Santa Magdalena del Sitjar

Santa Magdalena del Sitjar is a ruined medieval chapel on the hills above Gavà, in Catalonia's Baix Llobregat area, right at the edge of the Garraf Natural Park. It suits visitors who like pairing a short walk with a slice of local history — only stone walls remain today, but this exact spot is where the story of the well-known Bruguers sanctuary actually begins.

What is this place?

The chapel is listed in the Catalan Inventory of Architectural Heritage. It was built as a single rectangular nave with no distinct apse, using well-worked stonework typical of the 12th century. Worship at this site is documented from around the year 1100, and the chapel itself, dedicated to Santa Magdalena del Sitjar, was founded in the 13th century by Ferrer de Santmartí, lord of Eramprunyà, who held power between 1208 and 1226/47. From the 14th century onward the site appears regularly in bishop's pastoral visitation records.

Why was worship moved to Bruguers?

In 1327, the Bishop of Barcelona, Ponç de Gualba, granted a request from Pere Marc, lord of Eramprunyà, to move worship from Sitjar to a site known as Roca de Gavà — Sitjar itself was judged too isolated and unappealing for pilgrims. In 1500, a contract was signed to rebuild the old Sitjar chapel, by which point the new site was already being called Bruguers. The devotional image was finally transferred in 1509, and in 1540 Elisabet Marc i de Palou, lady of Eramprunyà, commissioned a hermit's house at the new sanctuary. That makes Santa Magdalena del Sitjar the historical starting point of today's Ermita de Bruguers, one of the most important religious sites near Gavà.

How do you get there?

The ruins sit on the hills above Gavà, in the transition zone between the town and the Garraf massif, close to the trails leading toward Eramprunyà and the Ermita de Bruguers itself. Walking is the practical way in — it's a regular stop on hiking and cycling routes that link Gavà with Castelldefels via the Eramprunyà hills. There's no visitor infrastructure here — it's a quiet, undeveloped spot valued mainly by local hikers.

What will you see on site?

The surviving wall fragments still trace the original layout: a simple, single-nave rural chapel. The surroundings match the typical Garraf foothill landscape — low scrubland, stony paths, and views over the Gavà valley toward the sea. This is a stop for history and walking enthusiasts rather than for anyone chasing monumental architecture — the value of Sitjar lies in its role in regional history, not in the scale of what remains standing.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, when hillside temperatures stay comfortable for walking and the Mediterranean scrubland is at its best. Summers in this part of Catalonia can get very hot, especially on unshaded stretches of trail, and the area also carries wildfire risk, which occasionally restricts trail access during the driest months.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the building at Santa Magdalena del Sitjar? No — only fragments of the perimeter walls survive. It's a site to view from outside and appreciate as a historical landmark, not an active place of worship.

How is this different from Ermita de Bruguers? Sitjar is the older, original site of worship, abandoned in the 14th century in favor of the new location — the very spot where Ermita de Bruguers, one of the region's key sanctuaries, now stands.

Is there an entrance fee? No, these are open-air ruins in the countryside, freely accessible with no ticket and no staff on site.

How long does a visit take? The stop at the ruins itself takes only a few minutes — it's usually just one point along a longer hiking route through the Eramprunyà and Garraf hills.