Another dandy in my beloved Madridthat I passed by several times and visited with my dear late mother Gladys, first. The rest of the family eventually came on too and it is a memorable spot for me in Madrid that thanksfully is very frequent . The fact that it is in a wonderful area practically behind the Royal Palace is worth the detour, me think, Therefore, here is my take on the Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto of Madrid !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I,
The Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto or Hermitage of Our Lady of the Port located in Madrid Río neighborhood, next to the puente de Segovia (see post)is situated on the Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto no 4 , near the Palacio Real (see posts). We can appreciate a central section flanked by two square turrets with balconies and bell towers. Both turrets are covered with slate roofs, dormer windows, and are crowned with elegant spires in the finest Madrid tradition. In the center of the façade, we see the main entrance, and above it, a balcony decorated with ornamental motifs such as small heads, hinges, scallop shells, strings of moldings, torus moldings, small ears, etc. On either side are smaller doors, and above them, oval oculi. Surrounding the hermitage, we can admire the dome, reminiscent of a Chinese style, shaped like an inverted bell, which presents several faces, each with its dormer window and small window, topped by a kind of cap crowned by a traditional spire.
The entrance hall is separated from the church by a gate, now open, on which the blacksmith’s name and the date, 1718, are engraved. On the right-hand wall is the coat of arms of the Marquis of Vadillo, carved in stone. The interior has an octagonal floor plan. The main altar, with its modern altarpiece, houses the image of the Virgin, sheltered under a semicircular arch, as are the altarpieces in the two side chapels. The dome is crowned with a lantern. Focusing on the main altar, the original image of the Virgin of the Port, along with the altarpieces and all the artistic elements of this church, was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. The current image is a copy. The carving is of the type known as “milk,” meaning it depicts the Virgin breastfeeding the Child. The altarpiece, quite striking, was built in 2000. At the foot of the main altar, although it is not visible today, lies the tombstone of the Marquis of Vadillo. The chapel on the Epistle side to the right of the altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Sopetrán, patron saint of Jarandilla de la Vera. The image is a copy of the original, which came from the Monastery of Sopetrán in Torre del Burgo (Guadalajara province). The Confraternity of the Virgin of Sopetrán, which brings together devotees from Jarandilla residing in Madrid, was founded in 1963. The chapel on the Gospel side is known as the Capilla del Santísimo Cristo de Lepanto or Holy Christ of Lepanto Chapel, a 19C copy of the one venerated in the Barcelona Cathedral.
A bit of history I like tell us that the Ermita del Virgen del Puerto,which was once developed by the Marquis of Vadillo, was established on March 8, 1725. On that date, Don Francisco Antonio de Salcedo y Aguirre, Marquis of Vadillo, granted the founding charter for the chaplaincies and pious works and established the patronage that would govern it, under the patronage of the Virgin of the Port, patron saint of Plasencia, where the Marquis had been corregidor and to whom he was very devoted. The hermitage was inaugurated on September 10, 1718, with the solemn transfer of the image of the Virgin of the Port from the Imperial College to the new hermitage. During the reign of Ferdinand VI, the Camino Alto de la Virgen del Puerto (High Road of the Virgin of the Port) was built, including the double staircase leading down to the hermitage. During the Spanish Civil War, the hermitage was looted, losing all its interior treasures and leaving the structure severely damaged. In 1951, it was reopened for worship under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Madrid, to whom it had been ceded by the Manzanares Canal Authority, which in turn had received it from the heirs of the Marquis of Vadillo.
You can reach the hermitage by metro lines 10 and R on Príncipe Pio station, and Puerta del Ángel metro line 6 Also on suburbian trains C7 and C10 at Príncipe Pío station, Nearby bus lines 25,33,39,41,62, and 138 parada/stop Ermita Virgen del Puerto, You can easily come by car taking the M30 beltway dir Badajoz and get off at exit/salida 17 and take tunnel on paseo de la Virgen del Puerto but difficult for parking so continue to the parking at the Principe Pio train station and walk back along Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto promenade, the chapel will be on your right hand side,
The official Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto: https://www.ermitavirgendelpuerto.es/
The Madrid tourist office on the Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/ermita-virgen-puerto
There you go folks a dandy beautiful hermitage in a wonderful spot in my Madrid. This one is worth the visit, me think, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Ermita de la Virgen del Puerto de Madrid !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 