Madrid - San Antonio de los Alemanes

To the north of the Gran Vía in Madrid, at the corner of the Corredera Baja de San Pablo and Calle de la Puebla, stands the Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes. In 1607 Philip III founded a hospital for Portuguese here; the church was built in 1624 and dedicated to St Anthony. Philip IV made the hospital over to the Germans, and thereafter both the hospital and the church were known by the style "de los Alemanes" ("of the Germans").

This gem of Baroque architecture, concealed behind an inconspicuous gray facade, was built by the architect and Jesuit priest, Pedro Sánchez, who also designed the Cathedral of San Isidro in Calle de Toledo. The interior, with its elliptical plan and its dome, is a typical example of the elaborate decoration of the Baroque style. The walls have frescoes by Luca Giordano, and the dome is covered with a huge ceiling-painting by Francesco Ricci and Juan Carreño.

The High Altar, replacing the original reredos which was destroyed by fire, is 18th century. On each side are three subsidiary altars, richly gilded and decorated with medallions, from which the last Habsburgs - Philip IV, Charles II, Maria Anna of Austria - look down on the visitor.