The Monastery of Our Lady of the Visitation, better known as the Royal Barefoot is a monastery of cloistered nuns, Franciscan Poor Clare nuns, founded in 1559 by Joan of Austria, widow of Prince Juan Manuel of Portugal, sister of King Philip II of Spain and mother of the future King of Portugal Don Sebastian. It is located in the present place of the Discalced (Madrid, Spain), an area close to the Puerta del Sol square and street Celenque Preciados. It is a sixteenth-century classical building which houses within it important works of art. Part of the monastery is now a museum dedicated to visitors.

History

The current monastery is located in part of the land where there was an old palace, one of the first palaces was Madrid, which some researchers believe could be the time of King Alfonso VI and others give a much later date. In the thirteenth century castle that castiello or speak out was a defense and not used as a palatial home, so that the kings of the era had to reside in stately homes and palaces of friends who offered accommodation. The chronicles speak of in 1339 were held in this palace the first parliament in Madrid. (In the courtyard silver of the closure of the monastery is preserved as testimony to the arms of a noble unknown).
In the sixteenth century former palace that has been mentioned (possibly rebuilt and refurbished) belonged to the imperial treasurer Alonso Gutierrez, who more than once gave shelter to Charles I. In this house were born several children including the youngest, Jane, who later founded on the same site the monastery of the Barefoot Royals.
Juana of Austria, Princess of Castile, was married to Juan Manuel, Prince of Portugal, was widowed very young and had a son who would be the future king of Portugal, Sebastian. After becoming a widow, his brother Philip II of Spain claimed to give the role of Governor of the Kingdom. (The government policy of Austria was spread and senior trust between family members). Juana of Austria was the founder of the Monastery of Barefoot Royals.
In 1558, Francisco de Borja (Duke of Gandia) sent from the convent of Santa Clara de Gandia a community of Poor Clares, according to Father Andrew Insulana, general of the Order of San Francisco. Elected as Abbess Sister Francisca de Jesus, aunt of the Duke of Gandia did not inhabit the convent he died in Valladolid Madrid before completing the work. The second abbess was not set foot in the new monastery for the community died when the house still inhabited by Gutierrez.
In 1559, Ascension Day was held the grand opening party of the monastery, even when the church was still unbuilt. There was a solemn procession in which he participated Felipe II and the entire royal family. In 1564 the church was completed and the day of the Conception of the Blessed Sacrament was placed on the altar.

In 1580 the monastery took Mary of Austria, widow of Emperor Maximilian II of Habsburg, who arrived with his thirteen year old daughter, Margarita. The Empress took the regime of the community and their daughter professed as a nun. Mary of Austria gave the convent a great party on April 22, 1602, in accordance with the Council of the City and the friars of Atocha, to honor the King Philip III and persuaded to not move the court to Valladolid. The three-day entertainment, with great pleasure the king, but the transfer of the court became a reality. Mary of Austria died on February 21, 1603, asking in his will to be buried at the foot of the altar of the Agony in the Garden, in the lower cloister, with a flat stone and smooth as stone. Thirteen years later Philip III moved the body to a luxurious tomb made of marble and bronze, placed in the church choir.
The space of the monastery was huge and it was within a large garden in addition to the church and monastic dependencies. Over the years women entered the house here real and high aristocracy, making major gifts and donations so that the monastery came to a have a real art treasure.
During the Spanish Civil War the monastery was deprived of his community. However it was cared for and protected, placing their works of art safe. Some bombs fell on him that caused damage mainly in the vault of the staircase and the choir that was destroyed. Restoration was performed during the same years of war in which, among other things, changed the damaged shingle roof with a new slate. After the war, became nuns.
In the last years of the twentieth century was built on the square of the Discalced an underground parking which slightly affected the building works. On this occasion it was restored and strengthened, preparing some of their units to be visited in a tour. The whole project was directed and supervised by the Marquis de Lozoya, Director of Fine Arts National Heritage.