Inside the church of Pilar de la Mola, a bell hangs as a tangible link to the past. It bears an inscription from 1774 stating that it was made by Harmanus Walbroek in Rotterdam. It is believed that the bell came from a Dutch ship.
Construction on the church began in 1771 after the residents secured permission from the archbishop. The building was finished and consecrated in 1784, which was the same year the town of El Pilar de la Mola was founded. These dates mark the beginning of a long architectural journey.
While the structure is similar to churches on the island of Eivissa with a wide porch and a single rectangular nave, it has grown significantly. It was first expanded in 1925 and underwent further enlargements to serve as a parish hall. We can see how the building evolved to meet the needs of the people.
The exterior remains entirely white. At one point, the Casa del Poble was actually attached to the front of the church. Today, the building is protected as a site of cultural interest. It remains a central part of the parish life in the town for us to continue to explore.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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