St. Christopher’s Anglican Congregationon the Costa Azahar.

 

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Alcossebre

 

Modern day Alcossebre provides a delightful Mediterranean coastal resort with plenty of local shops and bars and wonderful, peaceful walks along the quiet coastline. The excellent sandy beach provides safe bathing for children and adults alike.  But for those who prefer the pleasure of country or seaside walks, there are miles - or maybe that should be 'kilometres' - of safe and easy walks in the area, either along the coast,

 

 

 
or ......  up to the old Ermita, perched on the hilltop overlooking the town: an ideal spot for a picnic, from where the views of the D’Irta mountains can be enjoyed and some truly outstanding views of the coastline and the turquoise Mediterranean sea. ...

The Ermita, or Chapel of Saint Lucia and Saint Benet is located 1,000 feet above the sea, on Saint Benet’s Mountain. The chapel dates from the 17th century and is in the Baroque Velencian style.

The back of the chapel is believed to have been one of the coastal watch towers of the 15th and 16th centuries. From here there is a good view of the Columbretes islands, and all the coastal approaches for over 180 degrees, to the north and south.

Joining the back of the chapel is another building which was once a hostel with rooms for pilgrims, and stables for their horses. There are also two ancient wells in the small courtyard.

From the chapel there are good views to the natural wetlands of the Cabanes-Torreblanca marshes, the Desert of Palms, the Santa Agueda peaks and, in the far distance on a clear day one can even see the Cape of San Antonio down south in Alicante province.

Traditionally a pilgrimage was made to the chapel on 11th June for Saint Benet, and 13th December for Saint Lucia, and this tradition is still preserved, with the faithful coming from all the surrounding districts.

A Mass and procession are held in the chapel on those days.

The port and coast line stretching to the south, as seen from the Ermita, from where, on a clear day, one can clearly see the Columbrete islands - a nature reserve for flora and fauna.