Camp de Tarragona

Speaking of Horta de Sant Joan Picasso said, “Everything I've learned I learned in Horta”. He lived in the town on two occasions, the first in 1898, invited by his friend Manuel Pallarès, while he recovered from an illness, and on the second occasion in 1909, accompanied by his girlfriend, Fernande Olivier. If you visit the town today you can see the places where Picasso spent his time, as well as the landscapes he immortalised in his paintings.
 
THE PICASSO CENTRE

The Picasso Centre is the first stop for any visit to Sant Joan. It is located in the former hospital and is a private concern with a permanent exhibition of reproductions all the works Picasso painted during his two stays in the town. Also on display are a number of objects, photographs and accounts that illustrate Picasso's Time in Horta.
 
THE STREETS OF HORTA DE SANT JOAN

The whole town was something of a canvas for Picasso. He painted the streets, the squares and the houses. The Hostal del Trompet, in the Plaça de la Missa, is where Picasso stayed with his girlfriend, Fernande Olivier, in the summer of 1909. Picasso's studio was also in this square, in the loft of the house of his friend the baker, Tobies Membrado, and it was here that he painted some decisive works that would define Cubism as we know it today.
 
THE MOUNTAIN OF SANTA BÀRBARA AND THE CONVENT OF SANT SALVADOR

The mountain of Santa Bàrbara, which Picasso painted in a number of his works, was one of the first places to be visited by the young artist and his friend Manuel Pallarès after he arrived in Horta de Sant Joan in 1898. Picasso also painted the Convent de Sant Salvador, located at the foot of this mountain. One of the most notable paintings is an oil painting entitled, La processó del convent.
 
THE PICASSO CAVE

Picasso and Pallarès decided to spend a few days of summer in the cave, used as a refuge by shepherds, in the mountain of Santa Bàrbara. The cave can now be visited following the Picasso Cave route which has been signposted by the Parc Natural dels Ports. All the necessary information, including maps, is available from the Ecomuseu dels Ports.
 
Visit more Picasso locations in Horta de Sant Joan.

More information is available in the Paisatge dels Genis


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The Cistercian Route runs through a fully Mediterranean landscape, and one with a long vine-growing tradition, the cultivation of vines having been a pillar of the region's agriculture since the 13th century. During this visit you will be able to learn about and taste the wines of the district and you will also be able to visit one its architectural jewels, the Monastery of Santes Creus.
 
MONASTERY OF SANTES CREUS

The Monastery of Santes Creus, which forms part of the Cistercian Route, was founded in 1160 under the patronage of the Montcada and Cervelló families and Count Ramon Berenguer IV. Located on the banks of the river Gaià, it was the centre of one of the most extensive and influential monastic dominions of the Crown of Aragon. You can find out more about the monastery's history and life as a Cistercian monk in the video, “El món del Cister”. The monastery houses the tombs of king Pere el Gran and of king Jaume II el Just and his queen, Blanca d’Anjou.
 
MAS VICENÇ WINE CELLAR

A visit to the Mas Vicenç wine cellar, one of the most iconic wine cellars of the Tarragona D.O. and just 20 minutes away by car from the monastery of Santes Creus, is an ideal opportunity to find out more about the district's vine-growing tradition and to taste the wines. The family cellar is housed inside an old Catalan country house and covers 550 square metres distributed over five rooms: a vinification room, two aging rooms, a bottling room and a finished products room. Here you can taste some modern, characterful wines.
 
This route includes entrance to the Monastery of Santes Creus and the audiovisual presentation, the visit to the Mas Vicenç Cellar, and an evening meal, and half-board over-night accommodation. Please consult the terms and conditions here.


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In 1911, Eduard Toda, a native of Reus and a consul, historians, writer, Egyptologist and bibliophile, purchased the former monastery of Sant Miquel d’Escornalbou in order to refurbish it. Many of the leading figures of the Renaixença, or Catalan Renaissance, passed through its rooms where today you can see examples of the collections Toda made during his journeys and stays in such places as Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Egypt.

Today a visit to Escornalbou offers a glimpse of what it must have been like to live in grand mansion during the early twentieth century. Additionally, Toda conserved some important elements of the former church and cloister, which command an impressive view over the districts of Tarragona.

While you are there you shouldn't miss:
 
THE SARRAÍ SPRING

A 10-minute walk from the house will take you to the Sarraí Spring. The Spring has now run dry but it was here that, according to legend, a Saracen, the son of a local emir, and a Christian, the wife of the governor of Escornalbou, fell in love. According to the legend the lovers escaped on horseback and the horse led them up a track to the place now known as Salt del Dimoni (Devil's Leap), where it stopped and jumped into the void. It is said that the devil dragged the bodies of the two lovers off to hell, along with that of the horse, because they were never found.
 
THE FRIARS' WAY

This pathway was opened up around 1818 with two purposes in mind: to provide stone for the extension of the convent, and to create a place of leisure for the friars. It has magnificent panoramic views that include Hospitalet to the mountains of Prades, and from El Garraf on the river Ebre, to the coast. There are days when you can even see Mallorca on the horizon. Halfway up you will find the Tres Verges hermitage.
 
