I was looking at my blog and found some older posts like this one that needed update on its text and links for you and me, This was one of walking zombies of beloved city of Madrid. I have come by here several times and very hard to get in as very small limited time allow and finally took some pictures. One of the off the beaten path monuments of of Madrid!; do read my other post on it in my blog, I like to tell you a bit on the Church Cathedral Castrense of Madrid !!! or Iglesia del Sacramento, otherwise known as the Armed Forces Church! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
I came to the small wonderful quaint Catédral Castrense at calle del Sacramento 11, off the Calle Mayor, next to the Palace of the Dukes of Uceda, in front of Casa Ciriaco. The official name is the Iglesia Catédral de las Fuerzas Armadas (Church Cathedral of the Armed Forces), also,known as Catédral Castrense or Iglesia del Sacramento (Church of the Sacrement). The Church Cathedral Castrense is none other than a former Bernardine nuns convent founded in 1615. The church itself was only built between 1671 and 1744. The church is a pure model of the Madrid Baroque style, whether because of the shape of the nave or the architecture inside. Outside, its granite facade and its three columns give it a more flamboyant appearance than ever to differentiate itself from other buildings in the district. Of the monastery , only the Church is left of the original , the monastery was demolished in 1972. The Ministry of Defense used it since 1980. It has a simple cover set around a central relief that represents the glorification of St. Bernard. The roof of the porch, meanwhile, houses a painting of angels playing. The ornate dome, the high columns topped with complex capitals, the altarpieces, the height of its ceilings. And, above this, the color of the light that enters through the magnificent lantern and occupies all the space.
The most surprising thing, as I say, is inside. The ornate dome, the tall columns topped with complex capitals, the altarpieces, the height of their ceilings. And, above this, the color of the light that enters through the magnificent lantern and fills the entire space. Also noteworthy are the frescoes by the brothers Luis, Antonio and Alejandro González Velázquez adorning the ceilings. Between the two Corinthian columns of the main altarpiece is a painting by Gregorio Ferro called San Bernardo and San Benito adoring the Eucharist. Two other paintings by Luca Giordano complete the other altarpieces.
During the Spanish Civil War, the convent and the church suffered significant damage that forced a first reconstruction. Later, in the 70s of the 20C, the convent was demolished to build houses. The church of Sacramento was left standing and became the Cathedral Church of the Armed Forces in the early 1980s. The splendor that we can see today is due to the remodeling and embellishment works that were carried out in the year 2000. One of the most followed Holy Week processions ends in this church. On Good Friday, the Christ of the Alabarderos or Halberdiers leaves the Royal Palace and, after a tour of Madrid de los Austrias, returns to its place in the Cathedral of the Armed Forces. .A lovely church indeed worth the detour, me think.
The Madrid tourist office on the Church of Sacramento or Armed Forces : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/iglesia-de-sacramento
The Archbishop Castrense on the Church of the Armed Forces :https://www.arzobispadocastrense.com/arzobispado/iglesia-catedral-de-las-fas
There you go folks, another off the beaten path right by a very popular area indeed. See my other post for the inside its gorgeous ! Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church Cathedral Castrense of Madrid !!! as I.
And remember , happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 