Serra de Daró – Churches, the Ter and Historic Paths

Culture

The Església de Santa Maria is a large church with a basilica-style floor plan and neoclassical decorative elements; it was rebuilt around 1881. The present-day building of Santa Maria dates from the second half of the 19th century, while the older bell tower dates from the 17th or 18th century. On 1 June 1884, Bishop Tomàs Sivilla consecrated the church. The Església de Sant Iscle i Santa Julita is a Romanesque church from the 12th century with a single-nave floor plan and a semicircular apse decorated with an arcade frieze.

The remains of Castell de Sant Iscle include a cylindrical tower. The Iberians are considered to have been the first inhabitants of the area, followed by the Romans. Mas Sunyer has a Renaissance-style window with a relief-decorated, ogee-shaped arch. The church of Sant Iscle also formed part of the fortifications of Sant Iscle Castle in later periods.

Mas Cebrià is a large 17th- and 18th-century farmhouse with a small attached chapel; it is no longer used for religious services and is presumably no older than this period. At Puig de Serra, also known as La Roqueta, there are stone burial sites near the Camí d’Empúries in the municipality of Serra de Daró.

Nature

The Illa i resclosa de Canet on the Ter River forms a wetland of approximately 15 hectares extending across Serra de Daró and La Tallada d’Empordà. The wetland of Illa de Canet lies entirely within the Natura 2000 site ES5120011 “Riberes del Baix Ter”. Only Illa de Canet is part of the PEIN site “Illa de Canet”; under the regulation of 17 September 1996, the island was also designated a wildlife protection area and covers 0.7 hectares.

Illa de Canet can be viewed from the Resclosa de Canet; to get there, follow the Ruta del Ter through Canet de la Tallada and turn south in the village.

Paths and History

The medieval Rec del Molí irrigated land in Serra de Daró as well as in Gualta, Pals and parts of Torroella. The “El Ter: caminos de agua” cycle route runs through Serra de Daró and Sant Iscle. It follows the course of the Ter River and showcases numerous elements of the hydraulic heritage, such as irrigation channels, weirs and mills.

The Pont de la Roqueta is connected with the historic Camí d’Empúries, which led from Empúries to Girona, where it joined the Via Augusta. The bridge can be reached via the paved road from Serra de Daró to Llabià; after approximately 700 metres, follow a farm track on the right, and it is located a few steps from this turn-off, near the Font de la Roqueta.

Festivals

For 24 May, a Mercat d’olis i vins, a market for oils and wines, has been announced for the morning beside the church on Carrer Costa in Sant Iscle d’Empordà. The programme of the Festa Major de Sant Iscle d’Empordà included an Arrossada popular, a communal rice dish. The Festa Major programme also included a performance by the Sardana music group Cobla La Principal de Banyoles.

Other places: Cornellà Del Terri, Marzà, Vilamaniscle, Cabanes, Cantallops, Vilaür, Vilamacolum and Aiguaviva.

For the higher-level travel overview: Girona.