Sant Benet d'Espiells

Sant Benet d'Espiells is a Romanesque chapel in the municipality of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, in the Alt Penedès region of Catalonia. It stands among vineyards and fields near the small hamlet of Espiells, in a landscape long associated with wine and cava production.

Where is it located?

The chapel sits roughly five kilometers from the center of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and about three kilometers from Monistrol d'Anoia. The setting is typical of Alt Penedès — gentle hills covered in rows of vines, crossed by country lanes and small streams. The building itself stands somewhat apart, attached to what was once a farmhouse, with which it has architecturally merged over the centuries.

What is the history behind it?

The name Espiells first appears in documents in 986, in a decree by which King Lothair confirmed the possessions of the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès. Among them was an alod at Espiells, on which a small chapel most likely already stood. The church itself is not directly mentioned until 1063, in a document recording that a tower had been built beside the existing chapel.

The oldest part of the current building dates to the 10th century. In the 11th century, works reinforced the perimeter walls and the vault, and in the 12th century a bell tower was added — all still within the Romanesque style. In the 19th century a farmhouse was attached to the chapel, and in the process the building lost its original apse. Today Sant Benet d'Espiells is listed as a cultural asset of local interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local).

What will you see there?

The building has a rectangular floor plan and a single nave. The entrance is a doorway closed by a semicircular arch built from large, radially cut voussoirs. Inside, the barrel vault stands out, still showing traces of its original formwork. The roof is covered with Arabic-style tiles laid in two slopes — a detail typical of rural religious architecture in this part of Catalonia.

Because the apse disappeared during the 19th-century remodeling, the chapel today appears directly joined to the adjoining farm building, a feature clearly visible from the outside that helps explain how the function and surroundings of these rural churches shifted over the centuries.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

Sant Benet d'Espiells lies off the main tourist routes, which is part of its appeal — it suits travelers looking for quiet and a close encounter with the rural Penedès landscape. A signposted walking route (PR-C 156-1) connects Sant Sadurní d'Anoia with Sant Llorenç d'Hortons and passes near the chapel, and another popular trail follows the Anoia river through Espiells, the La Miranda d'Espiells viewpoint, Can Cordorniu, and the Codorniu reservoir (Llac de Codorniu) — a favorite among hikers exploring the area.

The best time to visit is spring or autumn, when temperatures are mild and the surrounding vineyards look their most striking — vivid green in spring, warm harvest tones in autumn. It's worth combining the walk to the chapel with a visit to nearby vineyards and cava cellars, since Sant Sadurní d'Anoia is one of Catalonia's leading centers for cava production.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sant Benet d'Espiells? A small Romanesque chapel dating from the 10th to 12th centuries, located in the municipality of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and protected as a cultural asset of local interest.

How far is it from the center of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia? About five kilometers, surrounded by vineyards and fields, close to the hamlet of Espiells.

Can you reach it on foot? Yes, the signposted PR-C 156-1 trail and other routes link Sant Sadurní d'Anoia with the chapel and nearby points such as the Codorniu reservoir.

Has the original apse survived? No — the apse was lost in the 19th century when a farmhouse was attached to the chapel, a structure it remains joined to today.