Month: September 2024

Next Friday, September 27, at 8:00 p.m., the historic Alfonso XIII nave will once again be the setting for a literary event. This time, it will be a poetry recital in which three authors will participate (Anna Tomàs, Stefano M. Cingolani and Xavier Zambrano), within the framework of the “La Vila en Vers” festival.

After working as a prescriptor through her literary blog and collaborating with various regional media or with El Matí Digital and reciting other people’s poems, Anna Tomás from Vilafranca has decided to make her own, as yet unpublished, poetic work known. Stefano M. Cingolani (Rome, 1956) will speak next. He has a PhD in Romance Philology from the University of La Sapienza and is the author of a dozen studies on medieval Catalan history and literature, including a biography of Peter the Great, the critical edition of Lo Somni by Bernat Metge and Sant Jordi, a millennial legend. Cingolani, who has been living in Vilafranca since 2021, is the author of the poetry collections Lo veo por la voz (2019) and Mendigo (2024). The evening will be closed by the translator and poet Xavier Zambrano, who was awarded the Josep Maria López Picó de Vallirana prize for his latest poetry collection Duró (2017).

At the end of the presentation, a glass of wine will be served and books by the authors will be available for purchase. We invite you to attend.

Last Friday, August 23, we attended the presentation of the book “Santa Maria de Vilafranca, el gran temple gòtic del Penedès” which took place in the Vinseum auditorium, where the authors themselves shared their experiences and experiences during the development of the project.

This work takes a historical tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria, from the laying of the first stone to the most recent restorations, revealing some details hitherto unknown. “Santa Maria de Vilafranca, el gran temple gòtic del Penedès” is a collective work by 21 people linked to Vilafranca, history and art.

The authors narrate the history of the temple and delve into the episodes experienced in it. The recent and important restoration works affecting the walls and the large roof of the building are described in detail. The collapse of the Gothic vault that the church suffered in 1753 has also been studied, which has allowed us to refute the fact that it was rebuilt one metre lower, and the most relevant archaeological findings are explained, such as the stonemason’s marks, signed tiles and games engraved in stone, among others.

The book also includes more than 200 photographs that allow us to appreciate the rich heritage of the temple up close, from the architectural structure to the most unique details, which make Santa María a temple of extraordinary beauty and harmony.

From the Familia Torres Foundation we have collaborated with this project, reaffirming our commitment to local culture and its benefits.