Convento de las Trinitarias Descalzas (Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians), Madrid

Miguel de Cervantes had a heartfelt desire to be laid to rest within the confines of Madrid's expansive Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians, where a small group of cloistered nuns continue to reside to this day, almost four centuries later. What many are unaware of is that Cervantes owes the existence of his literary works to the Trinitarian nuns of his time, as he believed they saved his life. This belief stemmed from his own courageous escapades before he penned his two-volume masterpiece, "Don Quixote de La Mancha".

In his early twenties, Cervantes left Spain and sought refuge in Rome after engaging in a duel that resulted in him injuring a nobleman. By 1570, he had returned to his homeland and joined the Spanish navy, embarking on a war to defend the Pope. During this conflict, he sustained gunshot wounds to his ribs and shoulder, the latter of which left his left arm paralyzed. To compound matters, he was subsequently captured by Algerian pirates and endured five harrowing years as their slave.

While Cervantes languished in captivity in Africa, his family reached out to the Trinitarian nuns for assistance. Through their efforts, a ransom was raised and delivered to the pirates, securing Cervantes' freedom. The aspiring author returned to Spain, profoundly grateful, and offered his prayers at the 17th-century convent of the Trinitarians.