Convento de la Encarnación, Ávila
The Convento de la Encarnación in Ávila. Photo © Camino de La Lengua.
Photo by Jorge González.
Photo by Jorge González.
St. Teresa's monastic cell. Photo © Roberto Jiminez.
Just outside the medieval walls of Ávila is the Convento de la Encarnación (Convent of the Incarnation), an important stop on the pilgrimage to St. Teresa's Ávila. This is where Teresa lived, wrote, and had many of her mystical experiences.
History
St. Teresa entered this Carmelite convent on November 2, 1535. At the time it was one of the most populous and wealthy in the city, and many of the monastic rules had been relaxed.
Teresa lived in the Convento de la Encarnación for 30 years. It was here that she received the advice of Francisco de Borja, Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross) and Pedro de Alcántara, began to reform the Carmelite order, and had some of her mystical experiences.
Teresa left the convent in 1562 to found her first monastery and returned in 1571 as prioress. She left the Convent for the final time three years later.
What to See
Today, the Convento de la Encarnación houses a museum dedicated to St. Teresa. Here you can visit her monastic cell, tour other rooms associated with the saint, and peruse various items she touched. A display provides an introduction to Teresa's life, with maps showing the convents she founded and a selection of her sayings.
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Convento de la Encarnación. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Ávila Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Santa Teresa and Mysticism - Avila Tourism
- The Rough Guide to Spain 11, p. 178.
Travel Resources
- Ávila Interactive Map - Sacred Destinations
- Ávila Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Ávila Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
