Costanilla de los Ángeles

Sol

The street takes its name from the Royal Monastery of Santa María de los Ángeles, a convent of barefoot Poor Clares founded in 1563–1564 by the Portuguese noblewoman Leonor de Mascareñas —⁠governess to Philip II⁠— at the top of this slope, next to the monastery of Santo Domingo el Real. Demolished in 1838, the convent lent its dedication both to the street and to several earlier names (ascent, descent, calle de los Ángeles).

Costanilla de los Ángeles climbs from calle del Arenal up to plaza de Santo Domingo. Its slope named it before anything else: first it was a “descent,” then an “ascent,” until it settled as a “costanilla” — a short, steep little street. For more than two centuries it was presided over by the Royal Monastery of Santa María de los Ángeles, home to Poor Clares. In June 1569, on her way to Pastrana, Teresa of Ávila lodged for eight days within those walls. Mendizábal’s disentailment tore the convent down in 1838 to widen plaza de Santo Domingo. At number 3 lived the Infante Don Enrique de Borbón, Duke of Seville, who in March 1870 was shot dead in the Carabanchel duel against the Duke of Montpensier. His body was brought back to this house before leaving for the San Isidro cemetery.

Its names

  • Bajada / Subida de los Ángeles16th century – principios del 17th
  • Calle de los Ángeles17th century – 18th century
  • Costanilla de los Ángeles18th century – actualidad
Sources (9)

Crossings