Villatobas

JESÚS DE NAZARENO SANCTUARY

This sanctuary is located in the urban centre of Villatobas. Its interior used to house the main altarpiece and the image of the Nazarene Christ, the latter a 17th century carving, which both disappeared in 1936.

The current altarpiece was built in 1948 and is comprised of three sections. The current figure of the Nazarene Christ was commissioned at the end of the Civil War, in 1939, and is the work of Valencian sculptor Francisco Pablo.

The hermitage is laid out as a Latin cross, and the main nave features a barrel vault with lunettes, divided by five transverse arches which lean on cantilevers on the walls.

The transept is covered with a hemispherical dome, supported on a drum featuring gaps that let light in to the interior. The drum is in turn supported by pendentives. The rectangular front is covered with a pendentive vault. The interior features Corinthian pillars in the corners. The arms of the transept are square and are also covered with hemispherical domes.

The walls are made of whitewashed masonry. The corner ashlars outside date from the original hermitage, as well as the façade under renovation, also built out of ashlars.

SAN JOSÉ HERMITAGE

We find the first mention of the hermitage in wills of 1626, although it may not have been finished until around 1647, when San José Agraz Calatayud left 10,000 maravedis in his will to help put a roof on the hermitage. His old brotherhood received indulgencies and blessings from the popes Urban VIII, in 1634, and Pius VI, in 1796.

The Hermitage conserves a simple altarpiece from the 17th century, which features a console-shaped altar table and a painting from the same period in the upper central part, depicting the Flight to Egypt.

Rectangular in plan, its architecture and artistic quality are more notable than those of the rest of the small hermitages which existed in Villatobas. It has a hemispherical vault with three transverse arches and lunettes. The entrance door is made of wood, with forged nails, and lintel and base in carved wood.


SAN JORGE HERMITAGE

It was built in the first half of the 16th century, judging by the references and mentions found in the historic documents of the Parish Archive of Villatobas from 1547. Around that year, several donations are made to the Hermitage.

It was a large building, with a simple and popular square plan, built in rough stone and mud wall and rendered with plaster and lime, with a hip roof. Between 1974 and 1975, the Hermitage was in a very poor state and was no longer used for any cult service.

It is currently being rebuilt in the same spot as the prior 16th century hermitage. The devotion to Saint George could have its origin in Villatobas, as people invoked him in certain places to help them against any ill or catastrophe which could threaten inhabitants (epidemics, plagues or illnesses).


SANTA ANA HERMITAGE

The age of this hermitage is recorded in the Parish Archive, which shows that Santa Ana Hermitage already existed in 1605.

An example of popular architecture, it had stone walls with three supporting buttresses. This Hermitage was sometimes used by neighbours to make flower prayers in the month of May; children went there for catechism and on the eve of July 26, bonfires were lit in honour of Saint Anne. Masons have always honoured her as their patron saint.

Between 1970 and 1975, the Hermitage was in a very poor state, leading to its current ruined state. There are now plans to rebuild it on the same spot.