Abandoned church ruins in Spain

Situated on a hilltop in Segrià, Spain, the ruins of Ratera include the remains of a 12th-century church called Sant Miquel. Once part of the Inventari del Patrimoni Arquitectònic de Catalunya, the church was unfortunately destroyed in 1977. However, the walls that surrounded the convent and its environment have remained. Irregular walls made of stone can still be seen, as well as signs of a tower and remains of ceramics in the surrounding area.

The early records show Ratera as Villaratera, possibly existing during the Andalusian period. Its proximity to the dominions of the Hospitalers of Alguaire allowed for its integration into their senyoria. In 1171 Alfons I donated the location of Ratera to the Order of the Hospital of Jerusalem, causing a conflict with the bishop of Lleida over the church’s rights. Pope Alexander III eventually granted the patronage to the Hospitalers. In the 13th century, the nuns of the Hospital of Sant Joan de Jerusalem moved in, and the church continued to operate as a ruin from the 17th century onwards.

Recent exploration has revealed that the remaining structure corresponds to a single-nave building, crowned by a semicircular apse.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata