Ermita de San Antonio Abad (Ermita de Sanç)

In the heart of the farmland of the Partida de Sanz, about 5 km east of the centre of Benidorm, stands this simple rural chapel that preserves the memory of an agricultural Benidorm that existed long before tourism. Surrounded by fields and scattered farmsteads, it is a quiet corner that surprises anyone who knows only the town's seafront.

History

Its existence is documented as far back as 1740, when Tomás Sanz had a place of worship built to serve the farmsteads spread across this cultivated land. The building you see today is a reconstruction from 1903, raised when the original chapel had become too small or worn with the passing of time.

What to see

The chapel follows the model of the Valencian rural hermitage, with modest, functional lines:

• A rectangular porch that shelters the entrance and once gave cover to the local people.
• A bell gable (espadaña) crowning the building instead of a bell tower.
• The traditional Casa del Llaurador (farmer's house) attached alongside, a witness to life in the orchards.

Tips for your visit

• It lies in a rural area; it is easiest to come by car and park carefully along the lanes.
• The interior is usually closed outside of services or the local festival days.
• Combine the visit with a stroll through the surrounding fields to grasp the farming Benidorm of old.