Church of Saint Jerome the Royal

Welcome to San Jerónimo el Real, popularly known in Madrid as 'Los Jerónimos.' As we stand on this hill overlooking the Prado Museum, we are at one of the most historically significant sites in the Spanish capital. This church,…

Look up at the striking facade of the church. While the core of the building is Gothic, much of what we see on the exterior today is the result of a 19th-century restoration that sought to regain its original splendor. …

Step inside the single, vast nave and look up. The ceiling is a spectacular example of 'flamboyant' or 'Isabelline' Gothic ribbed vaulting. …

The focal point of the church is the magnificent High Altar. Dominating the apse is one of the largest paintings in Madrid, measuring an impressive nine by four meters. …

As we move into the side chapels, we find the Chapel of the Duke of la Torre. This space is named after the funerary monument of the Duke, created by the renowned sculptor Mariano Benlliure. …

Continue to the Chapel of the Passion, which contains some of the church's most atmospheric 17th-century frescoes. These works, depicting the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross, were painted by Lorenzo Montero. …

We conclude our tour by observing the exterior of the cloister. For centuries, this was the heart of the Hieronymite monastery, where monks walked in silent meditation. …

As we depart from San Jerónimo el Real, we take with us the image of a building that has stood as a silent witness to the rise and fall of empires. We have walked through its Isabelline Gothic nave, marveled at the massive…