Villafranca del Bierzo

Convento San Francisco

The Convent of San Francisco was built in 1285 by the Franciscan Order in a Romanesque-Gothic style. At present only the access doorway is preserved, since the rest of the elements were added in later extensions, such as the facade and its towers that are from the seventeenth century.

In the interior of the temple highlights the altarpiece over the high altar of churrigueresque style and the carving of the Virgin of the Expectation, which is striking for the pathos that presents.

Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor located in the center of Villafranca del Bierzo is lined with arcades and old buildings, among which are the Town Hall building and one of the most beautiful theaters in Spain.

The Plaza Mayor located in the center of Villafranca del Bierzo is lined with arcades and old buildings, among which are the Town Hall building and one of the most beautiful theaters in Spain.

In recent times it has undergone some repairs to give it more amplitude and tourist attraction.

Convento de la Concepción

The Convent of La Concepción was built in 1541 by order of Don Pedro Álvarez de Toledo Osorio and his wife Doña María Osorio, second Marquises of Villafranca.

The Convent of La Concepción was built in 1541 by order of Don Pedro Álvarez de Toledo Osorio and his wife Doña María Osorio, second Marquises of Villafranca.

As anecdotal information, it should be said that in order to carry out the inauguration of the Convent itself, it was necessary to transfer from the monastery of the Immaculate Conception of Leon, two nuns and another from the convent of Santa Clara de Benavente (Zamora).

Castillo

The castle, with a palatial appearance, was built in the 16th century with masonry materials and a quadrangular structure with four corner towers.

Its main door is made of brick and above it you can see one of the various coats of arms with which the main facade has.

The main door is made of brick and above it you can see one of the various coats of arms with which the main facade has.

Calle del Agua

The Calle del Agua is a real showcase of Baroque architecture, both civil and religious, as it has unique buildings such as the Palace of the Marquises of Villafranca and the Palace of Torquemada, both from the seventeenth century.

The Calle del Agua is a real showcase of Baroque architecture, both civil and religious.

Other examples of uniqueness are the Casas Torres and the Casa Morisca. This street housed the greatest commercial, craft and transit activity, once the Jacobean Route of the Camino de Santiago was consolidated.

La Colegiata

The Collegiate Church was built on an old monastery of the French order in 1070, in the middle of the Camino de Santiago. It does not have a very defined style, since inside the temple there are many elements with both Gothic and Renaissance styles.

La Alameda

The Alameda is a romantic garden area that was built in 1882. It highlights the sixteenth century fountain in the center of it and popularly known as “la Chata”.

Iglesia de Santiago

The Romanesque style Church of Santiago was built in the late twelfth century, specifically in the year 1187. The temple has such consideration that, when a pilgrim is not able to reach Santiago de Compostela due to illness or accident and having traveled the mandatory 100 kilometers, the Puerta del Perdón of the church is opened so that he can receive the Jubilee Graces.

The structure was built with ashlar masonry, has a single nave and a side chapel of the eighteenth century. Of the decoration only the capitals of the windows that represent the Crucifixion, the Magi and the Epiphany stand out.

Ermita de Fombasallá

The Fombasallá Hermitage is located high in the mountains of Paradaseca, in the natural area of the Ancares. This building is one of the most representative samples of the traditional mountain hermitage.