On Wednesday, Queen Letizia of Spain travelled to the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación (Royal Monastery of the Incarnation) in the Spanish capital of Madrid to see its recent renovations. These improvements have allowed the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación to be more accessible for those with both physical and visual disabilities.
The Royal Board on Disability, the National Heritage Board and the ACS Foundation made these alterations to the location possible, opening it up for more visitors – many of whom could not comfortably visit beforehand.
The Queen saw the renovations and learned about their completion before meeting with members of the religious community. She was also given a tour of the updated building’s Choir, the Low Cloister, the Painting Room, the Regular Lodge and the Zaguán which provided her with an opportunity to see first hand how those with physical and visual disabilities will be able to better enjoy what the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación has to offer.
According to Casa Real, the renovations “aim to eliminate the barriers that prevent ‘universal accessibility’, as well as the installation of resources and tools for access to information and communication for people with visual disabilities (typological models) or auditory (magnetic loop) in these and other Royal Sites.”
They added that “accesses to the facilities will be adapted, services will be made open to the public and research centres eliminating architectural barriers and obstacles that limit, the entrance and displacement in the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación or the access to the information instruments of the people with some physical or sensory impairment.”
Her Majesty was accompanied on the visit by the President of the National Heritage Administration Council, Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán; the Vice President of the Government and Minister of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Equality, Carmen Calvo; and various members and leaders of the religious community at the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación.