LA ENCARNACION MONASTERY MADRID

Another of Madrid's closed orders dedicated to the royal family, this convent is famous on two counts: its collection of some 4,000 relicarios (reliquaries) and an annual miracle. Whether you believe that the reliquaries contain the authentic bones of saints or a fragment of the true cross depends on your religious persuasion. However, according to the curator, visitors should appreciate the reliquaries as works of art, created as expressions of religious belief during the 17th century Spain's Golden Age.

The reliquaries are preserved in glass cases, which line the walls of what looks like a heavily decorated library with an impressive, gilded altar. They come in all shapes and sizes in precious materials of the period, such as coral, marble and crystal, as well as gold and silver. The designs reflect the talents of artists, not just from Spain but also from Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and even the Orient. One of the most venerated reliquaries is a small vial containing a droplet of blood, which is reputedly from the 4^th century physician and martyr, San Pantaleon. On 26 July, the eve of the saint's feast day, the vial is placed on the altar of the church in the convent. There, according to the faithful, la sangre (the blood) rematerialises.

The convent, still home to a small community of nuns, was founded in 1611 by Margarita of Austria, wife of Felipe III. Although the handsome facade is original, architect Ventura Rodriguez remodelled the interior after a fire in the 18th century.