Nº 015

Ermita

Ermita de Santa Lucía y San Benito.

Built in 1690 at 312 m above the Sierra de Irta

ChurchYear-roundViewpointArchitecture
Coordinates
40.2610, 0.2665
Address
Partida San Benito, 1, 12579, Castelló
Municipality
Torreblanca

The hermitage of Santa Lucía and San Benito stands at 312 metres altitude on the Sierra de Irta massif, in the municipality of Alcalà de Xivert. It was built in the late 17th century, with a recorded founding date of 1690, becoming one of the religious landmarks of the northern Castellón coast.

The building follows the canons of Valencian Baroque religious style, with sober stone construction adapted to the irregular terrain and oriented to take advantage of the dominant position of the hill popularly known as Monte San Benito. The plan is simple, with a single nave, bell gable and small atrium.

From the hermitage's exterior viewpoint, an exceptional panorama unfolds encompassing the Alcossebre coast, the Sierra de Irta natural park, and on clear days the Columbretes Islands, some 50 kilometres offshore. This strategic location meant the site was historically also used as a coastal observation point.

The hermitage is located within the Sierra de Irta Natural Park, declared in 2002, which has helped preserve the natural surroundings. It is accessed via a hiking route starting from the urban centre of Alcossebre, with a journey of approximately 5 kilometres one way along well-marked paths.

Each year, around the festivities of its patron saints, the hermitage is the destination of popular pilgrimages organised from Alcalà de Xivert and Alcossebre, maintaining a devotional tradition that dates back to the building's own foundation.