Page 227 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

C A T AL ONIA  225

hill. The new cathedral is here, de les Monges and Poblet
as are manorial build ings such (see pp226–7), are nearby. The
as the rebuilt 13th-century Monestir de Santes Creus was
town hall, the Paeria. founded in 1150 by Ramón
Berenguer IV (see p58) during his
reconquest of Catalonia. The
g Poblet Gothic clois ters are decorated
with figu rative sculptures, a
See pp226–7.
style first permitted by Jaime II,
who ruled from 1291 to 1327.
h Montblanc His finely carved tomb, along
with that of other nobles, is in
Tarragona. * 7,300. £ @ n Antiga the 12th-century church.
Església de Sant Francesc, 977 86 17
33. ( Tue, Fri. _ Setmana Medieval R Monestir de Santes Creus
(2 weeks in Apr), Festa Major (8–9 Sep).
∑ montblancmedieval.org Tel 977 63 83 29. Open Tue–Sun.
Closed 1 & 6 Jan, 25 & 26 Dec.
The medieval grandeur of & 8 7
Montblanc lives on within its
walls, said to be Catalonia’s k Vilafranca del
finest piece of military archi-
tecture. At the Sant Jordi gate, Penedès
St George allegedly slew the Barcelona. * 38,700. £ @
dragon. The Museu Comarcal n Carrer Cort 14, 93 818 12 54.
de la Conca de Barberà has ( Sat. _ Festa Major (29 Aug–
displays on local crafts. 2 Sep). ∑ turismevilafranca.cat
Anxaneta climbing to the top of a
E Museu Comarcal de la This busy market town is tower of castellers
Conca de Barberà set in Catalonia’s main wine-
Carrer Josa 6. Tel 977 86 03 49. producing region (see pp206–7). Catalonia’s Festes
Open Tue–Sun & public hols. & The Vinseum (Wine Museum),
in a 14th-century palace, Human Towers (various dates
and locations). The province
documents the history of the
j Santes Creus area’s wine trade. Local bodegas of Tarragona is famous for its
castellers festivals, where
Tarragona. * 150. @ n Plaça can be visited for wine tasting. teams of men stand on each
Jaume el Just (Monestir) s/n, 977 63 Eight km (5 miles) to the other’s shoulders in an effort
81 41. ( Sat & Sun. _ Sta Llúcia north is Sant Sadurní, the capital to build the highest human
(13 Dec). ∑ larutadelcister.info of Spain’s sparkling tower. Each tower, which can
wine, cava (see pp580–81). be up to seven people high,
Home to the prettiest of the is topped by a small child
“Cistercian triangle” monasteries E Vinseum called the anxaneta. Castellers
is the tiny village of Santes Plaça Jaume I. Tel 93 890 05 82. can be seen in action in many
Creus. The other two, Vallbona Open Tue–Sun & public hols. & towns, especially Vilafranca
del Penedès and Valls.
Dance of Death (Maundy
Thu), Verges (Girona). Men
dressed as skeletons per form
a macabre dance.
St George’s Day (23 Apr).
Lovers give each other a
rose and a book on the day
of Catalonia’s patron saint.
The book is in memory of
Cervantes, who died on this
day in 1616.
La Patum (Corpus Christi,
May/Jun), Berga (Barce lona
province). Giants, devils and
bizarre monsters parade
through the town.
Midsummer’s Eve (23 Jun).
Celebrated all over Catalonia
with bonfires and fireworks.
Monestir de Santes Creus, surrounded by poplar and hazel trees

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