The claim is supported by an 1869 letter kept at Casal Manyanet. In this document, the saint proposed to the Bishop of Urgell, Josep Caixal, the idea of building an expiatory temple in Barcelona dedicated to the Holy Family.
“"Father Manyanet has gone too unnoticed and must be reclaimed as a fundamental piece and a son of Tremp."
The relationship between Manyanet and Antoni Gaudí was profound; the architect even designed a processional cross for the local school. Local theories suggest that the natural landscapes of Pallars, such as L'Argenteria, influenced Gaudí's organic designs.
To honor this legacy, Tremp will establish a new local festival every May 16, marking the anniversary of his canonization and celebrating the town's link to Catalonia's most famous monument.
