The
Convent of the Mercedarian Mothers
located in the Tránsito da Mercé neighborhood, was founded in the second half of the 17th century .
Its location is exceptional, as the building was erected in front of the iconic Mazarelos Gate, the only one that remains of the old city wall. The building is the resting place of the remains of Archbishop Antonio Girón, founder of the monastery in 1671. The work is dated 1673 and was in charge of Diego Romay.
As a whole, the building stands out for its combination of baroque and neoclassical elements, such as its façade. The convent, of granite masonry, is rectangular in plan and the church is located to the right of the complex, occupying a central space. Regarding the façade, it has a simple and sober design, except for the bell tower and the section that marks the point where the temple is located on the outside.
One of the most outstanding elements of the temple is the relief that represents the Annunciation, work of Mateo de Prado, which is surrounded by archiepiscopal coats of arms.
This work recounts the moment when the archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus. Above the aforementioned coats of arms is a window surrounded by a variety of baroque ornamentation, such as strings of fruit, flowers and leaves.
The church, on the other hand, has a single nave and is characterized by great simplicity in its conception. Among the different elements, the transept stands out, which is covered with a large dome decorated with multiple foliage details.
The coat of arms of the order is present throughout the temple, in which one can see several lattices that hide the two choirs: the upper one (for solemn use) and the lower one (for ordinary worship).
This architectural complex is open for regular worship, while the opening hours are from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm (in summer until 7:00 pm).
