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The Belen Convent

This convent belonged to the Discalced Carmelites until the nineteenth century, when it became occupied by the Poor Clare Sisters, who still reside in it as cloistered nuns and are dedicated to some crafts, including the elaboration of mantecados and sweets in general. This temple that we can admire today was already being built in 1628 by the Portuguese Gonzalo Yáñez, and has a sober façade, carved in stone and brick combined.

Discover the Convent of Belen.

Situated in the centre of the city, The Belen Convent owes its origin to the Carmelite Order and in a later period to the Order of Santa Clara, which closed order is still present there.  

It has a sober but elegant façade which uses round arches in stone and brick. 

The interior consists of three aisles, the central one being higher with the side aisles functioning as chapels. The decoration is baroque with plaster. For those interested in sacred art, there are altarpieces and sculptures of great value, such as those of José Mora, as well as examples of baroque painting. As additional architectural features, one has to consider alcoves with the sculptures of Jesus Fallen on the Mountain and of the Virgin of Our Sorrow, a beautiful image of vestments belonging to the Venerable Servite Brotherhood. 

Convent of Bethlehem GRANDE

The main chapel, enclosed in 1959 by a wooden gate, is inspired by the choir of San Sebastian and decorated in a quite individual style. Within its altarpiece, placed on shelves, can be found four interesting images, Archangel Michael with a rather Italian air, Santa Clara, St John of the Cross, in the style of Mena, and finally a very interesting sculpture of St Bruno, very similar to the one in the Sancta Sanctorum de la Cartuja in Granada.   

Crowning the front of the main chapel is an enormous canvas, ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’ from the mid 18th Century attributed by some to Murillo, but which is in fact by Fray Domingo, of the Barefoot Order and quite unknown. Amongst the remaining paintings of the church are some quite thematically unique ones in terms of subject matter and decorative styles.   

The church continues to be a place of worship, connected to the convent of which it is a part and is a place of events for the Virgin of our Sorrow Brotherhood.  

The nuns of this convent are well-known for continuing one of the sweetest traditions of Antequera, that of producing small cakes such as mantecados, roscos, cortadillos, madeleines and of course the famous local bienmesabe. These are prepared according to centuries-old recipes handed down within the community. They are sold at the convent by means of a small rotating window where the nuns can serve the public without breaking the rules of the order.  

Contact:

Address: Calle Belén, 6, Antequera, Málaga

Schedule: Monday: 8:00 - 17:30 and Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 - 13:30 16:00 - 18:30

Phone: 952 84 21 64