Description
The Holy Week Interpretation Centre in Tortosa is the perfect place to discover one of the city's most deeply rooted traditions. Housed in the former Church of Saint Anthony Abbot on Montcada Street, the centre offers visitors the opportunity to explore the processional floats, the brotherhoods and the history of a celebration that forms an essential part of Tortosa's cultural heritage.
The centre occupies a building with a remarkable history. The former Church of Saint Anthony Abbot, rebuilt after suffering extensive damage during the Spanish Civil War, has been home to the first museum dedicated to Holy Week processional floats in Catalonia since 2011. Its restoration brought one of the historic buildings of Montcada Street back to life, transforming it into a space devoted to preserving and sharing the traditions of Holy Week in Tortosa.
The highlight of the visit is the collection of processional floats, traditionally known as mysteries, depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ. Most of these life-sized sculptures were created by renowned artists such as Innocenci Soriano Montagut and Enric Monjo i Garriga. Their artistic quality, impressive scale and remarkable realism allow visitors to appreciate details that are often difficult to see during the processions themselves.
The exhibition also includes a display of the robes, garments and ceremonial items used by Tortosa's brotherhoods. These objects help explain the symbolism of each brotherhood and their important role in the city's religious and social life throughout the centuries.
Visiting the centre is also an opportunity to discover the history of the building itself. The church has long been associated with the Brotherhood of Saint Anthony Abbot, the brotherhood of Tortosa's farmers, documented since 1358 and considered the oldest in the city. After occupying several locations along Montcada Street, the brotherhood settled permanently here in 1652, and the present church was built during the last quarter of the seventeenth century.
Several original architectural features have survived, including the large semi-circular arched doorway with its impressive voussoirs, the tondo depicting Saint Anthony Abbot, and the entrance to the former farmers' guild house, recognisable by the pruning knife carved into its lintel. These details reflect the close historical connection between the church and Tortosa's agricultural community.
The building's history was profoundly affected by the events of the twentieth century. In 1936, it suffered extensive destruction, resulting in the loss of much of its artistic and documentary heritage. After decades of different uses and gradual deterioration, the Diocese of Tortosa and the City Council agreed to restore the building. The rehabilitation, designed by architect Tomàs Homedes, was completed in 2011, giving this historic landmark a new purpose.
Today, the Holy Week Interpretation Centre in Tortosa offers visitors a unique way to discover the city's history, religious traditions and artistic heritage. Whether you visit during Holy Week or at any other time of the year, the centre provides an excellent introduction to the remarkable processional sculptures, the brotherhoods and the history of one of Tortosa's most significant historic buildings.