Sant Salvi de Cladells

Sant Salvi de Cladells is a former Franciscan convent in the municipality of Santa Coloma de Farners, in the La Selva region of Catalonia, set among the hills that surround the town.

What is the story behind this site?

The origins go back to before 1290, when a hermitage dedicated to Saint Salvi stood here, run by laymen under a priestly benefice. A turning point came in 1591: the arrival of the saint's relics from Rome elevated the hermitage to the status of a sanctuary, drawing pilgrims from the surrounding area.

The real transformation happened in 1690, when Francesc de Bournonville, Marquis of Rupit and lord of the estate, handed the site over to the Franciscan order. The move was pushed forward by the Franciscan bishop of Girona, Miquel de Pontic, who wanted to establish a college here modeled on the one at Escornalbou. The resulting convent grew over the following century, housing 18 friars at its peak, who also ran the Santa Maria de Bellver hospital.

The community's fate changed with the Mendizábal disentailment of 1835, which dispersed the friars and left the monastery abandoned. The buildings and archives later passed into the care of the Augustinian fathers of Calella, but the monastery's documents did not survive — they were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

What will you see on site?

The current church dates from a 1801 rebuilding and keeps the plain, austere character typical of Catalan religious architecture of that period. It has a single nave closed by a semicircular apse, flanked by two side chapels on each side. Above the façade rises a distinctive espadanya — a wall-mounted bell gable with two openings, used instead of a freestanding tower.

Next to the church stands the monastery's cloister, around which the friars' cells were once arranged. This modest church-and-cloister ensemble is the site's main architectural draw today, a quiet trace of centuries of monastic life in this corner of La Selva.

How do you get there?

Sant Salvi de Cladells sits on the outskirts of Santa Coloma de Farners, an easy drive from the town centre or reachable on a longer walk through the surrounding hills. It works well combined with a visit to the town itself and a wider tour of the La Selva countryside.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn bring the mildest temperatures and the most comfortable conditions for walking the nearby hills. In summer, aim for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat.

Frequently asked questions

What was Sant Salvi de Cladells originally? It began as a hermitage dedicated to Saint Salvi, documented before 1290, and became a sanctuary in 1591 after the saint's relics arrived from Rome.

Who founded the Franciscan convent here? The convent was established in 1690 through a donation by Francesc de Bournonville, Marquis of Rupit, at the request of the Franciscan bishop of Girona, Miquel de Pontic.

What happened to the convent after secularization? The 1835 Mendizábal disentailment dispersed the community and left the buildings abandoned; the archives later passed to the Augustinians of Calella but were destroyed in the 1936 civil war.

What can visitors see at the site today? The church rebuilt in 1801, with its single nave and espadanya bell gable, along with the surviving cloister, are the main features still standing at the former convent.