San Vicente de Ávila

Church in Ávila

Avila Basilica De San Vicente, Exteriores
CC BY-SA 1.0 / Zarateman

The Basilica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta, best known as Basilica de San Vicente, is a church in Ávila, Spain. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the country.

According to legend, Christian martyrs Vicente, Sabina and Cristeta were martyred during the rule of the Roman Emperor Diocletian; their corpses were buried into the rock and later a basilica was built over their tombs. In 1062 their remains were moved to the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza in Burgos, but later, in 1175, they were returned to Ávila and the construction of a new basilica was started at the location. Construction was repeatedly halted or slowed, and were finished in the fourteenth century thanks to the support of Alfonso X and Sancho IV. The nave and aisles are cross-vaulted. The image of the Virgen de la Soterraña, ‘Our Lady of the Underground’, patron saint of the city, is located there as well.

The most notable aspect of the exterior are the decorated western and southern gates. In the interior, the most renowned attraction is the cenotaph of the titular martyrs, in polychrome stone. It is one of the best examples of Romanesque sculpture.

The San Vicente de Ávila appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Ávila!

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Visiting San Vicente de Ávila

Address: San Vicente de Ávila, Plaza de San Vicente, Ávila‎, Spain

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