What to do and see in Sant Pere de Rodes

Discover what to do and see in the Verdera mountain, its castle, history, and monastery, Sant Pere de Rodes

La Costa Brava is one of the most popular touristic destinations all over Spain. Tourists looking for sun, sand, and some of the most pristine beaches in the Mediterranean Sea visit it every year. Despite this rise in popularity, it is still possible to find hidden coves and unique moments, especially during sunrise or off-season.

However, la Costa Brava is much more than that. Its historical and cultural heritage is beautifully merged in the changing and wild landscape.

Sant Pere de Rodes is exactly this. A medieval monastery hanging at the top of the Verdera mountain and just next to el Port de la Selva, very close to the well-known Cap de Creus. Its location makes it a perfect visit during the day when the temperatures can rise to 35-celsius degrees. Monasteries, due to their architecture and construction materials are not as affected by summer heat as other constructions.

Fun fact: another way to insulate buildings from high temperatures is by painting them white. Thus, this is why in most Mediterranean countries (Spain, Greece,…) there are so many white cute houses and traditional buildings.

How to get to Sant Pere de Rodes:

With magnificent views, Sant Pere de Rodes is located at the top of the Verdera mountain. Thankfully, it is possible to drive all the way to the top where there are 3 parking lots available (packed during summer months). There is a road that goes from El Port de la Selva (by the sea) to the monastery and then to Palau-Savardera, at the other side of the mountain. It is possible to take a bus from El Port de la Selva (ask in the tourist office) or to hike (route available here).

To make the most out of your visit to Sant Pere de Rodes, there are a couple of things that you should take into account:

• Drive carefully: the way up to the mountain is a winding road that in the summer months can get very busy. Don’t exceed the speed limit and keep your eyes on the road
• Check the weather: it is possible to hike from the seaside to Sant Pere de Rodes, and I highly recommend it, but check the weather forecast. High temperatures and hiking are not best friends.

Once this is considered, it is time to enjoy one of the best one-day trips (or half-day) that can be done from Girona, the capital of the province.

What to see and do in Sant Pere de Rodes

The monastery

The main (but not only) thing to visit is the monastery. Dating back to the 9^th century, it is a perfect place to learn how Benedictive monasteries functioned. Its origin is unknown, but what is a fact is that by the 10^th century, the monastery was independently run.

This large monastery has three main areas of interest:

• Church
• Cloister
• Monastic dependencies

What really catches the eye is how the monastery is blended in nature. Due to the orography, there are multiple levels connected with stairs. However, the church and cloister are surprisingly big, a sign that it was one of the most important monasteries of the area. Tickets can be acquired at the entrance, with prices ranging from 6€ for adults to 4€ for students and pensioners. Updated information available on the official webpage of Sant Pere de Rodes.

Castell de Verdera

If the view over the Mediterranean Sea from the monastery is not enough for you, consider hiking up to the ruins of the Verdera Castle. It is a very steep path that zigzags to one of the best views over the area. Beware of the wind, very common in the Empordà region, and that can reach up to 100km/h gusts.

Dating back to almost the same time that the monastery, it is not as well conserved as the first one. It was used to defend the monastery, but also as a watchtower against pirates due to its fantastic location.

If you hike to the castle, instead of following the same route, follow signs to Santa Helena. This way you will have the chance to visit the last two points on this list.

Santa Helena Menhir

Although the Monastery and the castle ruins feel old, it is nothing compared to the Santa Helena menhir. Discovered recently (2008), it dates back to the 4th Millenium BC, and although it is nothing spectacular, from its position there is a nice view over the area. Besides, it is just next to the Santa Helena Church.

Santa Helena Church

The Santa Helena de Rodes Church, also known as Santa Creu de Rodes, is a medieval church approximately one kilometer north of the Monastery. It is the only remain of the medieval village of Santa Creu de Rodes. In fact, the ruins of the village can be seen by the church, with plenty of signs and information panels. This church belonged to the Monastery, and a was also used by Santa Creu village, which disappeared during the 15th century.

From the church, there is a path that connects it with the monastery. This finishes this circular route that visits the most important elements of Sant Pere de Rodes.

These are 4 things to do in Sant Pere de Rodes, a well-preserved monastery, surrounded by history and nature. After the visit, explore some of the nearby villages like El Port de la Selva, Cadaqués, or Roses.

Discover more things to do in la Costa Brava or Catalunya with the articles below, with other more travel and photography guides. Follow me on Instagram (@aniolvisuals) to see more photos of all my trips. For any other inquiries, send me a message at hello@aniolvisuals.com.