The hermitage of the Virgen del Puerto, located on the Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto next to Madrid Río and the Segovia Bridge, is an emblematic work of the architect Pedro de Ribera. It was built between 1716 and 1718 by the first Marquis of Vadillo, Antonio de Salcedo y Aguirre, who was also mayor of Madrid. The chapel was created in honor of the Virgen del Puerto, patron saint of Plasencia, reflecting the deep devotion of the marquis to this religious figure. Originally, the hermitage not only served as a place of worship, but also housed schools for the children of the local washerwomen. The architectural structure of the hermitage follows the models of the Madrid Baroque, with two towers crowned by spires and an octagonal dome that gives it a palatial rather than ecclesiastical air.
During the Civil War, the chapel was sacked and severely damaged, losing all its interior riches, including the original carving of the Virgen del Puerto. The reconstruction of the building was carried out in 1945, and it was declared a National Monument in the same year. The new carving of the Virgen del Puerto is a copy made by the sculptor Víctor González Gil. The hermitage was restored again in the last decades, eliminating the plaster on the facades and giving back to the towers their original slate roofs. Today, the hermitage is landscaped as part of the gardens of Madrid Río and continues to be a place of veneration, being highlighted by the festivities in honor of the Virgin that are held in May and September, popularly known as the Fiestas de la Melonera (Melonera Festivities).
- Address
P.º de la Virgen del Puerto, 4, Centro, 28013 Madrid
- Web
http://www.ermitavirgendelpuerto.es/ - Visiting Hours
Those who wish to take a guided tour of the Hermitage can request it at the following e-mail address electrónico:[email protected]. - What to see
Virgen del Puerto
