Welcome to Sant Celoni, a town full of history that you will learn about on this this route. Walking along its streets will take you back in time to discover the origin and evolution of this town which in ancient times was already an important meeting point for merchants and travellers heading for Barcelona or Girona on the route that passed through the town.

Sant Celoni is currently a prime location due to its geographical position, giving visitors access to different places of natural and geographical interest as well as a rich cultural and gastronomic offer.

The origin of Sant Celoni dates back to the middle ages, when the first inhabitants lived in manor houses grouped around the parish church of Sant Martí de Pertegàs, the first to be built in the town.

In the 9th century, the lords of Montseny built a chapel dedicated to Sant Celdoni beside the route from Barcelona to Girona. This name, which became the place name of the original village, is that of a Christian martyr.
The good geographical location of the chapel and the support of the military order of the Hospital of Sant Joan of Jerusalem, who owned of the village since 1151, encouraged the growth of houses around it, its fortification and the creation of a market outside the walls in the 12th century.

The growth of the village led to the building of gateways that were shut to protect from possible attacks by neighbouring lords as well as bandits and criminals. These were moved several times to adapt to the new configuration of the town, until they finally disappeared in the 19th century.

The route begins in the Vilanova quarter, the old enlargement of the fortification that will extend the Main Street to the crossroads with the current Germà Emilià street, on your left. Until the 19th century there was a gateway that closed off the town, which was called Can Bonavida gateway. Vilanova was a typical quarter of small farmers and petite-bourgeoisie of Sant Celoni and some of their houses still have their original doorways. With this enlargement, the old Hospital for the Poor and Sick, one of the two that existed in the town, became part of the quarter.

Known as Hospital Vell (Old Hospital) or Hospital de pobres i malalts (Hospital of the Poor and Sick) of Sant Antoni Abad, it was a charitable and medical institution of medieval origin.

The centre was formed by the hospital and the chapel. The building, with a ground floor and two upper storeys, was built around a central patio. There were different chambers and the sacristy on the ground floor. The refectory was next to the chapel, the kitchen and the pantry. On the first floor were rooms for the sick, while the community of monks resided on the second.

At the entrance of the building you can see a grand doorway with a semi circular voussoir arch, with a projecting part at the top representing the crucifixion. The chapel was built in 1752 and has a popular baroque altarpiece.

Today, part of the building holds the Tourist Office, which as well as offering information on the resources of the town, is an information point for the Natural Park of Montseny and for the Montnegre i Corredor Park.

We will continue the route going down the Main Street towards the center.