The Church of Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera
Construction began on the Santa Gertrudis church in 1785, following the division of the Pitiusas into parishes by Manuel Abad y Lasierra, first bishop of the diocese of Ibiza.
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This bishop, whose statue stands by the church, assigned the 136 houses that stood in the centre of the island to the parish of Santa Gertrudis, hoping thereby to attract more families, whom he reckoned would want to settle in the area once it had its own parish church.
Building on the church finished in 1797, although since then several elements have been added, such as a side chapel extending out from the nave – which gives the structure an L shape – and a bell tower, built in 1899. When you visit the church, don’t forget to notice the original wooden altarpiece from the 18th century and the front porch, atypical due to its small size and the fact that it is the only one on the island that lies level with the edifice. The church’s namesake is Saint Gertrude of Helfta (Eisleben, Germany, 1256 – Helfta, Germany, 1302), a Cistercian Benedictine nun and mystical writer, also known as Gertrude the Great.
Mass times
In winter, Mondays to Fridays at 7 pm; Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 12 noon and 7 pm
In the summer season, Mondays to Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 9 pm and Sundays at 12 noon and 8 pm
Curiosities
The Santa Gertrudis church is the only one on the island whose choir is reached by an outdoor staircase rather than an indoor one. Additionally, its façade displays four crosses instead of the habitual three.
