Parish Church of Saint Peter the Apostle (Poboleda)

The parish church of Saint Peter the Apostle is one of Poboleda's sources of pride. Known as the "Cathedral of the Priorat" for being the largest in the region, it invites you to discover a temple that reflects both the prosperity and the difficulties the town has experienced.

Construction began in 1750 and was completed in just three years. The increase in economic activity and population during the 18th century had made a new church necessary: Poboleda experienced a population growth of 400% in about forty years. The building replaced an old Romanesque hermitage, of which only the baptismal font remains, having been moved to the new church.

Old photographs and documents bear witness to the richness the interior once possessed, with paintings, wooden figures, lamps, furniture, and an organ that cost 1,500 Catalan pounds. The Civil War, the agricultural crisis, depopulation, and some subsequent renovations contributed to the loss of this heritage. Among the preserved elements are part of the altarpiece and the Baroque cabinet, notable works from the 18th century.

One of the stories you can discover is linked to the Charterhouse of Escaladei. In the past, during Holy Week, a ladder was placed there to represent its founding myth: the vision a shepherd had of a ladder reaching towards heaven. According to the tradition passed down by the village elders, this episode took place in Poboleda. If you look at the ceiling, you can still see the holes where the ladder was attached.

To the left of the main altar is a chapel where services are held during the cold winter days. After the Civil War, only the space and the pulpit remained, and it was later restored.