Escuelas Pías de San Fernando

These ruins are part of the first school founded in Madrid by the Order of the Scolopi in 1729. The school was intended for poor children and soon became renowned for its high standards and innovative educational techniques: the first school in the country for deaf and dumb children was founded here.

The only parts of the building left today are the ruins that initially formed part of the school chapel, built between 1763 and 1791 by Brother Gabriel Escribano and destroyed in 1936, during the early days of the Civil War. The enormous semicircular arch, designed by Alfonso Vergaz and crowned with the Pious Schools coat of arms, can still be seen today. The arch once led to a circular square of eight fluted columns with compounded capitals which supported a magnificent dome.

The building has now been totally restored and houses the UNED (National Distance Education University) head offices, with a large library (that can be visited), auditoriums and assembly halls. It has given a new lease of life doused in culture to this very traditional neighbourhood of Lavapiés.