Convento de Carmelitas Descalzas

Convento de Carmelitas Descalzas is a Discalced Carmelite convent standing on the Cerro de los Ángeles hill on the outskirts of Getafe, in the Madrid region. Its full name is Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, and the site is closely tied to the story of Mother Maravillas de Jesús, the community's founder.

How do you get there?

The convent sits on the Cerro de los Ángeles hill (address: Cerro de los Ángeles, s/n, 28909 Getafe), just off the road connecting Getafe with the surrounding towns. It's a popular day-trip destination from Madrid; getting there is easiest by car or taxi, since public transport requires a change of bus and a short uphill walk. The hill itself is a scenic viewpoint, so it's worth allowing time for a walk around the area rather than just the visit to the sanctuary.

What's the history behind this place?

The Discalced Carmelite community was founded in 1923 at the initiative of Blessed (later canonized as Saint) Mother Maravillas de Jesús, who wanted her sisters to accompany devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with constant prayer. The foundation stone of the convent building was laid on 12 April 1925, Easter Sunday, and the nuns moved into the finished building on 26 October 1926. A lamp dedicated to the Sacred Heart has burned there continuously ever since.

That story was violently interrupted at the start of the Spanish Civil War, when the monument standing on the hill was blown up and the nuns were forced to abandon the convent. They did not return until 1939, once the war had ended. Today the convent holds the tomb of Saint Maravillas de Jesús, which makes it a destination for pilgrims well beyond the local area.

What will you see on site?

The convent is a cloistered community, so the sisters' living quarters are not open to visitors. A small space has, however, been set up to recreate part of the cloistered interior, giving outsiders a rare glimpse into the contemplative life the nuns lead behind closed doors — normally something the public never sees.

Right next to the convent, on the same hill, stands the medieval Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, a modest stone-and-brick chapel topped with a distinctive Mudéjar-style tiled roof. A little further on is an underground sanctuary, opened in 1975 — a large subterranean temple measuring 42.4 metres on each side and 12 metres high, with five naves covered by barrel vaults. The convent also runs a small shop selling religious items: images of the Sacred Heart, handmade crafts, and books.

When's the best time to visit?

Given the site's religious and contemplative character, quieter hours outside major church feast days are best for anyone looking for calm and reflection. On the other hand, the annual celebrations tied to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus draw larger groups of pilgrims to the hill and can be an interesting experience for visitors curious about local religious traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the convent? Not fully — it's a cloistered community — but a space has been opened to visitors showing the sisters' cloistered way of life, along with the tomb of Saint Maravillas de Jesús.

Can you buy souvenirs at the convent? Yes, there's a small shop selling religious items such as Sacred Heart images, handcrafted goods, and religious books.

What else is worth seeing on Cerro de los Ángeles? Next to the convent stands the medieval Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, and nearby there's an underground sanctuary from 1975, one of the larger subterranean temples in the region.

How do you get there from Madrid? By car or taxi is the most convenient option — the hill sits on the outskirts of Getafe, and reaching it by public transport involves a bus change plus a short walk uphill.