The hermitage of the Santísimo Cristo del Calvario is dedicated to the patron saint of the town that bears the same name as this beautiful place.
The story goes that Vicente Mulet, born a cat, a beneficiary of the Cathedral and rector of Denia, saw some lights during a walk on the beach. As he approached, he saw that there was a small floating image of a crucified Christ. Upon arriving in Gata, he told what had happened and promoted the construction of a chapel to house and venerate the image. With the help of the town’s main farmers and the resources of the rector of Denia, construction began in 1762. In 1770 the first mass was celebrated there.
Another legend says that, during the French War in 1812, many people decided to hide in the hermitage. Some soldiers arrived and, upon seeing it, decided to get closer but a few meters away, a white poplar began to move quickly and give off a strong glow that blinded the soldiers, frightened the horses and this caused them to flee. Years later, in 1905, the fourteen stations of the Via Crucis were built and also the belfry, which crowns the façade and houses the bell.
Unfortunately, during the Spanish Civil War all the images and ornaments were destroyed and the building functioned as a hospital and charitable facilities. Fernando Soler and José Vives found the figure of Christ broken into several pieces and decided to hide them in various places. Jaime Mulet, at the end of the war, moved the remains to Valencia and paid for the restoration. IN 52 the fourteen new stations of Calvary were blessed.
The final major renovation was in 1974. The ceiling and roof were demolished, installation of electric lighting, the cutting and shining of the walls, opening of holes for the stained glass windows, the base and the capitals of the pillars, a new pavement, the construction of the sidewalk surrounding the building, etc.
Inside here rests throughout the year the Christ of Calvary, patron saint of Gata, who comes down every year during the beginning of the patron saint festivities and rests again on August 6 until next year. The procession that accompanies it every year is massive and very beautiful to see.
