Randa: the mountain of the three sanctuaries
In the centre of the island of Mallorca, between the municipalities of Algaida and Llucmajor, is the mountain of Randa, where the Hermitage for Sant Honorat, the Sanctuary for Our Lady of Grace and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cura are to be found. To access the mountain, people must approach via the small village of Randa, at the foot of the the mountain of the same name, and follow the road that leads to the top of the Puig de Cura.
In the first place we find the Sanctuary for Our Lady of Grace, that has its origin in the cave: Cova de s'Aresta, where in the mid XV century, two Franciscan friars started to live and converted it in a hermitage. Facing East, it is in a vale at the feet of the Ermita de Sant Honorat and has been closely related throughout history to Llucmajor, the town the old path to the sanctuary leads from.
Further on, we come across the Hermitage for Sant Honorat. Arnau Desbrull, a noble knight who had chosen this hermit life, asked the Bishop of Mallorca in 1394, after living for 30 years on the mountain, for permission to build the Chapel to Sant Honorat. Once he received the authorisation, Arnau Desbrull chose the part of the mountain that would face South to build the chapel that was finished in 1397. In 1661, due to the ruinous state of the primitive hermitage, the present church was built.
Finally, we find the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Cura, situated on the Puig de Cura, 548 metres high. The Puig de Cura is the highest point of the Randa mountain and an excellent vantage point over the island of Mallorca. Here is were Ramon Llull lived for a while in 1273 and where in the XV century a Lulian school was founded to spread his doctrine, that resulted in the Estudi General in Palma, and later in the same building the Aula de Gramątica, where 150 pupils who lived together in the Sanctuary studied. After a long period of decadence, the Sanctuary of Cura was restored and in 1913 was handed over to the Franciscans' care. At present four friars of the Order live there, and with the help of some workers and volunteers, they administer the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary of Cura has accommodation in cells , built since 1947, particularly for groups, families and people who wish to spend some time on the Puig de Cura.
More information:
Santuari de Cura
07629 RANDA
Tel.: 971 660 994
www.mallorcaweb.net/santdecura
Recommended Bibliography:
"La Muntanya dels tres Santuaris" by Gaspar Munar. This small book can be acquired in the shop in the entrance of the Sanctuary. .
Photos © BalearWeb
Date of publication: 07/01/2002
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