In the corner of the plaça Nova with the street dels Boters, since 1563, the neighbors of the Cathedral of Barcelona, previously Vilanova dels Arcs, venerated the image of Sant Roc. In 1589, the year the bubonic plague terribly ravaged the country, the neighborhood formed the Brotherhood of Sant Roch de la Plassa Nova. The Brotherhood celebrated the saint in the procession of the "Consell de Cent" and with religious services, lighting and concerts in the square. Thus began a festivity that, with all kinds of difficulties, would make it till our dayds.
The entourage of the "Consell de Cent" in the church of Santa Eulàlia del Camp would last until 1650, when, during the revolt called "Guerra dels Segadors", Barcelona was under siege and Santa Eulàlia del Camp was destroyed. In 1653 the vow procession of the Barcelona Council was resumed, now in the new Sant Roc chapel located at Portal Nou, with the participation of the Cathedral Chapter and the Brotherhood of the Plaça Nova. Three years earlier, the neighborhood of the square had installed the niche of the saint in the Archdeacon's tower.
During the siege of 1714 the chapel of Sant Roc del Portal Nou is destroyed. In 1715 the new borbonic council renews the city vows with the entourage at the convent of Santa Anna. The Brotherhood of the Plaça Nova, though, would do its entourage in the chapel of Mare de Déu de la Penya, in the Cathedral. Meanwhile, in the Plaça Nova, since 1690, with the new bridge between the two towers, dedicated to Nostra Senyora de la Gràcia and with a new image of Sant Roc, the festivities grow with decorations, lighting, minstrel concerts, games and solemn services. From that time we still preserve some sheet music and "goigs" of Sant Roc.