Hermitage of Sant Joan Baptista (Bocairent)

Tucked among the streets of Bocairent, in the province of Valencia, stands the hermitage of Sant Joan Baptista, a modestly sized church that rewards anyone exploring the town at a leisurely pace with a brief stop. It is not a grand monument, but rather one of those small pieces of local heritage that help you understand how faith is lived in a Valencian town.

Finding it couldn't be easier: it stands at number 32 on Carrer de Sant Joan, a street that shares its name with the saint to whom the building is dedicated. This overlap between street and hermitage is a curious detail in itself, as it shows just how much this little church is part of the identity of the place where it stands.

Its value has been officially recognised with its designation as a Bien de Relevancia Local (Site of Local Significance), the status with which the Valencian Community protects those elements which, without reaching the rank of the great monuments, hold special meaning for the history and memory of a town. It is, therefore, heritage that is looked after and considered worthy of preservation for future generations.

For the traveller, the hermitage of Sant Joan Baptista makes a fine excuse to wander Bocairent's streets without hurrying. It is best approached with an eye for detail rather than an expectation of grand scale, taking pleasure in the simplicity of a small church that remains part of the town's everyday landscape. It is a short visit, ideal for fitting into a longer stroll through the streets of this Valencian town.