The Catalan jewel of the Renaissance | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.

Getaways


1. Façana de l'església de Sant Domènec als Reials Col·legis (Rparraval / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0) / 2. Nau central de la catedral de Sta. Maria de Tortosa (Enric / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0) / 3. Vista general del castell de La Suda, a Tortosa (Manel Zaera / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 2.0)

Route map

The Catalan jewel of the Renaissance

A tour around Tortosa and its main sights
Tarragona
During the 14th and 15th centuries Tortosa was a trading centre of the first order, its splendour reflected by its buildings such as the cathedral, the palaces of the nobles and the episcopal palace. By the 16th century Tortosa was one of the cities in Catalonia with the largest population and the most political and economic weight. The Reials Col·legis, the largest Renaissance ensemble in Catalonia, date from that period. A stroll through the city will reveal the splendours of this, the jewel of the Catalan Renaissance, as well as other sights that exemplify the city's history.
 
REIALS COL·LEGIS
 
There are three buildings in this group. The most important one is the Col·legi de Sant Jaume i de Sant Maties, built in 1564, first used for the education of Muslims who had converted to Christianity. The other two buildings in the group are the Col·legi de Sant Jordi i de Sant Domènech and the church of Sant Domènech, which currently houses the Renaissance Interpretation Centre.
 
CATHEDRAL
 
This imposing building near the river Ebro stands witness to the history of Tortosa since the 14th century. Noteworthy are the nave and cloister, with important examples of engraved stones, and the chapel of the Mare de Déu de la Cinta, in Baroque style.
 
THE CASTLE OF LA SUDA
 
Considered to be one of Tortosa's most important historic buildings, along with the cathedral and the Reials Col·legis, the castle of Sant Joan, also known as the Castle of La Suda, is a prime example of the city's Moorish past. Furthermore, it also contains Catalonia's only open-air Islamic necropolis.
 
MUSEUM OF TORTOSA
 
You can discover more about Tortosa's history in one of the city's most remarkable buildings: the former slaughterhouse, a Modernista work by the architect Pau Monguió. The Museum of Tortosa moved into these premises in 2012 with a collection of over 4,000 items.
 
 
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