Could the stones of Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes whisper tales of centuries past? This Romanesque church stands as a testament to time nestled in Collserola. It is located within Cerdanyola del Vallès. Today we explore its history.
Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes dates back to the 12th century. It was built over the remains of a pre-Romanesque temple. This earlier temple was documented as far back as 995. A cemetery with anthropomorphic tombs once surrounded it. The site is more than just a church. It’s a layered chronicle of Cerdanyola’s evolution. Its past reflects the successive reforms made over the centuries.
Originally, Sant Iscle was a single-nave church. Its rectangular structure features a barrel vault and a two-sloped roof. The semicircular apse is covered by a quarter-sphere vault. These elements represent the original Romanesque design. Later modifications added side chapels. These changes gave the church a Latin cross floor plan. A sacristy was added too. Interior decorations were modified. The bell tower was raised.
Look closely at the walls of Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes. River stones are carefully arranged in horizontal rows. Large well-crafted ashlars mark the corners. The doorway bears an inscription from 1577. This indicates a later reform. Once, Romanesque paintings adorned the church. Now they reside in the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona.
Sant Iscle’s history is rich. The topographic name “Facxas” appears in a document from 964. The first written reference to the church is from 995. Throughout the 11th century references to the temple are numerous. By 1082 it was cited as a parish. In the 16th century construction work took place.
During the Middle Ages Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes was a parish with few resources. It experienced prosperity from the mid-15th to the 17th century. This was linked to Barcelona citizens acquiring farmhouses.
In 1624 the church of Santa Engràcia de Montcada i Reixac was added as a suffragan. In the 19th century it became independent. Sant Iscle became a suffragan of Sant Martí de Cerdanyola. The parish was suppressed in 1868.
In 1995 an important archaeological intervention took place. The building was restored. It partly recovered its 17th-century appearance. It was transformed into a museum. Today the former sacristy hosts a small exhibition. It showcases the evolution of the church and parish. Remains of anthropomorphic tombs are on display. Architectural elements from Romanesque Gothic and Renaissance periods are visible.
Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes stands near a crossroads. These roads once linked Montcada Horta and Cerdanyola. It is a testament to the past. It shows the layers of history within its ancient walls. Take a moment to appreciate this singular building.