11th century

An important year in the Masía’s early history was 1139, when a Mr. Senulli donated the church, the house and the adjoining land to the knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

During the ecclesiastical confiscations of the 19th century, the property came into the hands of Buenaventura Rius, a wealthy silversmith from Vilafranca del Penedès. His daughter Dorotea married Francesc Rius i Taulet, mayor of Barcelona and the man behind the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exhibition, who was named first Marquis of Olèrdola by the Queen Regent Maria Cristina of Habsburg. Some of his belongings remain in the house to this day.

ex libris 4
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Sant Sepulcre chapel

The first references to the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre date back to 1058. It was then that this unique circular Romanesque chapel, the only one of its kind in the region, was built, and it is still standing today, attached to the house. The chapel’s thousand-year-old frescos were discovered in 1954. These Romanesque paintings, which are of huge historical and artistic value, depict scenes of the Last Judgement, and you can also make out representations of the Last Supper and the Annunciation.

They are done in a style of primitive painting that developed into the main currents of the Romanesque period of later centuries, which is why they are of such interest. The chapel was declared a historical-artistic monument of national interest in 1974. The chapel is consecrated, having hosted a pastoral visit in 1922, and can therefore be used for all kinds of religious ceremonies.

It was really an amazing experience. This is a historical house built hundreds of years ago, and the church by its side is even about a thousand years old. The rooms are clean and the bedding is comfortable. All the furniture is made of real wood with delicate hand-made details. And the interior design shows a reminiscent taste which is what we love.

Donnia Tang,donnia-tang
Shenzhen, China