Convento de los Agustinos Recoletos (Madrid)

The Convento de los Agustinos Recoletos or Convento de Copacabana, in the city of Madrid, was a convent located in the land now occupied by the National Library, the Museo Arqueológico Nacional, and several city blocks. This convent named the known Paseo de Recoletos of Madrid, name that refers to the Augustinian Recollects (Agustinos Recoletos), former owners of the convent and of the adjacent properties. In this convent the painter Francisco de Zurbarán was buried.

History

The convent was founded on 1592, on a land in Prado Viejo that was donated by the Princess of Asculi, Doña Francisca de Guzmán, to the Augustinian Recollect. This was the fourth convent that the Recollects had in Spain.

At first, the Augustinians occupied the existing houses there. Later, at beginning of 17th century, they began the works of the new convent, which ended in 1620.

In addition to the land donated by the founder, the monks bought surrounding orchards throughout the first half of the century, extending notably the length of the convent.

The works were commissioned to Luis de Valladolid, although according to some authors, Friar Juan de Nuestra Señora de la O and his son, Friar Lorenzo de San Nicolás, both brothers of the order, participated in its design.

In 1837 during the ecclesiastical confiscations of Mendizábal, the monks were expelled and the convent disentailed.