Ermita de San José

In the lower part of Chulilla, beside Calle Arrabal, stands the Ermita de San José (Chapel of Saint Joseph), a simple Baroque chapel built in 1662. It is the sole survivor of the many rural chapels that once dotted the municipal area, a record of local popular devotion.

History

Raised in the mid-17th century, the chapel reflects a custom widespread in the villages of the Valencian interior: building small chapels tied to the agricultural and religious life of the countryside. Each year the Palm Sunday procession set out from here, after the blessing of the palms and olive branches, a rite still tied to the village's older traditions.

What to see

Its architecture is modest and well-proportioned, typical of the rural Baroque of the period:

• A single nave covered by a barrel vault.
• Round-arched openings that order the walls with simplicity.
• The surrounding area, known as La Ermita, which looks out over the whole of Chulilla.

Tips for your visit

• Walk up to the viewpoint at dusk, when the light brings out the old houses below.
• Pair the visit with the old town and the castle of Chulilla.