This has been a wonderful city for me and my family over the years together, and another nice memorable spot never to forget, This is Aranjuez in the comunidad de Madrid region of my kingdom of Spain, Therefore, let me tell you my take on the Convent of San Pascual of Aranjuez !!!Hope you enjoy this post as I
The city of Aranjuez, is a princely town made very famous by all Spaniards for the concerto created by Joaquin Rodrigo on an old story of love between a prince and princesse, hear it, sublime music of Aranjuez. My dear late mother Gladys made me come into it when a boy and it has always stayed with me up to today.
The Convent of San Pascual was built between 1765 and 1770, by order of King Carlos (Charles) III. It was originally a Franciscan convent, although, after the confiscation of church property and at the behest of Queen Isabel II, it was occupied by Conceptionist nuns from 1858 onwards. It ccupies a large area.Its architectural style is classicist, close to the principles of the Italian Baroque, based more on the plasticity of surfaces than on ornamental profusion. The façade, with its opening in the second level and above the door, is rooted in the tradition of convent churches. The two bell towers, added in the 19C, are particularly noteworthy. Another noteworthy feature is the development of the façade, which is taller than the nave of the church, like a curtain, a theatrical Baroque effect imported from Italy. Finally, it should be noted that the façade aligns perfectly with that of the Hospital of San Carlos, located opposite, and a plaza opens up between them. This plaza, with its Baroque design, is off-center with respect to Calle del Rey, forming along one side of it.
Its most prominent feature is the church. The temple has a Latin cross floor plan, with a single nave, side chapels, and shallow transepts. The exterior of the transept is crowned by a dome on a drum. It is complemented by the convent buildings, arranged around courtyards, and the orchard at the rear. A horizontal line, an extension of a cornice on the façade, unifies the church with the other buildings. Its main altar is decorated with painting of Saint Paschal Baylon adoring the Blessed Sacrament. In the presbytery stands an imposing main altarpiece next to an altar of marble and bronze where a beautiful tabernacle rests. The altarpiece, decorated with Tuscan columns of stucco imitating green jasper, is topped by a broken pediment that houses a magnificent canvas by Anton Raphael Mengs depicting Saint Paschal Baylon. Originally, it contained works by various artists, including Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, many of whose paintings are now in the Prado Museum.
With the end of the Spanish Civil War, the convent was first used as a concentration camp and later as a prison for the First Military Region of the Army until 1943. Afterwards, it became the site of the Special Women’s Prison until 1954, At the end of May 1972, following the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council, the community ceased to run the school. San Pascual School is currently still operating, run by a teachers’ cooperative. It offers preschool and primary education. On October 3, 1976, a momentous event for the entire Franciscan Conceptionist Order took place: the canonization of Saint Beatrice of Silva by Pope Paul VI.
The Aranjuez tourist office on its other monument as the convent : https://visita.aranjuez.es/espacio/67782/
The Comunidad de Madrid region tourist office on things to see in Aranjuez: https://www.visitmadrid.es/en/where-to-go/aranjuez
The National Heritage of Spain on the Convent of San Pascual : https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/real-convento-de-san-pascual
The official Conceptionist clerics on the convent San Pascual : https://www.concepcionistasaranjuez.com/monaterio-hasta-sxix
There you go folks, this is a must City to visit even if for many still in the off the beaten path, really need to come here, We will be back eventually. See my many posts on the City in my blog, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Convent of San Pascual of Aranjuez !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
