The current convent takes the place of another previous one built between 1624 and 1628, in which the congregation was located since the foundation of the monastery. Due to several earthquakes and windstorms throughout the eighteenth century the building was severely damaged. The construction of the new convent began in 1774 and ended in 1778, being promoted by the General of the Order Mercedaria Descalza, Fray Miguel Ramón de San José. Inaugurated in 1778, it had a relatively short life, since the friars abandoned it in 1835.
Architecturally, this convent is a building very representative of the convent architecture of the second half of the eighteenth century, transition from Baroque to Neoclassicism.
The building, located in the center of the urban area, is constituted with the three usual spaces of this type of monasteries: convent, church or chapel with its dependencies and garden, the latter already segregated from the rest and built. The chapel is the oldest building, built between 1624 and 1628.
The bell tower, which was built on the presbytery of the old hermitage, has a pointed ribbed vault, reinforced with very thick nerves, of Gothic-Mudejar style.
It is the largest building in the town, the only one built in stone and one of the few of noble character. The style of this building has greatly influenced the architecture of the town since the 19th century.
It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest on September 23, 2008 in the monument category.
Currently, this building does not belong to the City of Cartaya, is privately owned, so it is not open to the public.
