Convent of Saint Francis (Vitoria-Gasteiz)

Facade of the Convent of Saint Francis (the building at center).

Inside the high walls and vaults of the Convent of Saint Francis.

Shield esculpted in 1214, formed part of the Convent of Saint Francis, it was saved and now is located in the Convent of Saint Anthony in the same city (Vitoria-Gasteiz).

The convent of San Francisco, which for 7 centuries was located to the northwest, at the end of the Herrería street, in the neighborhood called Santo Domingo Afuera, on an area of 4800 m2. It was demolished in 1930.

History

The convent of Saint Francis was founded by St. Francis of Assisi himself in 1214, on his return from the Camino de Santiago. The enclosure, of Gothic style, was one of the points of the Vitorian life, and welcomed not only the Church's life, but also became headquarters of municipal and institutional sessions.

Sancho VII of Navarre, the Mighty, donated to the convent his house and the Romanesque church of Santu Luzia, as chapel of worship to the convent.

Plays an important role in political life (Scenario of the Jura of the Fueros by Queen Isabella I of Castile) and cultural with its library and the study center, where were students among others: Fray Francisco de Vitoria, Blessed Tomás de Zumárra, Simón de Anda (Governor of the Philippines).

Pope Adrian VI held in that place his first Mass as Pope, hosted the provincial archives, the General Meetings had their headquarters there and it was that the place where the 'Voluntary Surrender' was certified.^[1]

In February 1835, the Day of Candelas, held on the last act of worship in the convent. In 1859 the image of the Our Lady of the Rosary it moved to the Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria.

It is intended to Military Hospital until the Military Governor delivers the Mayor for its demolition.

According to chronicles of the time the decision not to destroy the temple was taken before its demolition, but the order came too late to prevent it.^[2]

Remains

Today there are still some ruins of the Chapel of Mary Magdalene in the courtyard located between the Hacienda office and the housing, ruins that can be observed. Also one of the arches of the cloister adorns the garden of the Residencia de San Prudencio, in the street of Francia.

References

1. "El convento de San Francisco: historia de Vitoria hasta su derribo en 1930" Gasteiz Hoy (newspaper)
2. "Conventos en Vitoria medieval" Vitoria y vitorianos