It is the main temple of Valenzuela. The original church was demolished in the 1970s, which caused great controversy. The building that replaced it had serious deficiencies, and after the partial collapse of the roof in 2004, its reconstruction was undertaken. The works began in 2005 and were completed in 2007, with a new design that recovered symbolic elements from the original temple.
The parish is not only a place of worship but also a central space in the social and cultural life of Valenzuela. It hosts the town’s main religious festivities, such as Holy Week, Corpus Christi, and the patron saint celebrations. During these events, the church and its surroundings become places of gathering and expressions of popular devotion, reinforcing its role as the spiritual and community heart of the town.
It is dedicated to the patron saint of the town, Saint Roch. Although there is no detailed information about its architecture or age, its existence has been documented since at least the mid-18th century. In 1752, the Catastro de Ensenada already mentioned a hermitage in honor of this saint in the locality.
It plays a central role in local festivities, especially during the fair held in honor of Saint Roch, which takes place from August 15th to 17th.
It is located about one kilometer from the town center, in a privately owned olive grove. It was built between 1985 and 1986 at the initiative of the parish priest Don Enrique Aparicio, on land donated by a local resident. The surroundings of the hermitage are shaded by a grove of trees that provides cover for the area where the pilgrimage of Saint Isidore takes place.
A mass is held in this hermitage on May 15th, the day of the pilgrimage in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of farmers. Around this date, novenas dedicated to the saint are also celebrated at the hermitage.
The Hermitage of Calvary, built in the late 1970s on Cerro Boyero, is an example of contemporary religious architecture. Its octagonal structure, crowned with a cross, incorporates elements from the old bell tower of the parish church that was demolished in 1971.
In addition to its architectural value, it is a key site in Valenzuela’s religious traditions, especially during the Good Friday procession and the devotion to Our Lady of the Cabeza. A Way of the Cross marks the path leading up to the hermitage, which opens to the public in October.
