The Community of Madrid has taken a significant step towards granting the highest heritage recognition to the Ermita de San Nicasio in Leganés by initiating the process for its declaration as a Heritage Asset (BIP) in the Monument category. This resolution, issued by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Office of the Spanish Language, underscores the historical, architectural, artistic, urban, and identity relevance the building holds for the city and the region.
The mayor of Leganés, Miguel Ángel Recuenco, along with other local authorities, attended the Ministry of Culture of the Community of Madrid for the acknowledgment of this resolution. Recuenco highlighted the importance of this recognition in the year commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Villa and on the eve of the San Nicasio Patron Saint Festivals, calling it a "magnificent piece of news" unanimously approved by the Regional Council of Cultural Heritage.
The mayor emphasized that the hermitage is an integral part of Leganés' history and identity. "This recognition is the step that culminates the path initiated by the San Nicasio District Board, adding to the work being done by the Government team to enhance our history and roots," he stated, adding that it is being opened for the enjoyment of all visitors.
The resolution highlights the hermitage as one of the municipality's most emblematic monuments and a spiritual, artistic, and cultural reference point for the neighborhood bearing the city's patron saint's name. It notes that the temple is a distinguished manifestation of 18th-century Madrid neoclassicism, following the model of Roman classicism.
Among its architectural values, its Greek cross plan, symmetrical facade composition, porticoes with triangular pediments, use of the Corinthian order, and central dome are emphasized. One of the most relevant aspects in the file is the traditional attribution of the Hermitage's design to architect Ventura Rodríguez, a key figure in 18th-century Spanish architecture. It is considered "very plausible" that Rodríguez not only designed the main altarpiece in 1764 but also the building itself.
The hermitage, built before June 1775, along with the San Salvador church and the former barracks of the Reales Guardias Valonas (now part of the Carlos III University of Madrid), forms one of the three most significant buildings in Leganés at the end of the 18th century.
The file also underscores the hermitage's deep connection to Leganés' history, highlighting the devotion to San Nicasio documented since at least the 16th century and still active today with the patron saint's festival on October 11th. Furthermore, the sacristy houses the remains of the Julián and Leandro Rejón brothers, farmers linked to the events of May 2, 1808, and symbols of the local rebellion against Napoleonic troops.
The protection extends to the building's surroundings to preserve its perception and cultural values. Future urban and architectural developments will need to consider the hermitage's heritage.
The initiation of the file begins the administrative procedure, which will include a one-month public information period after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid. Mayor Recuenco reaffirmed the government team's commitment to ensuring the building's protection for future generations.
This initiative culminates the request approved by the Plenary of the Leganés City Council in November 2025, previously promoted by the San Nicasio Municipal District Board at the proposal of the neighborhood's Residents Association.
