The footprints of St. Teresa of Jesus continue in Villanueva de la Jara since 1580
St. Teresa of Jesus left her footprints not only in the footsteps she left in the streets, squares and houses of La Jara. In those footsteps of St. Teresa of Jesus in Villanueva de la Jara, she founded a convent with Ana de San Agustin, who is still here, lying under the choir of the church.
What did St. Teresa do in Villanueva de la Jara?
St. Teresa arrives in Villanueva de la Jara with the purpose of organizing her foundation and is accompanied by four nuns and friars from La Roda.
Footprints Teresa of Jesus in Villanueva de la Jara
It was in the hermitage where the nine women who lived there had been asking her for years to establish a Carmelite monastery.
She went through the history of those she had already founded and in Villanueva de la Jara she raised her faith and dedication by erecting her thirteenth.
Thirteenth foundation in Villanueva de la Jara
Teresa of Jesus had not listened to the requests from Villanueva de la Jara to found there for some time. The priest of the hermitage, the Discalced of La Roda, Canon Ervías and some gentlemen of the consistory want Teresa of Jesus to found a conventual order in La Jara and thus that women living in the hermitage of Santa Ana live with their faith in the convent.
Nine women lived in the Hermitage of Santa Ana
Initially, St. Teresa of Jesus, faced with the complexity of ordering no less than the nine women, whom she did not know, continues without deciding favorably.
The initiative to found a convent in Villanueva came from the town authorities who wanted to give a solution to the desire of nine women who lived in the hermitage of Santa Ana and sought to adopt the Rule of Carmel.
Founding of the Carmelite Convent of Santa Ana
The convent is built under the guidelines of the discalced women, and given the extraordinary fervor of the nine women, the works are underway within a month of their arrival. Saint Teresa of Jesus leaves a great mark in Villanueva de la Jara and continues on her way to Toledo.
Ana de San Agustín will be the prioress.
Her companion, Ana de San Agustin who remains as prioress of the new community.
The footsteps of St. Teresa of Jesus in the 21st century
Today Villanueva de la Jara, an essential part of the Saint’s footsteps, is an important place of pilgrimage. The state of conservation of the Convent of Saint Anne of Villanueva de la Jara is magnificent. Saint Anne of Saint Augustine remains buried in the church of the convent.
Guest Houses in Villanueva de la Jara
Be our guest!
The best guest houses in Villanueva de la Jara – Manchuela
Guest house Pensión Posada Santa Teresa
Villanueva de la Jara
350 m from centre
Situated in Villanueva de la Jara in the Castilla-La Mancha region, Pensión Santa Teresa features accommodation with access to a hot tub. The property features garden and city views.
Country house Casa del Rio
Villanueva de la Jara
7.3 km from centre
Located in Villanueva de la Jara, about 1 hour’s drive from the historic city of Cuenca, Casa del Rio offers two 6-bedroom country houses with a patio and barbecue facilities.
Casa Rural en Bodega. La posada de Vitis
Casas de Santa Cruz
10.4 km from Villanueva de la Jara
Featuring air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, pool view and a patio, Casa Rural en Bodega. La posada de Vitis is located in Casas de Santa Cruz.
Parador de Alarcón
Alarcón
16.3 km from Villanueva de la Jara
Parador de Alarcón is an 8th-century Moorish castle, set next to the Júcar River. It is located above the Medieval village of Alarcón, and offers free public parking on site.
