Santa Rita - Casa Vicens Gaudí

The origin of the tradition dates back to the second half of the 18TH century. At the time in this place there was a house of convalescence of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the “Josepets” convent in today’s Plaça Lesseps. Surprised by how quickly the people who drank from the water spring recovered from diﬀerent pains, they dedicated the site to Santa Rita, the patron saint of impossible causes.

Capilla Santa Rita, Casa Vicens — Carrer de les Carolines, © IAAH

1886

In 1886, its carbonated waters were declared to be of public use and they started to be sold. Later, in 1927, a new chapel was built precisely where the spring was. This chapel was included in the space that at the time was occupied by the Casa Vicens estate.

The Herrero-Jover family, which lived in the house from 1899 to 2014, started to open the garden’s doors each 22 May in order to follow the tradition. Years ago, the neighbours came to Carrer Carolines to celebrate the day of Santa Rita and to drink water from the natural mineral-medicinal water spring located where the corner of Avenue of the Riera de Cassoles and Carrer de les Carolines is today.

1946

In 1946, however, the Jover family put several parcels of the garden up for sale and the estate was separated. With this division of the land, the chapel of Santa Rita was separated from the rest of the house, and in 1963, with the sale of the parcel where it was located, the chapel was demolished to build a large block of buildings.

In spite of the church’s disappearance, Santa Rita remains in the neighbourhood’s collective memory through the name of certain establishments and a good number of neighbours named Rita in honour of the patron saint of impossible causes. Additionally, after Gaudí’s first house was rehabilitated, converted to a museum and opened to the public, Casa Vicens retains the firm commitment to continuing the tradition and establishing this date as a special day so that the neighbourhood can pay homage to the saint.

Interior capilla Santa Rita a Casa Vicens — Interior of the Santa Rita fountain in Casa Vicens. © IAAH

Agenda May 22, 2019

10:00 a.m.

Casa Vicens

Opening of the house and sale of candles and roses.
11:00 a.m.

Church of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul

The mass of Santa Rita and the blessing of roses in the church of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (Carolines, 16).
11:45 a.m.

Casa Vicens

Blessing of roses in the garden of Casa Vicens.
10:00 - 8 p.m.

Casa Vicens

Casa Vicens Gaudí will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m (last entry 7.00 pm). No prior booking required.
10:00 - 8 p.m.

Church of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul

The church, with the image of Santa Rita, will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m.

Casa Vicens is covered with roses
10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Three artistic installations in different points of the House will pay tribute to the most popular tradition of the Gaudí’s first house: the festivity of Santa Rita.

Santa Rita and Casa Vicens

Sale of roses and candles
CSR Action

The procedes of the sale will go to Cultivalia Senegaal, an entity in the neighborhood of Gràcia, member of the Plataforma Gràcia Solidaria. A volunteer association that works to guarantee the
food and nutrition security of rural populations, mainly in Senegal

MORE INFORMATION