SANTA BÀRBARA HERMITAGE

Having seen the magnificent panoramic view that can be obtained from this, the highest peak of Escornalbou, it will come as no surprise to discover that this hill has been occupied since prehistoric times because it was a perfect location for dominating the entire area surrounding it. The hermitage, which dates from the 17th to 19th centuries, is dedicated to Santa Bàrbara, the protector against thunderbolts and storms, who protected those living in the monastery and the people living nearby.


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Miravet Castle
The Templar castle of Miravet is an imposing fortress surrounded by a 25-meter-tall wall. It is located on the top of a hill and affords magnificent views over the river Ebre. Its strategic position has given it an important role in numerous conflicts over the course of history.
 
 
The Iberian settlement of Castellet de Banyoles
Castellet de Banyoles, in the municipality of Tivissa, just a 20 minutes from Miravet by car, is one of the most important Iberian settlements in Catalonia. It was here that the so-called Treasure of Tivissa was found, consisting in what are considered to be the finest examples of the Iberian gold- and silversmiths art in the whole of Catalonia.


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Tarragona was one of the main cultural, political and military centres of the Roman Empire on the Iberian Peninsula and it was the capital of the province, first of Hispania Citerior, or 'Nearer Iberia' and then of Hispania Tarraconensis.

In 2000 the large group of archaeological remains of the Roman city of Tarraco, present-day Tarragona, was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO on account of its size, and the density and quality of the remains, which are now recognised as being of incomparable and universal value. They include numerous buildings dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 6th century CE and they are in very good condition.
 
THEATRE, CIRCUS AND AMPHITHEATRE

You could start your tour by visiting the three buildings intended for putting on a show: the theatre, the forum and the amphitheatre, the latter being the most iconic of the three. It was located outside the city walls, near the Via Augusta and the beach, where the animals that were to take part in the entertainments were unloaded. It was the site for gladiatorial combat and battles with wild animals, as well as for public executions.
 
PALEO-CHRISTIAN NECROPOLIS

The early Christian necropolis is bordered by Avinguda de Ramon i Cajal, Avinguda de la Independència, the Fàbrica de Tabacs and Avinguda del Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer. It is one of the most extensive and important burial grounds in Tarraco and, with more than 2,000 tombs, is considered to be one of the largest and most important cemeteries in the western Roman Empire.
 
THE CENTCELLES ROMAN VILLA

After visiting the sites within the city of Tarragona itself, you could take a 6 km trip to Constantí to visit the Centcelles Roman villa, a building of key importance in early Christian art. One of the rooms contains a dome mosaic, in exceptionally good condition, on a Christian theme. It is the oldest in the Roman world.
 
DELS MUNTS ROMAN VILLA

In Altafulla, just 20 minutes by car from Centcelles, you could finish your tour by visiting the Dels Munts Roman villa, the remains of what was once a large residential complex. It was one of the most important ones in its category on the Iberian Peninsula and it is an example of the kind of residence a high-ranking official in Tarraco would have expected to have.

If you would like to find out more about the history of Tarraco, pay a visit also to the Museu Nacional Arqueològic in Tarragona, the most important Museum for the conservation and dissemination of Tarragona's Roman heritage, and of key importance for understanding our history. You might also like to visit the Arc de Barà and the Torre dels Escipions.


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“People say a ferocious and terrible monster rampaged around Montblanc..." So begins one of the fragments of a text taken from the Costumari Català, by Joan Amades, about the legend of Sant Jordi. If you would like to know how the story continues, although you probably already do, don't miss the Medieval Week in Montblanc, and take advantage of your stay to visit the surrounding area!
 
MEDIEVAL WEEK IN MONTBLANC

Montblanc has one of the most beautiful groups of medieval buildings in Catalonia. If you would like to go to the heart of things, don't miss its Medieval Week, held between 23 April and 5 May. It keeps alive the written tradition established by Joan Amades, according to which Sant Jordi killed the dragon in this town. Some main events include the dramatisation of the legend of Sant Jordi, the Dracum Nocte, and the mediaeval market.
 
THE CITY WALLS

Take a walk around Montblanc's city walls, they have been adapted to make such visits easy and so that visitors can find out more about one of Catalonia's best-preserved medieval military structures. The views of the town and its surroundings from the various towers, whose construction was ordered by king Pere III el Cerimoniós, are magnificent.
 
CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA

Also known as the 'Cathedral of the Mountain' on account of its size and its position on the highest level of the municipality, the Church of Santa Maria la Major is another reminder of Montblanc's medieval power. Inside you can see the retable of Sant Bernat and Sant Bernabé, and the Baroque organ, one of the finest in Catalonia.
 
