The town of Vilafranca celebrated this Saturday the tricentennial of the Sant Roc hermitage, a day that focused on the municipality's history, heritage, and music. The event featured a special concert dedicated to the figure of Antonio Andrés García, co-founder and director of the Vilafranquina Polyphonic Choir, active between 1984 and 1989.
During the event, part of the choir's repertoire was revived, aiming to preserve Vilafranca's musical memory and highlight the group's influence on local cultural life.
The Sant Roc hermitage, which will mark its 300th anniversary in 2026, has been part of Vilafranca's identity for three centuries. Tradition holds that its construction was a promise made to Saint Roch by a man who recovered from a plague epidemic. Initially built near the Barranc de la Fos, a new, more accessible location at the Eres de Sant Roc led to the construction of the current temple between 1705 and 1726. Devotion to the saint is also associated with crop protection, particularly against locust plagues, which led to Saint Roch being named patron protector.
The tricentennial commemoration seeks to recognize the legacy of the hermitage's builders and ensure the preservation of this heritage for future generations.
The day also served to pay tribute to the Vilafranquina Polyphonic Choir, founded in early 1984 with 37 voices and active until 1989. The group played a significant role in the municipality's musical life, performing in various towns in the Castellón region. Antonio Andrés García was one of its initiators and director, initially participating with elements from the Atzeneta formation before developing its own identity. His move to Castellón for work reasons in 1989 marked the end of the choir's run, although his connection to choral music continued.
Former choir members recalled the figure of Antonio Andrés García, emphasizing his contribution to establishing choral music in Vilafranca and his ability to instill a love for music in a generation.
The event was organized by the Luis Miralles del Carro Cultural Association, which also presented an exhibition about Sant Roc at the hermitage, open this week between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
