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Monastery · Ávila, Castela e Leão
Monasterio de la Encarnación
Carmelite monastery outside the wall where Santa Teresa lived from 1535 to 1574 and prepared the reform of the order. It preserves the chapel on the site of her cell and a museum with a drawing by Saint John of the Cross.
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 Monasterio de la Encarnación
The Carmelite monastery of Encarnação was moved outside the city wall at the beginning of the 16th century. The new house was opened, still unfinished, on April 4, 1515, the same day Teresa de Cepeda was baptized. In 1535 she entered there as a nun, without her father's permission, and lived in the convent almost without interruption until 1574.
At the time, Encarnação was one of Ávila's most populous convents and life there was not strict. It was from there that Teresa prepared the reform of the Carmelite order, which led to the Discalced Carmelites. In the convent she received guidance from Francisco de Borja, Pedro de Alcântara and João da Cruz.
At the end of the 16th century, the saint's cell became an oratory, and in 1630 a chapel was built over it, today called Transverberação, with a hemispherical dome. The church received Baroque decoration in the 18th century, and the large bell-gable on the south façade dates from 1715.
The convent museum houses relics of Santa Teresa and works of art. The best-known piece is a small drawing by São João da Cruz that shows Christ crucified seen from above. Visitors can also see the parlors where the saint received visitors.
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 45 minutes to 1 hour for the church, the chapel and the museum.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon. Since it is a cloistered convent, visiting hours are limited and vary by season: check before you go.
How to get there
It is north of the city, outside the wall, on Paseo de la Encarnación. From the Basílica de San Vicente it's about a 10-minute walk, exiting via the Puerta del Carmen.
Tip
Combine this visit with the Convento de Santa Teresa on the same day to understand the saint's life, from her birth to the reform. Dress modestly: the nuns still live in the convent.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Monasterio de la Encarnación
How long did Saint Teresa live at the Encarnación?
She entered in 1535 and remained there almost continuously until 1574, nearly forty years.
What is the Transverberation chapel?
It is the chapel built in 1630 over Saint Teresa's former cell in the convent. The name refers to a mystical experience she described.
What important work is in the museum of the Encarnación?
A drawing by Saint John of the Cross that shows Christ crucified as seen from above, along with objects linked to Saint Teresa's life.