FROM THE CHURCH OF SANT FRANCESC TO THE HERMITAGE OF SANT JOAN

If you would like to walk for a while you could start at the church of Sant Francesc, where the the Municipal Tourist Office is currently located. From here take the Avinguda Manel Ribé and continue along it to the top. When you are at the top, turn right and follow the road to the end where you will find a sign indicating the way to the hermitage. 


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Legend has it that in the Vall d'Oliver valley, at the foot of the Montsant Mountain Range, a shepherd once dreamt of angels that were going up a staircase: Escaladei, the staircase to God. And it was here that the Monastery of Escaladei was founded in 1163, at the request of King Alphonse I, the Chaste, hence creating a place to live for the Carthusian monks of the Sant Bru Order, amid the silence, solitude and nature that surrounded the temple. Would you like to take a walk through the area around this valley of vineyards and olive groves?

CARTOIXA D'ESCALADEI
Today, all that remains of the old Carthusian complex of Escaladei, one of the most important medieval and modern monasteries in Catalonia, are its structures. You can walk around the outside of the 3 cloisters, one of which has been rebuilt, as well as the refectory and a cell that has also been reconstructed. 

17^TH CENTURY WINERIES OF ESCALADEI
The Carhusian Monastery of Escaladei is located in the very heart of the Priorat Region. Hence, this monumental site is surrounded by hundred-year-old vineyards. Some of these vineyards are located on the estates of Cellers d'Scaladei, which sits within the confines of the old grounds of the Carthusian Monastery. If you’d like to taste wines full of history, you definitely won’t want to miss this visit. 
 
CELLERS BUIL GINÉ
Next to Gratallops, a 15-minute drive from the Cellers d'Scaladei winery, is the winery Cellers Buil Giné. This wine producer offers a tour through the outdoor grounds of the estate and the viewpoint and the facilities of the winery, as well as a wine tasting. 

EMBLEMATIC TOWNS OF EL PRIORAT
In addition to the Carthusian Monastery and the vineyards, you will not want to miss Siurana, a fairytale village that has been the backdrop of legends about princesses and warriors; Falset, where you can visit the old castle of the Counts of Prades; and  Porrera, a unique town known for its many sundials, which can be found just about everywhere. 

Check all the information on this outing, which includes accommodations.

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Have you seen the three royal monasteries of Catalonia? Poblet, Santes Creus and Vallbona, three amazing and unique monumental sites, both for their architectural beauty and for their spiritual essence. They are located on the Cistercian Route and you can now visit all three with a single admission pass. The combined ticket, which is valid for a full year, also allows you to visit other museums and monuments in the region.
 
MONASTERY OF SANTES CREUS
You may wish to begin your tour with a visit to the Monastery of Santes Creus, one of the best conserved Cistercian monastic complexes, which accommodated the first group of monks of this religious order in Catalonia. Here you will see the royal tombs of King Peter III of Aragon, King James II and his wife, Blanche of Anjou, as well as that of Admiral Roger of Lauria.
 
MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DE POBLET
As the largest monastery of the Cistercian Route and one of the foremost monasteries in Europe, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet  earned its World Heritage status from UNESCO in 1991. Located just a 30-minute drive from the Monastery of Santes Creus, this is a striking architectural site that King Peter II of Aragon converted into the royal pantheon of the dynasty.
 
MONASTERY OF VALLBONA DE LES MONGES
A half hour’s drive from Poblet will bring you to the Monastery of Vallbona de les Monges, the only nuns’ monastery on the Cistercian Route and the only monastery that has accommodated the religious community uninterruptedly —except in times of war— for more than 850 years. This monastery offers visitor lodging  on certain days of the week.
 
The combined admission pass can be purchased at any of the three monasteries, as well as at the Ruta del Cister website. Check conditions here .
 
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We'd like to invite you to find out first hand about the traditional process of making wine and brandy. This was a key economic sector in the development of modern Catalonia.

MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE

What was it like to be a winemaker a century ago? At the Museum we'll teach you about the techniques and factors used in the process as well as the carts and main machinery: quite a technological breakthrough in winemaking from 100 years ago!

WINE TASTING

We'll test the end result of a job well done by having a guided taste test of the wines of the DO Conca de Barberà, produced with the local variety of drilling.

A VISIT TO THE FASSINA BALANYÀ

Brandy also had a prominent role in the economic activity of this area at the beginning of the 20th century. We'll see this as we go through the Fassina Balanyà, where we'll also be able to taste this spirit made from drilling.

COOPERATIVE WINERY OF L’ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ

The winery at l’Espluga de Francolí was the first cooperative winery set up by a prestigious architect. Pere Domènech i Roura, the son of Lluís Domènech i Montaner, began construction of the “author's wineries” or “wineries of the rich” by managing the works. Our visit will give us a close-up look at the important phenomenon of cooperativism and at the construction of modernist “wine cathedrals”.

A route for the whole family to enjoy which you can choose to end with a fine lunch based on viniculture. If you're bringing children then, while tasting the wines, you can leave them with a monitor who will be leading an activity aimed specifically at the little ones.
 

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