Monastery of Santa María de Gracia in Madrigal
Nuestra Señora de Gracia / Santa María la Real de Gracia / Santa María de la Piedad
(Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Ávila)
The foundation of this monastery is traditionally attributed to María Díaz, who brought together a female community in the hermitage of San Hilario, located outside the walls of Madrigal de las Altas Torres. The first documented evidence of its existence is inconclusive about its date, but it would have to be dated to the mid-14th century. Initially, its name was Santa María de la Piedad, but it would later become known as Santa María de Gracia.
It soon acquired prestige, becoming associated with the nobility. John II (King of Castile between 1406 and 1454) built a residence in Madrigal and high-ranking royalty maintained a relationship with the monastery, and in 1424 the Infanta Catherine, daughter of John II, was buried there. Queen Isabella of Portugal further increased her relationship with the community. In 1438, a bull of Eugene IV ascribed the monastery to the Order of St. Augustine, until then a beguinage also follower of the same rule. The relative stability of the court of Juan II in Madrigal favoured donations to the monastery.
In 1490, two natural daughters of Ferdinand of Aragon joined the community: Maria of Aragon (1476-1530) and Maria Esperanza of Aragon (1477-1553) who were prioresses. The first was sent as abbess to the Cistercian Monastery of Pedralbes (Barcelona) where he held the position between 1514 and 1520. In 1525, the Augustinian nuns asked Charles I of Castile to cede the royal residence that the monarchs had within the walls of Madrigal, probably smaller than the monastery, but with greater possibilities of being adapted and better situated. This was granted the same year, but the transfer could not take place until 1527, after the house had been adapted and work had begun on the new monastery.
In 1528, the old house outside the walls was ceded to the Augustinians to establish a new convent (San Agustín Extramuros de Madrigal), and in 1541 they took possession of it, and it became operational despite the works in progress to restore and adapt it. The current monastery of Nuestra Señora de Gracia is the result of the work carried out on the former residence, which includes the old palace attached to the later construction, built around a large cloister (15th century) where the monastic quarters are distributed, which still preserves a notable collection of furnishings.
- BENÍTEZ, Jesús Miguel (2004). Agustinas de Madrigal de las Altas Torres del siglo XIV al XVII. La clausura femenina en España. Actas del Simposium (I). Ediciones Escurialenses
- BENÍTEZ, Jesús Miguel (2017). Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Gracia. Lleó: Edilesa
- GASCÓN BERNAL, Jesús (2006). Estudio histórico del convento agustino extramuros de Madrigal de las Altas Torres y la intervención clasicista del arquitecto Juan del Ribero Rada. Tesi doctoral. U. Politécnica de Madrid
In the center of Madrigal de las Altas Torres (Ávila)