaluable artworks. These included jewels liturgical objects and a richly embroidered tapestry. A stunning Immaculate Conception by Pedro de Mena was also part of the legacy. The Prince of Astillano also bequeathed the land and orchard where the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús was built. King Carlos II took over patronage in 1689. The convent became one of the most prominent monasteries in the court.
The early 18th century saw changes. The original church of the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús was demolished. A new church was built in 1719. King Felipe V donated the main altarpiece. This featured a Transverberation of Saint Teresa.
Sadly the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús faced upheaval in 1868. The revolution forced the nuns to abandon their beloved convent. They took few possessions. They sought refuge in the nearby Monastery of Las Salesas. Both communities were later moved to the Convent of Concepcionistas in El Pardo. In 1869 the Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús was torn down. New streets replaced it. Only the name Santa Teresa street remains a reminder of the old monastery.
The nuns resided in El Pardo until 1894. Then they moved to a new convent on Calle de Ponzano. The new Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús was built in what were then the outskirts of Madrid. It was near the ditch of the Ensanche. Its construction started around 1870 and finished in 1893. The exterior is a striking neo-Mudéjar style in brick. The interior church is in a neo-baroque style. It evokes the historic Baroque churches of Madrid. The Convento de Santa Teresa de Jesús in its new location continues to thrive. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its founders and the rich history of the Carmelite order in Madrid.