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Convent of Bethlehem

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 Bethlehem.

The plan is a Latin cross, with side chapels connected to each other and a high dome in the transept. The rich decoration of baroque plasterwork, anchored in blue, one of the oldest in the Antequera complex, stands out for its interest, keeping certain similarities with those of the Church of San Juan de Dios.

As architectural additions, we must consider the dressing rooms of the sculpture of Jesus Caído en el Monte and that of the Virgen de los Dolores, beautiful image of dress belonging to the Venerable Brotherhood of Servites. The main chapel – closed in 1959 with a wooden fence, inspired by the choir of San Sebastián – is decorated in a rather unique way. In its altarpiece are, placed on shelves, four images of interest: a San Miguel Arcángel, of Italian air; a Santa Clara; a San Juan de la Cruz, in the style of Mena; and finally, the very interesting sculpture of San Bruno, very similar to the one in the Sancta Santorum of the Granada Charterhouse, the work of José de Mora.

Convent of Bethlehem GRANDE

Crowning the front of this main chapel there is a huge canvas of The Adoration of the Shepherds, from the mid-seventeenth century, attributed in some publications to Murillo, but which is actually by Brother Fray Domingo, a barefoot religious of whom nothing is known. Among the remaining paintings of the church, there are some unique paintings for the theme they address or for the decorative elements they present.

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