Capuchin Convent of Sarrià

Capuchin convent founded in 1578 in the quiet Sarrià neighbourhood — established against royal wishes, today a peaceful pocket of Catalan monastic history.

The Capuchin Convent of Sarrià is one of Barcelona's oldest religious houses. Founded in 1578 in what was then the independent village of Sarrià — at the insistence of the Consell de Cent and in defiance of King Philip II — the convent's very origins reflect the strong civic pride of the Catalan bourgeoisie against the Crown. The Capuchins, a Franciscan mendicant order known for their austere way of life, have maintained a presence here through centuries of political upheaval, secularisations, and wars. Sarrià itself was only incorporated into Barcelona in 1921, leaving the convent today surrounded by one of the city's quietest and greenest neighbourhoods. The site blends religious history with the unhurried village atmosphere that Sarrià has managed to preserve.