Ermita de Sant Vicenç Ferrer

Ermita de Sant Vicenç Ferrer, near La Palma de Cervelló, is a hermitage chapel hidden deep in the woods and now largely in ruins, dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer. Set off the beaten path in rugged, overgrown terrain, it's a spot for hikers and history enthusiasts rather than visitors expecting a polished monument.

Where is the hermitage and what's left of it?

The chapel sits in the middle of a forest, roughly 360 metres northeast of the Can Pongem farmhouse, on steep and difficult ground. The structure was built right against the rock face on the Pallejà side, the neighbouring municipality bordering La Palma de Cervelló — a location that made practical sense, since the cliff itself provided natural support for the building.

Today, very little remains standing. It's a rectangular structure measuring around 8 by 4 metres, in a ruinous and heavily overgrown state. Only the north wall survives intact, built directly against the rock; it still holds a small niche (fornícula), likely once used to house a statue of the saint or another devotional object. Based on the shape of this surviving wall, the roof is believed to have been a simple double-pitched design, with the ridge running north to south.

Why was a hermitage dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer built here?

The site's history isn't fully documented, and what's known relies heavily on oral tradition and local research. Antoni Sospedra, who studied the area's heritage, proposed in a 2008 study that the hermitage was built following Saint Vincent Ferrer's canonization in 1455. According to the oral tradition he recorded, the saint was said to have once stayed at this very spot — which, in local memory, was the reason a chapel bearing his name was raised here.

Local tradition also holds that, around a century and a half ago, a hermit lived at the site — fitting the pattern seen across many Catalan hillsides, where isolated chapels were tended by individuals devoted to prayer and the upkeep of the shrine.

Who was Saint Vincent Ferrer?

Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350–1419) was a Dominican friar and one of the most famous preachers of medieval Europe, born in Valencia. He travelled widely across Europe delivering penitential sermons and, after his death, quickly gained a reputation as a miracle worker. Canonized in 1455 by Pope Callixtus III, he became one of the most venerated saints in Spain, including in Catalonia, where numerous chapels and hermitages — this one among them — were dedicated to his name.

What should visitors know before going?

La Palma de Cervelló is a small municipality in the Baix Llobregat comarca, Barcelona province, set in the Llobregat river valley near Corbera de Llobregat and Vallirana. The hermitage lies well off the main tourist routes, in forested terrain that's genuinely hard to reach — getting there means walking in, and given the ruinous state of the walls and the steep surroundings, it's worth admiring the structure from a safe distance rather than climbing into it.

This is a destination for travellers drawn to Catalonia's lesser-known corners, where local history, folk tradition and untouched nature meet — not a place to expect a fully restored monument or visitor facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the hermitage? The building is in ruins, with essentially only one wall still standing, so visits are limited to viewing the remains from outside, with caution.

Why is the chapel dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer? Local oral tradition, recorded by researcher Antoni Sospedra, holds that the saint once stayed at this spot, and the chapel is believed to have been built after his canonization in 1455.

Did anyone ever live at the hermitage? Local tradition says a hermit lived at the site around 150 years ago.

Where exactly is the hermitage located? In the forest, about 360 metres northeast of the Can Pongem farmhouse, built against the rock face on the side bordering Pallejà, on steep terrain.