Culture

Church of Santa María del Bell-Lloc

One of the treasures of Santa Coloma de Queralt is the church of Santa Maria del Bell-lloc. Of pre-Romanesque origin, it was built from the structure of an ancient Romanesque chapel in the 13^th century and is located within the walled enclosure of the municipality.

According to historians, it was inhabited by a small lay community made up of men and women who, after handing over their possessions to the church, moved here in exchange for food. Although lay people, they wore the habit and were supervised by a steward appointed by the rector of Santa Coloma.

In 1307, Baron Pedro IV de Queralt donated the residence to the Order of the Merced, who settled at the site until the convent was burnt down in 1835 with the confiscation of church lands. Only the church was saved from destruction.

What was originally a Romanesque hermitage with a single nave underwent some alterations, such as the covering of the ribbed vault, or the new transept and the chapel of San Pedro, both of which were added during the 14^th century.

The main nave is divided into two sections over which rests a Gothic ribbed vault and culminating in a quadrangular apse. To each one of the sections belongs a chapel, the first one is from the 14^th century and the second one is of Baroque style. There is a third chapel attached to the north side.

One of the jewels kept in this seemingly austere church is the alabaster tomb belonging to Pere V de Queralt and Alamanda de Rocaberti, of Gothic style from the 14^th century. Another of the church’s treasures is a Gothic wooden carving of the image of Santa Maria del Bell-lloc.

Looking upon the building from the outside, the west façade stands out with a portal highly decorated in sculptural motifs, columns topped with capitals, and the tympanum with a central image of the Mother of God flanked by the scene of the Epiphany and the Annulment.

Otros puntos de interés

• Hermitage of Sant Elm
• Terrissa de Quart Museum