Convent of the Descalzas Trinitarias

You’re now standing in front of the entrance to the Convent of the Descalzas Trinitarias — literally, the “barefoot Trinitarians”! Quite ironic, right? This monastery was established in what used to be the palace of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. It was their daughter, Joanna, who decided to transform the space into a monastery for Franciscan nuns. Since many noblewomen chose to come here, bringing their possessions along, the convent ended up with an impressive collection of masterpieces, tapestries, and religious images. It was declared a site of cultural interest and even named Museum of the Year in 2010. However, what’s even more fascinating is when Cervantes’ tomb was discovered, nearly 400 years after his death. In 2015, researchers identified his remains in the church crypt, where his tomb had been lost in the 17th century during renovations. Four centuries later, Miguel de Cervantes, who died in poverty, was finally honored as he deserved, with his name properly placed on his final resting place.