Sant Aniol De Finestres: Churches, Castle and Hiking Trails
Accommodation in Sant Aniol De Finestres
Sant Aniol De Finestres lies at the foot of the cliffs of the Serra de Finestres; dense holm oak forests cover the mountain slopes. The northern part of the municipal area lies within the Parc Natural de la Zona VolcĂ nica de la Garrotxa. Romanesque buildings, archaeological traces and trails into the Serra are among the things that may shape a stay here.
Landscape and Castell de Finestres
Castell de Finestres has been documented since 947 and remained in use until the earthquakes of 1427 and 1428. Its remains lie at an elevation of 960 metres amid the Serra de Finestres; a few walls and parts of the cistern survive. The castle overlooks the valley of Santa Pau and the Serra de Finestres. Views from there extend across the EmpordĂ plain, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. The mountain can be reached on foot.
Romanesque buildings and history
The Ermita de Santa Maria de Finestres is a single-nave Romanesque religious building. The raised semicircular apse area and the vault survive from the original structure. The hermitage lies just over five kilometres from Sant Aniol de Finestres, on a forest track towards Mieres, and can only be reached on foot. Every year, the residents of Sant Aniol de Finestres organise an Aplec there for Mare de DĂ©u del Roser; the dates may vary.
The two churches in the municipality also display characteristic Romanesque architectural features. The Església Romà nica de Sant Miquel de Bustins has a single-nave layout, an apse with three windows and a bell gable. The Iglesia de Sant Aniol de Finestres was first mentioned in 979 and is of Romanesque origin. The raised semicircular apse and some sections of wall survive from its first construction phase.
Smaller religious buildings reveal other details: the Capella de Sant Joan de les Medes is a small single-nave Romanesque chapel with a raised nave. Its stucco paintings imitate Gothic architectural forms and date from 1859. The Capella de la Mare de DĂ©u de Bell-Lloc is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These differences make the local buildings interesting even if you are particularly interested in individual architectural elements or their furnishings.
Archaeological traces
The Nimfeu de Sant Aniol de Finestres features an opus signinum mosaic decorated with white tesserae. It may have belonged to a nymphaeum or a water-cult sanctuary used at this site in the 2nd or 1st century BC. The Roc de la Melca offers a different kind of evidence: beneath its overhangs, the large sandstone block contains a small prehistoric shelter, a rock refuge used by prehistoric people.
Hikes and planning your time
The CamĂ de Finestres is a trail to Finestres; it starts right beside the Can Tura restaurant and the Roc de la Melca. Route 9 to the Santa Maria de Finestres sanctuary and the Iberian settlement of La Palomera starts and ends at the Can Tura restaurant. It is 12.5 kilometres long, takes 5 hours and 30 minutes, has an elevation gain/loss of +/-696 metres and is of moderate difficulty. As route information may be updated, check the details before setting out.
The Itinerari: Santuari de Finestres i el poblat ibèric follows narrow paths, passes through damp forests and crosses ridges with panoramic views. Natural viewpoints gradually reveal the Serra de Finestres; trail conditions may vary after weather events. For Route 9, the duration and elevation gain/loss help with planning your time, while the Itinerari stands out for its changing landscapes. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can plan your time according to whether a longer hike or the history of the buildings and archaeological finds is your priority.
Discover more destinations: El Far d'EmpordĂ , Darnius, Portbou, FoixĂ , RomanyĂ d'EmpordĂ , Osor, Ordis, Palau-Sator.
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
