Rediscovering the Road: An Evening Stroll and a Hidden Gem

Picking Up Our Bikes from Storage and Uncovering the Rich History of Església de Sant Antoni Abat

Last night, after yet another busy week, we finally made time to pick up our road bikes from storage. They’ve been sitting there for over two months, patiently waiting to be reassembled so we can get back to cycling. To retrieve them, we took an evening stroll along the main street of town and even stopped by the Església de Sant Antoni Abat, a place I hadn’t yet visited.

Music: Soothe Our Souls | Musician: Ahmed Sirour

A bit of history: the church was rebuilt in 1663, replacing a 14th-century structure. Construction began with the bell tower (1670–1706), overseen by Fra Josep de la Concepció and Joan Homs. The bell tower is quite striking, with its square base and octagonal upper levels, crowned by a dome and a bronze angel. Work on the main church was delayed by the War of Spanish Succession and wasn’t completed until 1831, though the façade wasn’t finished until 1879. The church suffered damage during the 1936 war, with reconstruction continuing until 1977.

The history of the place is as fascinating as its architecture, and I’m glad I finally had the chance to step inside.