Church of Saint Jerome the Royal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Jerónimo el Real |
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View from the north angle
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Retiro |
| Region | Community of Madrid |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Municipality |  Madrid |
| State | Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Enrique Egas |
| Architectural style | Isabelline Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1503 |
| Completed | 1505 |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Designated as NHL | 1925 |
| Website | |
| www.parroquiasanjeronimoelreal.es | |
Saint Jerome the Royal (in Spanish San Jerónimo el Real) is an old Roman Catholic church in central Madrid, Spain. It was built in the early 1500s.
This church has been changed and fixed up many times over the years. It is what's left of a monastery that used to be next to the royal palace of Buen Retiro. Part of that palace is now the famous Prado museum. Because it was so close to the royal palace, the church was very important to the royal family. For centuries, it was used for special ceremonies, like when the Prince of Asturias (the future king or queen) was officially given their title. King Juan Carlos I also had a special Mass here when he became king. Madrid didn't have a main cathedral until 1993. So, for a long time, this church played a big role in royal events.
History of the Church
The first monastery of the Hieronymite monks was built near the Manzanares river. This was during the time of King Henry IV of Castile. But the land was very wet, and the monks often got sick.
So, in 1502, Queen Isabella I gave the monks new land. They built a new monastery there. The church was built in a style called Isabelline Gothic. This church was chosen for an important event: the official ceremony for Philip II to become the Prince of Asturias. This happened on April 18, 1528.
When King Philip II moved the Spanish court to Madrid in 1561, he made his small retreat bigger. It became the Palacio del Buen Retiro. He even had a royal bedroom built next to the church's main altar. This way, he could listen to Mass from his room.
Later, during the Peninsular War (also known as the Napoleonic French occupation), the Palacio del Buen Retiro was mostly destroyed. In 1808, French soldiers took over the monastery. They caused a lot of damage, and the church was almost ruined.
Restorations and Changes
The church has been repaired and changed many times. The first big restoration happened between 1848 and 1859. This was during the rule of Queen Isabel II of Spain. The architect Narciso Pascual Colomer worked on it. He added new parts, like towers, in the Isabelline Gothic style.
The second major restoration was from 1879 to 1883. Architect Enrique María Repullés changed the building into the parish church we see today. Only a few parts of the outside are from the original building. The changes made to the outside in the 1800s, in a neo-Gothic style by Pontian Ponzano, are still talked about today.
A large staircase was built in front of the church in 1906. This was for the wedding of King Alfonso XIII. It made the entrance to the church look more grand.
For many years, the old Baroque cloister (a covered walkway around a courtyard) was falling apart. It was designed by Lorenzo de San Nicolás. In 2007, the church and the government agreed to let the Prado Museum use the land where the cloister was. The inner part of the cloister was taken apart. Then, it was rebuilt as a cubic room, designed by Rafael Moneo. This new part is now an expansion of the museum and is called the Cubo de Moneo (Moneo's Cube).
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can see beautiful artworks. There are sculptures by Benlliure. You can also find an 18th-century sculpture called Cristo de la Buena Muerte by Juan Pascual de Mena. The church also has paintings by Vincenzo Carducci and José Méndez. Look for the neo-Gothic lamps and the colorful stained-glass windows.
Gallery
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Interior of the church
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Head of a gargoyle
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Detail of the east facade
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Jerónimo el Real para niños
- Catholic Church in Spain
- Jerónimos Monastery
- List of oldest church buildings
