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Church · Ávila, Castela e Leão
Convento de Santa Teresa
Baroque Carmelite church and convent built between 1629 and 1636 over the house where Santa Teresa de Jesús was born. It has the chapel on the site of the saint's room and a Teresian museum in the crypt.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Convento de Santa Teresa
The church was built over the birthplace of Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, the future Saint Teresa of Jesus, born in Ávila in 1515. The works, directed by the Carmelite architect friar Alonso de San José, began in 1629, and the temple was inaugurated on October 15, 1636.
The building follows the Carmelite Baroque: a Latin-cross plan, a single nave and four chapels on each side. For a special reason the orientation departs from the rule: the altar was placed so that it coincides with the rooms where the saint is said to have been born. In the right arm of the crossing is the chapel of Santa Teresa, in the former family house quarters, and in front of it the small orchard where she used to play at making hermitages as a child.
The façade, arranged like an altarpiece, bears the marble image of the saint and the coats of arms of the Cepeda and Ahumada families. Inside there are sculptures by Gregorio Fernández and his workshop from the 17th century. Beneath the church, the large vaulted crypt functions as a Teresian museum.
On the same square there is a Relics Room. The saint's feast on October 15 usually mobilizes the city.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes for the church and the chapel; an additional 30 to 45 minutes for the museum in the crypt.
Best time
Outside of mass times, in the morning or in the afternoon. In mid-October, during the festivities of Santa Teresa, there is more activity and celebrations. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is located on the Plaza de la Santa, next to the Puerta de la Santa, on the south side of the wall. From the Plaza del Mercado Chico it is about a 5-minute walk along Calle Tomás Luis de Victoria.
Tip
The church and the crypt museum have separate entrances and visiting rules; check at the admission desk. For those following the saint's footsteps, the visit pairs well with the Monasterio de la Encarnación and the Basílica de San Vicente.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Convento de Santa Teresa
Where was Saint Teresa of Jesus born?
In Ávila, in 1515, in a house on which the church of the Convent of Santa Teresa was built in the 17th century. The saint's chapel occupies the former rooms of that house.
What is in the museum of the Convent of Santa Teresa?
The Teresian museum is located in the vaulted crypt beneath the church and brings together objects and works related to the saint's life.
Who made the sculptures in the church?
The sculptural ensemble inside is by Gregorio Fernández, one of the leading sculptors of the Spanish Baroque, and his workshop.