Hermitage of Padre Jesús Nazareno

This hermitage holds a curious history of identity change. Although everyone knows it today as the home of Padre Jesús Nazareno, it was born in the 18th century under the protection of Santa Ana. It was the strength and devotion of the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno that ended up rewriting its name and its history.

Externally, the building invites calm with its simple lintelled facade, topped by a humble bell gable holding a small bell. However, this austerity is a deceptive preamble. Upon crossing the threshold, the visitor encounters a space that vibrates with the aesthetics of the 17th century. The presbytery area catches the eye thanks to a dome on pendentives decorated with bulging plasterwork, an artistic resource that adds volume and drama to the space.

But the real chromatic spectacle is in its altarpiece. Made of plaster, it is an explosion of ochre, red and blue tones that contrasts vividly with the white lime of the walls. This altar guards treasures such as the paintings of San Miguel and San Dionisio, and a unique relic: the Cross of the Nazarene, an 1885 piece made of noble mahogany and topped with silver edges.

The soul of the temple, however, is the image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. This dressed carving, made of oil-polychromed wood, represents Jesus carrying the cross and is, without a doubt, one of the sculptures that aroures the most devotion among the people of Villafranca, being the emotional center of this sacred corner.