Església de Sant Vicenç in Sarrià

C Rector Voltà, 5

The most popular church for local Sarrià residents is the Parish Church of Sant Vicenç. It was there before the town of Sarrià itself, when the Barcelona neighbourhood was agricultural land owned by the Lord of Sarrià. The present-day church dates back to the 18th century, but its origins go back to the 10th century.

A thousand-year-old parish church

The first references concerning this church are from the 5th century. A commemorative plaque placed on the its facade in 1987 reminds us that it is a thousand-year-old parish church. A Romanesque church was consecrated on the same site in 1314, and in 1347 it was rebuilt as a Gothic church that housed the famous Sant Vicenç altarpiece, which is now kept in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the MNAC. The Baroque polychrome, carved wooden altar dedicated to Mare de Déu del Roser (Our Lady of the Rosary), which can still be seen at the church, was made by Aguste Pool. The present-day, Neoclassical church, was designed by Josep Mas in 1781.

An interior full of art

The new church has a single nave with intercommunicating side chapels. The transept is covered by a dome. Another outstanding feature is its graceful octagonal bell tower. The interior is full of works of art from different styles and periods, such as the Noucentista mural fresco paintings. Other outstanding works in this quintessential Sarrià church include the 17th century altarpiece from the old Santa Clara convent, and Adrià Gual’s altar paintings dedicated to Mare de Déu de Montserrat (Our Lady of Montserrat).