The hermitage of Santa Lucía in Denia is located on the slopes of the Montgó mountain. The Santa Lucía hermitage was built between the 14th and 15th centuries, and was remodelled between 1708 and 1812. This was the period in which several of the hermitages in Denia and its surroundings were built. As well as the hermitages of San Antonio and Santa Paula.
The building of the Santa Lucía hermitage has only one nave, so it has only one room inside. As can be seen, the style of this hermitage has Gothic features, as do the other hermitages from the time of the Conquest. The material used to make the arches and their corners is tosca, a material widely used for construction at the time.
On the façade of the hermitage of Santa Lucía, we find a large main door, as well as a small bell tower crowning the hermitage, this bell tower is made of stone.
The hermitage of Santa Lucía has a great treasure in its interior, since at the end of the 17th century, it obtained a chalice with an image of Santa Lucía.
In the vicinity of the hermitage of Santa Lucía there is an old people’s home which owes its name to the saint, and for this reason, on the day of her feast day, devotees visit the elderly to spend an afternoon there and hand out typical sweets.
How to get to the hermitage of Santa Lucía
There are a variety of options for getting to the Santa Lucía hermitage. Firstly, we can get there by private transport such as car or motorbike, as there is a small car park in the surrounding area.
On the other hand, it is not possible to get there by public transport as there is no bus service. However, it is possible to hire a taxi service to take you to the marvellous Santa Paula Chapel.
It is also highly recommended to access the Santa Paula Chapel on foot, as the route is uphill, and it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
The access to Santa Paula’s hermitage can be carried out by two different ways, one from the center of Denia and the other one from Rotas de Denia. From the centre of Denia, we start the walk through the camí de Sant Joan, which gives us access to the camí de Santa Lucía. This path will take us straight to the hermitage. On the other hand, the access from Las Rotas is a bit more complicated and involves a bit more of a return. You can access the location of the Santa Lucía hermitage here.
Festivity of the hermitage of Santa Lucía
The feast of Santa Lucía takes place every 13 December. And as is traditional, there is a porrat (small fish with typical sweets) and the pilgrimage (pilgrims who go to the hermitage) just like in the rest of the hermitages in the city of Denia. Tradition says that a handkerchief should be passed over the eyes of the image of Santa Lucía to help cure illnesses.
Timetable hermitage of Santa Lucía
Like all the hermitages in the city, the hermitage of Santa Lucía is closed to the public all year round, with the exception of her feast day, 13 December. On the other hand, the hermitage, which has a Bulgarian Orthodox seat, holds a Holy Liturgy every Sunday and public holiday at 10:00 am.