Tortosa is a city that is located in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, forming part of the Bajo Ebro. This town is not among the best known or tourist attractions, but the truth is that it is a place that has its charm. It is the episcopal seat and has a wonderful Mediterranean climate. The passage of the Ebro makes this place a unique space, with a lot of history.
Let's see the places that you can see on a trip to Tortosa, a city that offers beautiful corners and a lot of history, since we must not forget that it is a city that was part of the Catalan Renaissance, something that we can see in its monuments. Without a doubt, a little getaway that will give us many good memories.
Tortosa Cathedral
This cathedral is one of the most important points of interest in the city of Tortosa. Although construction began in the XNUMXth century, it wasn't finished until much later, in the XNUMXth century. A Romanesque-style building was built on the ruins of the Roman forum, but today we have a Gothic-style building. The last part of this cathedral to be finished was the Baroque façade, completed in the XNUMXth century. Inside the cathedral, the three naves separated by pillars with some chapels located on the sides stand out. Its large pillars stand out, offering a great difference in height from the central nave. In this cathedral you can see various styles, due to the reforms that happened. Inside, the reliquaries of the Santa Cinta and the altarpieces of the main altar also stand out.
The Jewish quarter
Es quite remarkable that this city was a historical place, with many centuries and populations settled since the Romans. The Jews also passed through here and formed a large community as early as the XNUMXth century. Today the so-called Jewish Quarter remains from this passage of the Jews through the city. It is an ideal place to get lost because it has some labyrinthine streets that are typical of medieval cities, where the layout was made naturally as the city grew. The aljama and the white alleys also stand out.
The Royal Schools
As we said the Catalan Renaissance was very important in this city, and some buildings and vestiges of this time are still preserved. The Royal Colleges are precisely buildings that tell us about the Catalan Renaissance. These colleges were founded by order of Carlos V, since he supported the creation of places for the studies of subjects such as Theology. This is an entire complex that currently houses the Renaissance interpretation center. Three different buildings are part of the complex. The College of San Jorge and Santo Domingo, that of San Jaime and San Matías and the church of Santo Domingo.
The Palaces of Tortosa
This city that has grown a lot over the centuries was also a place of great importance. That is why in it we can still find some palaces and noble houses. In this town we can look for some interesting palaces, such as that of Montagut, Oliver de Boteller or Campmany.
The Municipal Market
This market is located on the banks of the river Ebro. It is here that the river jetty with the tourist boats that imitate the old lutes is located. These peculiar boats take us down the river to admire the city. Before or after the walk you can visit the Municipal Market which is also a place of interest. This market dates from the late XNUMXth century and has a style that could be described as eclectic. It has a single nave with a metallic structure. The building is interesting, but inside the market we can also find fresh products and some typical ones.
The Castle of La Suda
Castle from the XNUMXth century that was originally a Muslim fortress that was erected where there was a Roman acropolis. In this castle you can see the only Arab cemetery that is outdoors in the autonomous community. After the Reconquest it was given other uses, such as jail. At present it houses a parador de turismo. It is a place that has spectacular views over the back of the cathedral, the city and the river. At the foot of this castle it is also possible to find the Gardens of the Prince if what you are looking for is a bit of tranquility. But above all it is recommended for the views and for the history that is in its walls.
Santa Clara Monastery
This XNUMXth century monastery it suffered damage during the Civil War but it is its most important convent. Nowadays, its beautiful Gothic cloister stands out. It is one of the first convents that the order of Santa Clara established in Catalonia.