A hidden gem in Castelló de la Plana: The hilltop hermitage of Saint Mary

The Bé d'Interès Cultural (BIC) Hermitage of Saint Mary Magdalene, located on a hill overlooking Castelló de la Plana, was constructed between 1451 and an unknown date. The chapel's foundation was funded by local contributions. The Municipal Council maintains the chapel but was not always in good condition. It was temporarily closed to the public due to poor condition in 1745, and the chapel was rebuilt under the direction of Vicent Pellicer in 1758.

The chapel displays various signs of its evolution, with two parallel aisles separated by rudimentary arches and covered by a barrel vault. The altar of Santa Maria Magdalena houses an impressive oil on canvas imitating ceramics, representing the saint, created by Joan Baptista Porcar Ripollés in 1940. The most interesting details are found in the chapel body. The chapel holds several altars, with its main altar housing a terracotta statue of Saint Mary Magdalene.

However, what is most surprising is the reliquary box, said to contain the teeth of a dead lady, as alleged by the locals. Though the relics are no longer in the chapel, they were once kept in a sealed crypt until the Spanish Civil War. Today, they are held in the Catholic sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena in Castelló de la Plana. The chapel has always been a place of regular pilgrimages, but it gained a new flavor in the 80s when it became an unofficial hangout for the local youngsters.

Despite originally intending to be an unofficial gathering spot, the youngsters transformed the space, infusing it with a sense of community that remains today.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons