Convento de las Teresas - Iglesia de San José

Ecija's Las Teresas convent is in the former palace of the Condes de Palma, a Mudejar building of great interest built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The convent belongs to the Carmelitas Descalzas, who are known in the city as the Teresas nuns. Its foundation dates to 1630, when the Carmelitas Descalzas had to move to the building, causing major conflicts with the city councillors, who used it as a meeting place. In 1655 work began on the church, funded by alms and the dowry of a nun, sister Paula de San José.

The monumental doorway belongs to the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance with touches of “Manueline” décor, such as the use of marine motifs. The strange decoration on the façade, which is unusual in the city, is due to the Condes de Palma, who “imported” the style in the 14th century from stately homes in southern Portugal, where they owned land.

Some of the palace's rooms are decorated with interesting 15th-century Mudejar plasterwork. The legend is that this was created by the same Alarifes (builders) who produced the elaborate plasterwork of Seville's Alcazar.

The entrance to the church has interesting Mudejar woodwork from the second half of the 14th century. The convent church was built in the 17th century. It has a single nave covered with barrel vaults with lunettes and a semi-circular vault in the presbytery. The interior contains Baroque altarpieces with images of varying quality. Highlights include the images of San José and the Immaculate Virgin by the workshop of Roldán, a Baby Jesus by Ribas and a Crucifixion by the circle of Alonso Cano.