Church of the Jeronimos (Madrid)
The Church of the Jeronimos, popularly known as Los Jeronimos, was once considered among the most important monasteries in Madrid because it was strongly linked to the ups and downs of the Court of the Spanish Empire. This temple hosted countless funerals, weddings, royal proclamations and all manner of important events.
Initially, the Church of the Jeronimos was a much larger architectural complex; today, only its church survives. It was converted into a parish in honour of Saint Jerome, and its Renaissance-style cloister was the work of Fray Lorenzo de San Nicolas, based on the traditional canons.
As the centuries passed, the church and cloister became deeply deteriorated, so they were subjected to a thorough restoration to recover their brilliance.
The restoration of the cloister was much more ambitious. It included a complete disassembly, stone by stone, with the aim of cleaning and repairing all the pieces and rebuilding the cloister to bring it closer to its original state. The aim was to incorporate it as an integral part of the Prado Museum. This ambitious project, which was carried out under the orders of the famous architect Rafael Moreno, preserved the beautiful interior patio, including its columns and arches, and completely recovered the exterior volume, in the shape of a cube, using red brick for its façade to match the constructions behind it.
After the recovery of the church and the cloister, the Church of the Jeronimos regained some of its attractiveness. Being directly related to the Prado Museum, it is currently a frequent stop for Madrid tourists.
Initially, the Church of the Jeronimos was a much larger architectural complex; today, only its church survives. It was converted into a parish in honour of Saint Jerome, and its Renaissance-style cloister was the work of Fray Lorenzo de San Nicolas, based on the traditional canons.
As the centuries passed, the church and cloister became deeply deteriorated, so they were subjected to a thorough restoration to recover their brilliance.
The restoration of the cloister was much more ambitious. It included a complete disassembly, stone by stone, with the aim of cleaning and repairing all the pieces and rebuilding the cloister to bring it closer to its original state. The aim was to incorporate it as an integral part of the Prado Museum. This ambitious project, which was carried out under the orders of the famous architect Rafael Moreno, preserved the beautiful interior patio, including its columns and arches, and completely recovered the exterior volume, in the shape of a cube, using red brick for its façade to match the constructions behind it.
After the recovery of the church and the cloister, the Church of the Jeronimos regained some of its attractiveness. Being directly related to the Prado Museum, it is currently a frequent stop for Madrid tourists.
Location
Religious Buildings in Madrid
Civil Buildings in Madrid
Museums in Madrid
