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La Ventilla de Beas

Ventilla de Beas is where the people of Beas de Segura waited and received, with great joy, the delegation of Saint Teresa of Jesus to accompany them to the place of the foundation.

The procession reached Beas de Segura along the royal road, currently the A-6301 road, along the right bank of the Beas river, without crossing it. La Ventilla de Beas was about two kilometers from the town, owned by a brother of the foundation’s promoters, Doña Catalina Godínez and Doña María de Sandoval, and the junction of the Beas road with the royal road.

So this is the place the official reception and many other locals waited for the Saint’s entourage to accompany them to the place where the future foundation would be located:

(…) “The people received them with great solemnity and joy. In general, the happiness was overwhelming; even the children showed conscience of the work of our Lord. ” (…)

Foundations Book. Chapter 22. 19.

La Ventilla de Beas still stands, though with no activity and refurbished in great part. Likewise, there is also a monument made by the artist Constantino Unguetti in 1970 in memory of Saint Teresa of Jesus.

You can recreate yourself in this Teresian place and pay tribute to the existing monument in memory of Saint Teresa of Jesus.

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Monastery of San José del Salvador

The Monastery of San José del Salvador represents a fundamental milestone in the foundations of Saint Teresa, since it was the first one in Andalusia. In addition, the walls of the Beas Monastery hold one of the happiest moments of her life, because this is where she personally met Father Jerónimo Gracián, Provincial of Andalusia, with whom he exchanged opinions on the Carmel Reform and the problems with the Discalced.

The current appearance is the result of the passing of time, as its structures have endured great deterioration, the most serious caused in 1810 by Napoleonic troops during the War of Independence.

The building has been reformed over time, yet the original structure is preserved. The oldest part corresponds to Saint Teresa´s Cell, Oratory and Hall of Relics, in the south wing, next to the parish church. Its conventual temple (from the mid-17th century) stands out, with its stonework façade with a simple and sober appearance according to Carmelite architectural canons and a beautiful Baroque style doorway.

You can also visit the parlor where Saint John of the Cross communicated and spiritually attended to the nuns. In it, there is a painting of the famous painter Ricardo Sanjuán, which represents the arrival of the Saint to Beas and the first interview with his religious.

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Hospice of Discalced Carmelites

This Teresian place is following Saint Teresa´s stay in Beas, but it is still part of her legacy because it is sponsored at the expense of the Carmelite nuns.

The Hospice, which was built in 1659 for the Discalced Carmelites, is today part of several private properties on Calle Saint John of the Cross.

The street is historically known as Callejón del Hospicio and we recommend that you stroll through it slowly enjoying the typical architecture of the area.

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Interpretation Center of the town of Beas, the 16th…

The “Interpretation Center of the Villa de Beas, the 16th Century and Mysticism” is located next to the Sanctuary of the patron saint of the town, the Virgen de la Paz, in an old convent-school of the Calasancias Mothers, built in the XIX century onver the remains of the old Castle and Fortress of Villa Vieja.

The Center is divided into two different spaces, History and Mysticism. In the thematic space dedicated to History, the visitor can explore aspects related to Beas de Segura, such as its history, the different noble families, the castle-fortress, the Order of Santiago and the Assignment.

In the area of ​​Mysticism, the figures of Saint Teresa of Jesus and Saint John of the Cross are the basis of this thematic space where the origin of the Beas foundation, the conventual life, with an exhibition of original pieces of the monastery. You can visit the room of the dwellings and that of the mystical scale, and enjoy an allegory of the mystical garden, among other elements of interest.

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Mocho bridge

Saint Teresa and her entire entourage crossed the Guadalimar river through the Mocho Bridge on their way to Beas to found the first convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Andalusia.

It is a Roman bridge of great solidity, with a rigging of large ashlars placed by rope and brand and located on the Guadalimar river. The bridge stands between two municipalities: Beas de Segura and Chiclana de Segura and it is very interesting because it was part of the “Camino de los Cartagineses”, a branch of the Via Augusta that, according to hypothesis, would connect Cástulo with Carthago Nova.

Although it is thought that Saint Teresa of Jesus and her entire entourage must have crossed the Guadalimar river through the Mocho Bridge, this is not entirely clear since there are no specific references to this fact. Ana of Jesus in the process of beatification of Saint Teresa declared the following:

(…) and this lightness of the mules was in such a way, that having taken out that day beasts and men out of the carts, from the town we left to cross the Guadalimar river, when we reached it we found ourselves on the other side without having had a chance to get out of the cars or be able to collect ourselves (…)

Nor is it documented that, on their way to Seville for the new foundation, they used the Mocho Bridge to cross the Guadalimar, but it seems that it would be the best place to get around it.

A very solid Roman bridge located in a beautiful place that will invite you to recreate yourself in nature and why not? enjoy the writings of the Saint.