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Walking around the historic center of Madrid, I passed by several historic churches. This entry will list the churches I encountered while exploring the city. I only entered a few of them because most were closed when I walked by and some require a guided tour. Also, this is only a handful of the churches in the historic city center.
Holy Cross Church
First, just southeast of Plaza Mayor on Plaza de Santa Cruz is the Holy Cross Church (Iglesia de la Santa Cruz). It’s the third church on the site, built between 1889 and 1902. The original church was built in 1635.
Collegiate Church of San Isidro el Real
Two blocks directly south of Plaza Mayor is the Collegiate Church of San Isidro el Real (Colegiata de San Isidro el Real). It opened in 1664 and holds the remains of San Isidro Labrador and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza. The remains were once held in the Bishop’s Chapel (Capilla del Obispo), a short walk away in La Latina. San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid.
Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel
A few blocks west is the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel (Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel). It was built between 1739 and 1745 and is the church of the Apostolic Nunciature to the Kingdom of Spain.
Church of the Sacrament
One block west of Plaza de la Villa is the Church of the Sacrament (Iglesia del Sacramento). It was built between 1671 and 1744. Since 1980 it has been the Military Cathedral of Spain and the seat of the Military Archbishop of Spain.
Church of Saint Nicholas
A block north of the Church of the Sacrament is the Church of Saint Nicholas (Iglesia de San Nicolás). With a bell tower dating back to 1202, it’s the oldest church in Madrid. The main church building was rebuilt between the 15th and 17th centuries. It’s possible the bell tower may have originally been a minaret for an Arab mosque.
Royal Parish of Santiago and San Juan Bautista
About a block north of there near Plaza de Oriente is the Royal Parish of Santiago and San Juan Bautista (Real Parroquia de Santiago y San Juan Bautista), which was built in the early 19th century.
Monastery of the Royal Discalced
Just north of Puerta del Sol along Calle de Preciados, you can make your way to the Monastery of the Royal Discalced (Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales). It’s housed in the former palace of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and Isabella of Portugal. The order was founded in 1559 by their daughter, Joanna of Austria, and attracted widowed and spinster noblewomen. It quickly became one of the richest convents in Europe. It was turned into a museum in 1960 although it’s still an active monastery.
The convent is located on Plaza Descalzas and Plaza de San Martín. Admission is €6 (as of June 2023) for a one hour guided visit. It’s well worth visiting because the artwork inside is incredible. It’s open daily except Mondays.
El Carmen Church
Nearby is El Carmen Church, which was built between 1611 and 1640. It’s the only surviving part of a former Carmelite convent. Apparently it’s one of the most well-known and visited in Madrid. I wasn’t able to visit.
Church of San Ginés
The Church of San Ginés (Iglesia de San Ginés de Arlés) is one of the oldest churches in Madrid. Located on Calle del Arenal, it dates back to at least the 12th century when it was built by Mozarabs (Iberian Christians). It may have existed as far back as the 9th century.
The original church was destroyed and it was rebuilt in 1645. The Mudéjar style bell tower is the only part of the original church to survive.
Inside, it’s not as interesting as you’d expect for such a historic church, but it’s still worth a look if it’s open. Spanish playwright Lope de Vega was married there.
Royal Monastery of the Incarnation
Finally, just north of Plaza de Oriente is the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation (Real Monasterio de la Encarnación). It was founded by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Felipe III, and inaugurated on July 2, 1616, just a few years after her death. Most of the nuns were women from noble families.
Part of the building is open to the public as a museum. Admission is €6 (as of June 2023) for a one hour guided tour. It’s open daily except Mondays.
In front of the building is a statue of Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, one of the country’s literary giants.
