Hermitage of Las Angustias

If the stones of this hermitage could speak, they would tell an amazing story of resistance. Located in what was once the orchard of the Comendadores de Calatrava, this building has not only changed its name, but has survived wars, abandonment, and even its conversion into a cinema.

Originally, in the 16th century, this place was dedicated to San Sebastián, the protector saint against the plague, acting as a “spiritual watchman” at the entrance of the town to stop epidemics. However, time took its toll on the primitive structure, and at the end of the 18th century the current temple was built, with neoclassical lines and a Latin cross plan. It was then that popular devotion to the image of the Virgin of Las Angustias ended up renaming the temple.

But the most curious chapter of its history arrived in the 20th century. After suffering severe damage and looting during the Civil War, the hermitage lost its sacred character for decades. Incredibly, its naves were used as a granary and even as a cinema and theater, witnessing the social life of the town from a very different perspective than the religious one.

Fortunately, the year 2006 marked its rebirth. Thanks to a profound restoration promoted by the City Council and the Provincial Council, the hermitage recovered its dignity and splendor. Today, far from being a warehouse, it is once again the beating heart of the Holy Week in Villafranca, the starting point for the processions of the la Soledad, and the Santo Sepulcro.