El Carmen complex facts for kids
El Carmen is a really old building in San Ángel, a southern part of Mexico City. It used to be a convent where monks lived, but now it's a cool museum you can visit!
A Look Back: The History of El Carmen
This special place was started on June 29, 1615. It was built by a group of monks called the Discalced Carmelites. They chose a spot in an old Aztec village, which later became known as San Ángel.
Father Andrés de San Miguel was the person who founded the convent. The building itself was constructed between 1615 and 1626. For many years, it was a busy place! It had a college where students learned about theology (religious studies). It also had a huge library with more than 12,000 books!
Later, in 1858, the college closed down. The whole building was then given to the local government. Much later, in 1929, it was turned into a museum. In 1939, it became part of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, which is a big organization that takes care of Mexico's history and culture.
What You Can See at the Museum
The El Carmen Museum has a large collection of religious art from Mexico's colonial times. You can see paintings by famous artists like Miguel Cabrera.
The museum also shows you what the monastery looked like. You can see original furniture that the monks used. There are also exhibits that tell the story of the monastery and what life was like for the Carmelite monks who lived there. It's a great way to learn about history!
See also
- In Spanish: Museo de El Carmen for kids
- List of colonial churches in Mexico City
