Santa Maria de Cervelló, Romanesque church in Cervelló, Spain.
Santa Maria de Cervelló is a Romanesque church in Cervelló built from reddish sandstone and situated beneath the ruins of Cervelló Castle. An octagonal dome once supported the bell tower above, while a medieval necropolis surrounds the structure.
First documented in 904 when Wifredo II of Barcelona donated it to the Monastery of Sant Cugat, the church was originally dedicated to the Holy Cross. After lying dormant when a new parish church was built in 1872, it reopened for worship in 1922 with its present name.
The interior displays Romanesque features with a single nave and apse that allow light to pour through three distinct windows. The structure conveys an impression of simplicity and timeless order, typical of churches from this period.
The site is reached through the Castillo de Cervelló area near Riera de Can Sala in Cervelló, where the church sits in its original landscape setting. Contact the local office for current visiting arrangements and access details.
The church once housed a bell within the dome of its roof rather than in a separate tower, an unusual solution for this region. This choice reflects how builders adapted the structure to its steep, rocky hilltop position.
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