The Hermitage of la Mare de Deu del Carme

The hermitage of la Mare de Deu del Carme is a small chapel (18th century) with a rectangular floor plan, a semicircular arch door a brick belfry, and masonry walls. But the most relevant aspect is the fact that the bell is the tip of a bomb from the Spanish Civil War. 

The key dowel of the door has the inscription “AE 1786 Compte.” Both the interior and exterior are whitewashed, and refurbished but there is no available information regarding who took care of the restoration. Apparently, whoever was in charge decided to use the tip of a bomb instead of a bell for the hermitage. The hermitage is located in La Fatarella, Tarragona, a small village where some of the last stages of the Spanish Civil War took place.

Many remains from the war are still scattered in the surrounding fields and are still very present in everyday life for many locals. It’s not uncommon for residents of La Fatarella to still find bullets, uniforms, and even bombs in the surrounding area.