Sant Genís Sacosta

Sant Genís Sacosta is a now-abandoned church standing alone on a hilltop in the municipality of Amer, in the La Selva region of Girona province, Catalonia. Set well away from the town's built-up center, near a small watercourse, it still stands as a quiet witness to several centuries of local history.

What does the church of Sant Genís Sacosta look like?

The building is architecturally simple: a single rectangular nave closed by a square apse, covered with a barrel vault, under a tiled, double-pitched roof. A small gable bell-wall with a triangular opening rises above the facade, a common feature of rural churches in this part of Catalonia. Only the main facade is plastered, and it holds a doorway framed in sandstone along with a narrow, round-arched window set above the entrance.

What is the history behind this site?

The church is first documented in 1187, when it belonged to the monastery of Amer. In 1363, by order of King Peter III, the building passed into the hands of the city of Girona, only to be recovered by the abbot of Amer in 1381. Much of the structure's current appearance dates from the 18th century: a lintel above the doorway bears the date May 1, 1768, marking a thorough rebuilding of the church. The monastery of Amer, whose fortunes shaped this church for centuries, was one of the more significant monastic centers in the La Selva region.

What condition is the church in today?

The building's state of conservation is poor. It stands abandoned, its facades overrun with ivy, parts of the roof have collapsed, and the surrounding grounds are neglected and heavily overgrown. Despite this ongoing decay, the church is listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage, a recognition of its historical value — one of many rural monuments in Catalonia that have survived mainly because of their isolation rather than any active upkeep.

Why is Sant Genís Sacosta worth knowing about?

The site is a good illustration of how small rural churches fared in medieval Catalonia — dependent on powerful monasteries, occasionally changing hands between church and municipal authority, and later rebuilt according to the needs of later centuries. Its isolated hilltop position, far from major routes, meant the building saw little architectural interference until the neglect of more recent times set in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit Sant Genís Sacosta? The church is abandoned and structurally in poor shape — part of the roof has collapsed and the interior is neither prepared nor open for visits, so in practice it can only be viewed from the outside.

Where exactly is the church located? It stands on a hilltop in the municipality of Amer, in the La Selva region of Girona province, Catalonia, near a small watercourse and away from the town center.

Where does the name "Sacosta" come from? This part of the name refers to the church's position on a hillside and distinguishes it from other Catalan churches dedicated to Saint Genesius (Sant Genís), of which there are several in the region.

Who owned the church over the centuries? From the Middle Ages onward, the building's fate was tied to the monastery of Amer — first as one of its holdings, then briefly under the city of Girona, before returning to the abbey's control and remaining linked to that community for centuries afterward.