This is a magnificent Carmelite temple from the 17th century which has been a residence for the Religiosas Clarisas since 1859.

The church’s large front is quite simple and made from a mix of stone and brick. It has a Latin Cross floor plan with side chapels, which are inter- linked, a flat end and a dome in the transept.

It is especially interesting as a monument for its Baroque style inticate plasterwork, which is some of the oldest of all the monuments in the Antequera region.

In the main chapel, which mixes surreal and real elements, there are four outstanding images: San Miguel Arcángel, Santa Clara, Santa Bárbara, San Juan de la Cruz and San Braulio. Over the top of this wall there is an enormous painting of the Shepherds worshipping from the 17th century.

In the altarpieces on the sides of the transept, which are typical examples of Rococo work from Antequera from the 18th century; the outstanding image of Jesús Caîdo en el Monte can be seen. This is the work of Josê Mora (the head, the hands and the feet) from before 1688 and which was later completely restored by Andrês de Carvajal.

Also in the transept, there are two large paintings which are supposedly by Manuel Farfán.

Other outstanding works that should be mentioned are: A figure of Christ tied to a post un Cristo by Andrês de Carvajal; the painting of the Virgen del Consuelo, from the 18th century; a sculpture of Cristo de la Salud from 1624, the organ from the upper choir, which is pseudo-classical and the original image of el Santa Teresa de Jesús.

Finally, a stop at the chapel of the Virgen de los Dolores where the place where the image stands is very special. It has an hexagonal form and a very complicated wooded decorated ceiling, which is supposedly an example of the finest state of art that these plasterwork designs reached in the Antequera region. The beautiful dressed image of the Virgen is the work of Miguel Márquez Garcîa and is dated to 1817. It is finished off with some exquisite lace and embroidery work.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jesús Romero Benîtez, Guîa Artîstica de Antequera