Creu de terme de Sant Joan de Missa, Wayside cross and church in Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain.
The Creu de terme de Sant Joan de Missa is a chapel in Ciutadella de Menorca featuring a single nave with Gothic vaults and a side chapel dedicated to San Isidro. The structure stands alone in flat, open countryside outside the city and anchors the rural landscape of this area.
The structure was built in the 1700s as part of a wave of religious construction and received its entrance porch in 1749. It represents one of several rural chapels established during the Spanish colonial development of the island.
The place is named after Saint John and holds roots in shepherd traditions that shaped this rural landscape for centuries. The white chapel serves today as a gathering point for local religious celebrations and processions throughout the year.
Access to the chapel is limited and requires advance notice or a visit during special opening times. Wear sturdy shoes since the path across open fields to reach the building can be uneven and muddy.
During a 1995 restoration, workers discovered the original marés stone beneath layers of paint, a soft porous material that had defined its appearance before being covered. This find reveals how the original facade lay hidden for decades until modern work exposed the old materials again.
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