Casa Vicens revives the Santa Rita tradition with charity roses and new ambassadors

14 / 05 / 2026

Gràcia

On May 22, Casa Vicens will once again celebrate Santa Rita by opening its garden to the public for the traditional blessing of roses, continuing a custom established by the house’s former owners. Closely tied to the history of Gaudí’s first house, the celebration will fill Carrer de les Carolines with flowers, charity initiatives organised in collaboration with the +Tu Foundation and a contemporary floral installation created by Dandelion for the house’s covered porch.

Marta Rota and Ramón Agenjo named 2026 ambassadors

Since 2024, Gaudí’s first house has awarded the title of Casa Vicens Ambassador to individuals who stand out in their professional fields and embody the values that define the house museum: audacity, excellence and proximity. Following Carme Ruscalleda and Raül Balam in 2024, and Lluís Bassat and Camino Quiroga in 2025, this year the honour goes to Marta Rota and Ramón Agenjo.

Marta Rota, haute couture designer and founder of Tot-Hom, has spent more than fifty years shaping a fashion house defined by artisanal excellence, authenticity in design and natural elegance. Inspired by her mother and mentor, Margarita Jovani, one of the most sought-after dressmakers among Barcelona’s bourgeoisie in the 1960s, Marta Rota has dressed generations of women while remaining true to the essence of the brand.

Ramón Agenjo, board member and secretary of S. A. Damm, which this year marks the 150th anniversary of its founding, represents the continuity and strength of the family business as the great-grandson of founder Josep Damm Geny. Long associated with Barcelona’s business and cultural life, Agenjo is also president of Barcelona Global, a patron of the arts and a strong supporter of sport.

Carrer de Carolines filled with charity roses for Santa Rita

To mark the feast day of the patron saint of impossible causes, Carrer de les Carolines will host a programme of activities. The Església de les Filles de la Caritat de Sant Vicenç de Paül, at number 16, will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will celebrate the traditional Santa Rita mass at 10.30 a.m. From 11.15 a.m. to 1 p.m, the Casa Vicens garden will be open free of charge for the blessing of roses, offered in several time slots with limited capacity.

From 9 a.m., a charity stall selling roses and candles will be set up outside Casa Vicens. All proceeds will go to +Tu, a non-profit foundation based in Gràcia that supports adults with intellectual disabilities or age-related dependency.

Dandelion creates floral installation for the covered porch's fountain

The covered porch at Casa Vicens will feature a site-specific floral installation by Dandelion studio. The installation is a sculptural arrangement of red roses and botanical elements that extends from the fountain, reflecting Gaudí’s idea of a continuous dialogue between the interior of the house and the garden. The deep red of the Santa Rita roses contrasts with the surrounding greenery, creating a striking yet harmonious effect, a contemporary interpretation that remains rooted in tradition.

The Santa Rita tradition at Casa Vicens

The association between Casa Vicens and Santa Rita dates back to the 18th century, when the site was home to a convalescent house run by the Carmelites of “Josepets”. The friars were struck by the rapid recovery of those who drank from the fountain and dedicated the site to Santa Rita, patron saint of impossible causes.
After Casa Vicens was built, the carbonated waters were declared of public utility in 1886 and later commercialised. In 1927, during expansion works, architect Joan Baptista Serra de Martínez built a chapel above the fountain at the corner of Carrer de Carolines and Riera de Cassoles. The chapel and the house stood side by side on the same plot until 1946, when further construction altered the space between them. The chapel was ultimately demolished in 1963.
From 1899 to 2014, the Herrero-Jover family kept the tradition alive by opening the garden every 22 May so that local residents could attend the blessing of the Santa Rita roses. Since opening as a house museum in 2017, Casa Vicens has continued to uphold this tradition each year.