IGLESIA DE LAS SALESAS MADRID

On the fringes of the atmospheric Chueca district this massive Baroque church is one of the most impressive in the city. The monastery of the Royal Salesian Order was founded by Barbara of Braganza, the Portuguese wife of Fernando VI, as a spiritual refuge from her domineering mother-in-law, were the king to die before her (as it turned out he outlived her). The church of Santa Barbara was designed by the French architect, Francoise Carlier, in 1749 and completed nine years later. Pause to admire the elaborately sculpted facade before going inside. Here the highlights are Francesco de Mura's Visitation over the high altar, paintings by Corrado Giaquinto, responsible for the frescos in the Palacio Real, and the tombs of Fernando and his wife by Francisco Gutierrez.