Places to visit

The Sanctuary of St. Vincent

The Sanctuary of St. Vincent is a church in Avila, Spain. It is one of the best Romanesque buildings in Spain. According to legend, three Christians, including Vincentian, were martyred here during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Their bodies were buried in the rock and a church was later built over their graves. In 1062 their remains were relocated to the monastery of St Peter in Burgos and later, in 1175, back to Avila where a new church was built. Work was repeatedly stopped or slowed down, and it was only thanks to the support of Alfonso X and Sancho IV that it was completed in the fourteenth century. 

The most striking features of the exterior of the church are the beautifully decorated west and south doors. Inside, the most attractive feature is the coloured monument to the martyred saint. This is one of the finest Romanesque sculptures. The church was built using rock from the nearby La Collelia quarry.