Basilica de San Vicente , Ávila 
View of San Vicente from the city walls. Photo by Zahorí.
Basilica de San Vicente by night. Photo by Jorge González.
Romanesque west front of San Vicente. Photo by Jorge González.
Fine Romanesque carvings of central portal. Photo by Jorge González.
Detail of portal figures. Photos by Jorge González and Andrea Kirkby.
Photo by Jorge González.
Romanesque vaults of the nave. Photo by Andrea Kirkby.
The Basilica de San Vicente (St. Vincent's Basilica) is an interesting Romanesque church just outside the walls of Ávila.
History
The Basilica de San Vicente stands on the traditional site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent at the hands of the Romans.
According to legend, a rich Jew who had been poking fun at the martyrdom scene was enveloped by a serpent that emerged miraculously from the rocks. On the verge of suffocation, he repented and converted to Christianity. He built a church on the site and was buried in it himself.
The Basilica de San Vicente that stands today dates from the 12th century and is mostly Romanesque in style.
What to See
The 12th-century doorways and portico of the Basilica de San Vicente are fine examples of Romanesque architecture. The interior is also Romanesque but also shows the influence of later trends and styles.
The basilica has three very high naves and three apses. The large nave has a triforium covered by a dome with Gothic fan-vaulting; the apses have pipe and bowl domes. The domes are supported by large cruciform pillars on cylindrical plinths.
The capitals are finely decorated with plant motifs as well as animals from griffins, lions, elephants, snakes, birds, wolves, and storks to fantastic creatures, centaurs, mermaids or human figures.
The tomb of San Vicente narrates the violent story of his martyrdom. In the crypt, you can visit the rocky crag where Vincent was executed and where the serpent later supposedly appeared.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Basilica de San Vicente; Basilica of St. Vincent |
| Type of site: | Church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Date: | 12th century |
| Architecture: | Romanesque |
| Location: | Outside the walls on the northeast side, Ávila, Spain |
| Hours: | Summer: daily 10-2, 4-7; Winter: 10-1:30, 4-6 |
| Cost: | €1.40 |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of San Vicente in Ávila. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Ávila Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- The Rough Guide to Spain 11, p. 179.
- The Romanesque - Avila Tourism
More Information
- St. Vincent - Catholic Encyclopedia
Travel Resources
- Ávila Interactive Map - Sacred Destinations
- Ávila Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Ávila Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
