Ermita de Sant Jaume Sesoliveres

Ermita de Sant Jaume Sesoliveres is a Romanesque chapel standing on what used to be the municipality of Òdena, an area now part of Igualada, the capital of the Catalan comarca of Anoia. Nearly a thousand years old, it counts among the oldest religious buildings in the region, and even though it has stood without regular worship for decades, it still draws visitors interested in Romanesque architecture and local history.

Where does this chapel come from?

The earliest documented record of the building dates to 1059, when the lords of Òdena castle donated a chapel dedicated to Santa Maria, Sant Jaume and Sant Andreu to a monk from Montserrat, intending to give the building a monastic character. A year later, the founders confirmed the donation in favor of the monastery of Ripoll, on condition that the chapel remain under the Rule of Saint Benedict. It was consecrated by the bishop of Vic, and reconsecrated in 1087, most likely following an expansion of the original structure. For centuries the chapel formally belonged to the parish of Sant Pere d'Òdena, while also falling under the priory of Santa Maria de Montserrat through the donation made to the Ripoll monastery.

How did the architecture change over the centuries?

Sant Jaume Sesoliveres is a rectangular, single-nave building closed by a semicircular apse, with its portal set into the south wall — a layout typical of small rural Romanesque churches in Catalonia. The original eleventh-century structure did not, however, survive unaltered: the building underwent successive reconstructions in the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries, which left visible traces in its overall shape and architectural details. The result is a structure that combines a Romanesque core with later interventions, still legible today in the differences in masonry and wall proportions across different sections of the building.

What happened to the site in the 20th century?

The chapel's fortunes in the past century were turbulent. In 1925, through the efforts of General Pere Vives Vich, part of the former municipality of Òdena — including the land on which Sant Jaume Sesoliveres stands — was annexed to Igualada. Religious worship ceased in 1936, after which the building was left completely abandoned. It was not until April 15, 1975 that it received formal protection as a site of historic-artistic interest, opening the way for its recovery. Between 1993 and 1995, the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona) carried out a restoration under architect Antoni González Moreno-Navarro, work that allowed the building to survive in a condition that can still be visited today.

Today, Ermita de Sant Jaume Sesoliveres stands as a record of the early medieval ecclesiastical organization of the Anoia region and an example of rural Romanesque architecture that has outlasted centuries of rebuilding, a long period of abandonment, and finally, restoration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Ermita de Sant Jaume Sesoliveres? The earliest documented mention of the chapel dates to 1059, when the lords of Òdena castle donated it to a monk from Montserrat. It was consecrated that same year and reconsecrated in 1087.

Is the chapel still used for religious services? No. Regular worship ended in 1936, and since then the building has functioned solely as a heritage site, without an active religious role.

Why is the chapel administratively part of Igualada rather than Òdena? In 1925, part of the former municipality of Òdena, including the land where the chapel stands, was annexed to Igualada through the efforts of General Pere Vives Vich.

Has the building ever been restored? Yes. Besides the reconstructions carried out in the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries, the Barcelona Provincial Council undertook a full restoration between 1993 and 1995 under architect Antoni González Moreno-Navarro.