Tortosa is the capital city of the Baix Ebre Municipality which is located in the south of Catalonia, not far from the province of Valencia.

Capital & episcopal headquarters of the municipality, historicly brought up on the left side of the river and today spread on both sides, Tortosa has a population over 30.000 inhabitants and a surface area of 220,00 km2. The two thousand year old town of Tortosa, is the focus for most of the economic, social and cultural life of the area.


TORTOSA HISTORY

The Baix Ebre territory has been throughout the history a crucial point of commercials activity between the Mediterranean Sea and the interior of the land.
Many cultures have passed, lived and fought in this land. After the influence of the ibers, the IIIrd Century is marked by the beginning of the roman influence in this area, which brought their beautiful constructions but also caused the destruction and extermination of many villages because of the wars against the Carthaginians. With the roman’s victory Dertosa (actual Tortosa) was classed as ‘Municipium’, it became an official maritime fluvial port.

Roman ruins can be found in the Mausoleum de Fabara (IIthC D.C) and the Tram Via Augusta of Perello.
The most decisive influence for this area was with the Muslim culture & architecture. They lived here up to 800 years. The names of some towns reflect this part of the history as we find Beseit, Benifallet, Benissanet, Xerta, etc. The hydraulic systems, the technique on working with coloured windows, the type of tiles used on roofs and the way they were constructed, the remaining of towers and castles (la Suda of Tortosa, the hisn of Siurana, etc.), are physical testimonies which talk about their known influence.

During the medieval times, the Ebro area turned into a borderline between the south Al-Andalus and the north with the Christians. This epoch, specifically at the XI century, made ‘Turtusa’ (actual Tortosa) live its best time as a city of prestigious commercial activity, but also as a borderline it was going to undergo even more battles between the Christians and the Mores. ‘Alfons’ the 1st’ began to re-conquer this land, Ramon Berenguer the 4th continued to pursue the expulsion of the Mores, but it wasn’t until Alfons the 2nd who would ensure the Christian power over the Mores in the XII century, who would be finally deported out of the country in the XVII century.
From then on battles would be far to arrive to an end until the last one, the Civil War, came and decided the limits of the Ebro area. This last war destroyed many towns and families because of the successive bombings. All of this ends up in a land which was divided itself because of the different ideologies hold by the civilians regarding the Civil War.

The next centuries are marked by a reactivation of the agriculture, the fluvial commerce and the construction of the ‘Mequinensa’ and Riba-Roja reservoirs.
The progress of this land rich in natural & human resources offers a continual flow of energy. Nowadays the people of the Ebro Area lives to defend their interests against the governing powers that want to take from them what has been through history their main means for living. Tortosa has a privileged position, as it is only about 20 minutes drive to the Ports mountains or the beach. The closest airport can be found at Reus, which is only about 40 minutes drive. Barcelona Airport is about an hour and a half drive from Tortosa. The town has its own Train Station that takes you north heading towards Barcelona or south towards Valencia.

WHAT TO EAT...


The gastronomy of this region is rich as in variety. The meals combine the vegetables, meats, fish, seafood, fruits, rice, wines, etc. All these ingredients make up the famous Mediterranean Diet that you can enjoy in this area.
As main course you can taste the rich paellas, fresh shellfish, the typical baldana (sausage) of Tortosa, a homemade tasty garlic mayonnaise dip called ‘all y oli’, the ‘pa amb tomaquet’, etc. If you have a strong sweet mouth you must have the famous pastissets of Tortosa and the homemade honey. To accompany these ‘pastissets’ you can drink their own brandy, which it’s more than 100 years old (1879), known as Lehman.