Iglesia de Santa María la Blanca

Located in the district of San Blas - Canillejas, this church, declared a BIC cultural heritage site in November 2019 on account of its great historical and artistic value, is one of the oldest churches in Madrid. The apse dates from the 15th century, and the main body is from the 16th century. According to several scholars, St Teresa of Avila visited this church several times on her journey to Alcalá and Pastrana.

The church, located on the road from Madrid to Alcala de Henares, is a very simple construction made with brickwork, stone masonry and flint. The interior images are modern, since the previous ones were destroyed during the civil war.

Like other churches of the time, it has undergone several renovations and expansions. It was most recently renovated in 2019, when, beneath a plaster vaulted ceiling, a Mudejar style wooden coffered ceiling was discovered, sumptuously decorated with geometric patterns, leaves and eight-point stars carved into  it, making it possibly the finest example of this kind of coffered ceiling in the city.