This Sacred Catalonia trail will take you to the mountainous hinterland of the diocese of Girona with its combination of large parishes, urban convents and extensive valleys with their little villages and disperse habitats.
MONASTERY OF SANT ESTEVE DE BANYOLES The route starts at the Benedictine monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles which, founded in the 9th century, acquired great importance in the area, with other monasteries, such as that of Sant Pere de Rodes, becoming dependent on it. It still conserves authentic works of art.
SANTA MARIA DE PORQUERES A ten-minute drive will take you to the church of Santa Maria de Porqueres, a fine example of Romanesque architecture. It is a very sober building but displays decorative sculptural motifs of great interest.
MONASTERY OF SANT PERE Once in Besalú visit the Romanesque church of Sant Pere de Besalú, consecrated 1003. It is all that is left of a former monastery that achieved great importance in the 12th and 13th centuries.
SANT VICENÇ DE BESALÚLocated in the historic centre of Besalú, the church of Sant Vicenç is one of the town's oldest and most important religious buildings. It contains a fragment of the True Cross.
SANT SEPULCRE DE PALERA Another ten-minute drive will lead you to the route's last location: Sant Sepulcre de Palera, one of the finest examples of the Romanesque in the county of Besalú, and a major centre of pilgrimage during the 11th and 12th centuries.
The Sacred Catalonia trail is intended for groups and takes 6 hours. For more information please ring 693 720 202 or send an email to:
reserves@cataloniasacra.cat.
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