Church of San Pancrazio di Barbarano and convent

In the 16th century, the Community of Barbarano Vicentino gave the Franciscan Friars the hill of San Pancrazio.
On the hill there already stood an ancient votive chapel dedicated to the martyr Pancrazio.
In 1501 work began on building the church, with a single nave and three altars, and the convent (two wings).
From the spiritual fervour of this period emerged the figure of Father Antonio Pagani.
In 1653 the altar dedicated to St Anthony of Padua was built.
Only towards the end of the 17th century after a period of plague which also carried off some of the friars was the cloister completed (1699), the church enlarged, and a general restoration of the whole group carried out.
In 1768 the convent was suppressed by the Venetian Republic; the suppression extended also to the Napoleonic age. The church was still however served, and a part of the convent became the rectory.
The convent was re-opened in 1834 and saw the return of the friars who with the help of the population carried out restoration work and development. A small cemetery was built for the burial of the friars, and the "Salita San Pancrazio" was constructed with Stations of the Cross made up of 14 frescoed stations.
In 1930 the convent was enlarged and a new wing with 38 cells was built. Other work, completed in 1950, included the restoration of the ancient church: the ceiling was removed to reveal the wooden tie beams, and the three chapels were ornamented.
Today the church has a very simple appearance, in accordance with Franciscan architectural canons, with a stone facade and wide entrance portal (enlarged at the beginning of the 18th century). The canopy roof inside has a lacunar ceiling.
The cloister is rectangular with round and cross-vaulted arches.

Text approved by the Arts Office of the Diocese of Vicenza

Address: via san Pancrazio - 36021 Barbarano Vicentino - tel. 0444 896529

Feast-day Masses: 7.00, 8.30, 10.00, 11.30
Vespres: 15.00 (winter), 16.00 (summer)
Confessions: 6.30-7.00 8.00-8.30 9.30-10.00 1.00-11.30
Weekday Masses: 7.00
Lauds: 6.25
Vespers: 18.30
Confessions: 8.00-11.00 and 15.00-18.30