Parish of Our Lady of Mercy

Architecture and Structure

Built in 1828, the Parish of Our Lady of Mercy is the main architectural landmark of the municipality. Its structure consists of a single nave, a design that allows full visibility of the altar, fostering recollection.

The ceiling is resolved by a barrel vault. To understand it better, it is as if a cylinder were cut in half lengthwise to form the roof. This vault features lunettes (small intersecting vaults that allow light to enter through windows) and semi-circular side niches that give the space an elegant and solemn visual rhythm.

Neoclassical Exterior and the Brick Tower

Unlike its interior with baroque echoes, the facade is an exercise in neoclassicism: order, proportion, and sobriety. The portal is flanked by Tuscan pilasters, which are columns integrated into the wall with a simple capital, a symbol of solidity.

The most characteristic element of Villaharta’s skyline is its red brick tower. The use of exposed brick not only provides a vibrant chromatic contrast with the white of the town’s houses, but it is also a nod to the area’s building tradition, serving as a visual beacon for everyone approaching the municipality.

The Treasure of Pedrique

The jewel of the interior ornamentation is, without a doubt, the baroque altarpiece of the Virgin of Bethlehem. This artistic ensemble was not originally designed for this church, but comes from the historic Monastery of Pedrique. Its relocation allowed the preservation of an exceptional piece of carved and gilded wood, whose baroque exuberance contrasts magnificently with the pure lines of the neoclassical building.