The procession of San Francisco de Paula is the oldest still performed in Xàbia, dating back to the mid-17th century. After a mass celebrated in the chapel in Placeta del Convent, the image of the saint is carried on the shoulders of devotees on a route around the Raval del Baix and into the historic centre before returning to the chapel.
The Minimum Friars of Xàbia were founded in the village in 1617, the same year that a monastery was built on a plot of land donated by a devout local resident, Lluc Espanyol, which was located just outside the defensive walls. Built with a two-storey Renaissance style cloister, two dozen monastic cells, a kitchen, a library, a medical centre, a cemetery, a garden, and a chapel, it was dedicated to Nostra Senyora de la Victòria i Sant Francesc de Paula. In 1643, the friars were authorised the celebrate the feast of Sant Francesc de Paula with a procession, an act that is still celebrated to this day.
San Francisco de Paula founded the Order of Minims in 1435, a religious community that not only adhered to the standard three religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience but also observed perpetual abstinence from all meat, eggs and dairy products, the first organised group of vegans. The Order was introduced into Spain in 1497. Francisco died in 1507 and was canonised in 1519, his feast day set for April 2nd, the day he died.. He has become considered to be patron saint of boatmen, mariners and naval officers
After secularization, the monastery was confiscated in 1841 and was subsequently used as a school, a prison, and a granary whilst the church continued to be used as such before both were destroyed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. A new building, the one that we see now, was built in 1946 to house the Augustinian Nuns, who transferred from their original convent in the heart of the historic centre which was also destroyed during the tragic conflict. On the western side of the building, a high tower was built at the request of the nuns who wanted to be able to see the sea, as they were able to do from their original convent.
In 2003, the monastery closed and, after some renovation work, became a day centre caring for the elderly and those suffering Alzheimer’s in 2008. The chapel continues to be a place of worship with regular masses and occasional concerts featuring local musicians.
Programme 2025
Saturday 3rd May
18:00 · First day of the Novena to San Francisco de Paula with Rosary and song of joys
Sunday 4th May
18:00 · Second day of the Novena to San Francisco de Paula.
18:30 · Procession of the 2025 representatives through the streets of the procession.
19:00 · SOLEMN MASS to San Francisco de Paula in the convent chapel sung by the choir of the Parish of Sant Bartolomé de Xàbia.
20:00 · At the end of the mass, the PROCESSION of the image of San Francisco de Paula along its usual route.
21:00 · Complementary wine and snacks in the Placeta del Convent for all attendees.
Monday 5th May to Sunday 11th May
20:00 · Novena to San Francisco de Paula with Rosary and song of joys
NOTE: The Sant Francesc de Paula Association reserves the right to modify the hours of the acts on Sunday 4th May and re-schedule them to the morning of the same day in the case that rain forces the re-scheduling of the ascent of the image of Jesús Nazareno on Saturday 3rd May.
