The monastery church of Miraflores with its side chapels was declared a National Monument on January 5, 1923. With a more than 600 year history Miraflores is considered a reference in Spanish culture and is visited each year by some 80,000 visitors from as many as 55 countries. About 65% of these visitors come from Spain itself of which almost a third are from the local region of Castile. 17% are from Madrid, 7% from the southern region of Andalusia and 6% from the Basque Provinces to the north. A little over half of the international visitors come from France, Italy and Germany with
significant increases in visitors from other continents.Unfortunately, political upheavals of the 19th century in Spain were catastrophic for Miraflores. The monastery was sacked in 1808 by
Napoleon’s troops who disbanded the community of monks and turned the buildings into a military post until forced to retreat in 1813. During those years of occupation only one monk managed to stay. It is thanks to him that, while much of Miraflores’ art was stolen, the principal pieces were respected
and can be admired here today.
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