The church-convent of Santa Teresa is a building constructed at the beginning of the 17th century - supposedly over the birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús - under the patronage of the order of the Discalced Carmelites. In order to repair the damage suffered by the building - mainly received during a period of exclaustrations in the 19th century - the monument has undergone two restorations, which began to be carried out in 1888 and 1982 respectively. It was declared a National Monument on 4th January 1886.
As the terrain was quite hostile, the original solutions became increasingly impossible, which resulted in constant repairs since Alonso de San José, the order's master architect, completed the convent around 1636.
The layout of the convent is somewhat strange, as it has a particular purpose: its orientation is towards the north, as it is intended to place the head of the church in the room of Saint Teresa. For this reason, the cloister and the monastic quarters are located to the north.
As for the church, it is in the Baroque style, following the principles of the Carmelite order in its plan, similar to those used previously by the Jesuit order: a single nave plan, with side chapels on both sides. As for the façade, it follows the rigorous principles of the first third of the 17th century, showing a very sober appearance, although there is beginning to be some decoration and an incorrect use of the orders, which is accessed through a triple arcade, continuing the model that Francisco de Mora had already established in the convent of San José, in the same city. In the main chapel we can see an altarpiece that belongs to the second third of the 17th century.
The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments granted it the title of minor basilica by decree dated 13 July 2022.