Solius Monastery (Santa Cristina d'Aro)

In the Baix Empordà region, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Solius invites you to discover a place where heritage, monastic life, and the art of nativity scenes coexist. It was founded on January 21, 1967, the feast day of Saint Agnes, patron saint of the parish, when four monks from Poblet settled there to create a new Cistercian community.

One of its most recognizable features is the slender bell tower, visible from almost the entire Vall d'Aro. Its base retains the walled-up Romanesque windows, remnants of the old church, dating from between the 10th and 11th centuries. The newer part of the bell tower was built between 1829 and 1830, using stone quarried from the Romanyà mountain.

The current church was begun in 1773. It has a central nave and four side chapels, with neoclassical altarpieces of folk art style. When you look inside, pay particular attention to those dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Isidore. The tombstones of some parish priests are also preserved.

Another attraction at Solius is its collection of nativity scenes, which can be visited year-round. It began in 1970 with a Nativity scene by Brother Gilbert Galceran, a monk at Solius. The artist had previously exhibited nativity scenes at the General House of the Cistercian Order in Rome and at Hauterive Abbey in Switzerland.

The church, the gardens, and the nativity scenes offer various reasons to visit the monastery. The community maintains a life of prayer and work, which perpetuates the spiritual character of this place. During your visit, you can dedicate time to both the details of the heritage and the contemplation of the nativity scenes.

Masses: On weekdays and the eve of feast days, at 6 p.m.; on holidays, at 10 a.m.