Denominación de Origen Almansa is linked, not only for the quality of its wines to Almansa, but also for being part of the history of the city in one of the most important events in the history of Spain: the Battle of Almansa.
The battle, which celebrates its 314th anniversary on 25 April, already had the chapel of San Blas, headquarters of our DO Almansa, as one of the elements that were already one of the landmarks of the time. In fact, it appears in the painting of the Battle of Almansa, although in the painting one more body can be seen, which preceded the current entrance door.
- It is a Baroque building, possibly dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, with a square floor plan of approximately 8 metres on each side, to which a rectangular chapel is attached on the east.
- After the battle, it served as a hospital to treat the thousands of wounded.
- It has had several different names! In the painting of the Battle it is called Ermita del Salvador (Chapel of the Saviour). In 1756 it was renamed Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. And nowadays, as it is located in the place known as “San Blas”, it is known as Ermita de San Blas.
- During the Civil War it was partially destroyed and deconsecrated. For some time it served as an agricultural warehouse… and even housed an electrical transformer.
- The interior of the chapel is decorated with plasterwork and Baroque high relief. Four niches can be seen, which could have housed the four evangelists who are represented in the upper part together with angels.
- It was restored in 1984 and is now spectacularly preserved.
- It was the headquarters of the Almansa tourist office until 2011 when it became our current headquarters of the Almansa Designation of Origin.
Denominación de Origen Almansa is proud to have been in this emblematic building, which is the living history of Almansa, for more than a decade: we hope that our wines will continue to make history with one of the most symbolic monuments of Almansa!
