The hermitage of Santa Paula de Dénia is an exceptional testimony. It sits on the ruins of a late Andalusian farmhouse or rafal and stands as part of a complex building or monastery.
It is a rectangular building, uninave, with three sections separated by two slightly pointed diaphragm arches. It has a flat chevet with diaphragm arches built with local sandstone ashlars that start from the pavement and from interior buttresses. In the documentation work prior to the restoration, an open access portal was found in the northern wall, in the first section, undoubtedly belonging to the founding moment of the building. At present it is accessed from the west. This lateral access would have some relation with the circulation and connection with the complex building of the monastery, which should have other dependencies to the north of the nave of the hermitage. Its gabled roof would be supported by beams between arches and on stone modillions or corbels.
Two documents from 1404 accredit the reason for the foundation of Santa Paula, which they call “esglesia” or “monestir”, as well as its construction, with Caterina Bas as the protagonist and founder, whose hermitage was erected thanks to her efforts. It was originally a female monastery founded by the hermit. As a hermitage it enjoyed good rents and a clergyman beneficiary.
Her feast is celebrated every January 26th, in the Hermitage, dedicating songs and processions to the saint. We can also buy nuts and sweets typical of the area.
Itinerary on foot:
We start our itinerary from the Plaza Jaime I. We must locate the street Germans Maristes, in which we will see on our right, a tall building in gray tones with dark windows (Courts of Dénia). We will continue along this street leaving again, on our right, an uncovered municipal parking. We join the Camí del Saladar and go about 500 m. until we reach a crossroads where we take the detour on our left called Camí de Santa Paula -as a reference we see some bike route signs-. We continue about 100 m. on our right without leaving the asphalt road. After zigzagging about 900 meters, we will find
