The building, designed in the early eighteenth century by Pedro de Ribera, has an elaborate baroque portal, a characteristic feature of his style. Originally a poorhouse, the building also housed workshops where the political activist Pablo Iglesias trained as a printer.

Even if you are short of time, be sure to pop into the museum to see the extraordinary wooden scale model of Madrid. Measuring 5.2 by 3.5 m, it was made in 1830 by Leon Gil de Palacio, just a few years before the disentitlement of the religious property let to the disappearance of many churches, convents, and monasteries. It shows how very different Madrid looked before the urban development of the mid 19th century.