The Saint Ignatius Trail

1.-La Cova de Sant Ignasi (The Cave of Saint Ignatius). This is the spot where tradition has it that Saint Ignatius wrote his Spiritual Exercises. Its most outstanding feature is the seventeenth-century Altarpiece by Joan Grau, one of Manresa's leading Baroque sculptors. It also houses a series of medallions by Josep Sunyer. In the cave entry, the bronze sculpture by Joseph Llimona frames the passageway to the "Coveta". Mosaics, stucco, stained glass windows and brass complete one of the most richly decorated areas. The museum has an audiovisual exhibition which shows the life of Saint Ignatius. This leads directly on to the Museum, which houses a number of objects connected with the saint's life, including paintings, relief work and objects of devotion. The church was built in 1759 in the baroque style. It is a fine example of Jesuit architecture. Inside, special attention should be paid to the altar of the Holy Trinity and to the curious fact that the Holy Spirit is represented by a black dove over a sphere which represents the world. Below, we can find the Immaculate Virgin and at the sides there are images of Saint Ignatius and Saint Francesc Xavier. On the lateral columns there are images of various saints, which were made by Flotats, a local sculptor. The choir and tribunes are baroque with gilt mouldings. Outside, on the facade there is the Spanish shield over Saint Jaume's Cross and the statue of Saint Ignatius as a pilgrim. The side wall is decorated with 26 angels and 24 historic figures.

2.-Hospital de Santa Llúcia i Capella del Rapte (Old Santa Llúcia Hospital and The Chapel of el Rapte). The first place that Ignatius stayed in Manresa was the Old Santa Llúcia Hospital, dating from the 13th century. Here, his soul was abducted and he lay, as if dead, for eight days. The consequence of this was that soon after, in 1564, the entrance hall of the hospital, which was where the abduction took place, was converted into a chapel and become a place of cult interest. In 1625, the room where Ignatius had been abducted became an annexe of Santa Llúcia's church, rebuilt in 1948.

3.-El Pont Vell (The Old Bridge). The Old Bridge dates from the medieval period, although it has been reconstructed several times. It used to be a crossing point on the way to Montserrat, and as such, was one of the first monuments which the saint came into contact with and over which he must have passed as he walked back and forth between Manresa and the chapel of the Guia, stopping at the cross erected at one end.

4.-El Pou de la Gallina (The Well of the Chicken). Located in Sobrerroca street, the Hen Well tells the story of a miracle performed by Saint Ignatius in 1602. Chronicles speak of a 14-year old girl called Agnès whose stepmother had told her not to take her eyes off a hen. Somehow, the hen contrived to fall down the well. With a great deal of effort, the body of the drowned hen was finally recovered. The girl, however, was saved from the wrath of her stepmother by the presence of mind of the onlookers, who offered a prayer to Saint Ignatius. That prayer was enough for the hen to be brought back to life. Next to the well, a chapel was built sometime in the 18th century, with a picture depicting the story.

5.-La Casa Amigant i la Capella de Sant Ignasi malalt (Chapel of Saint Ignatius the sick). Saint Ignatius fell ill twice while in Manresa and both times he was taken in by the Amigant family, who had a house for looking after the ill at the bottom of the Carme steps. To honour their famous patient, the family built a chapel in 1703. Years later, in 1778, it was renovated after suffering fire damage during the War of Succession in 1713. Although the chapel is closed to the public, the family shield can be seen on the front wall.