48-hour getaway to Tortosa

Dertosa, Turtutxa, Tortosa... Nowadays Barcelona may be a multicultural city, but in ancient times Tortosa was occupied by a host of different peoples, giving the city a character that's difficult to find anywhere else. Crossed by the River Ebro, it was shared for many centuries by three different cultures, Muslims, Christians and Jews. The beautiful views of the town from the area around the Castell de la Suda and the ancient walls that surround the historical centre make it an attractive site that is unknown to many visitors, who taken by surprise by surroundings that are so imposing yet somehow humble at the same time. After arriving in Tortosa, it's essential to have a stroll around the city's recently restored river walks, which offer superb views of the town, from the old quarter on the left bank, to the Ferreries neighbourood on the right bank of the river. You can start this walk from the Municipal Market, one of the most distinctive modernista buildings in the city, built by Joan Torras i Guardiola, who was known as known as the Catalan Eiffel, between 1884 and 1887. Fully restored inside and out, it's worthwhile taking a walk around the interior, where will see up close some of the most common garden produce, meat, fish and canned goods from the area.

Once we have made this first approach to the Ebro, we can take the path that runs alongside the river towards the old railway bridge, now known as the Pont Roig (Red Bridge), which is one of the most picturesque sections of the Via Verda (Greenway), a disused railway track transformed into a walking and cycling path, which passes through Tortosa. It has recently been restored and looks set to become, over time, a sight that is going to appear in all the postcards printed in Tortosa. The views from the bridge will help us to get a global perspective of layout of the city.

nce we have crossed the bridge and entered the neighbourhood of Ferreries, we can continue waling in the opposite direction, towards the Pont de l'Estat (Bridge of the State), which holds a special place in the imaginary universe of the city, since it replaces the bridge that was blown up by the Republican Army in April 1938. Once you've recrossed the Ebro, head for the historical centre, where we recommend that you follow a walking trail based on tapas called Sabors del Nucli Antic, designed by local businesses to promote this emerging area of town. Here, wine cellars and fusion cuisine restaurants stand next to the shops and workshops of craftspeople, designers and photographers. Good morning! Tortosa is one of the most important cities in southern Catalonia, and as well as behaving like a high class Madame, it's also got something of the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of a small regional city. So, this morning we'd like to recommend that you wake up early and you mix with the market traders while having a hot breakfast at the Municipal Market. Order a sandwich stuffed with baldana, a rice sausage that's a local speciality, and accompany it with wine drunk from a porró, the traditional spouted glass pitcher. To round of your breakfast, try some pastissets, small cakes stuffed with sweet cabell d'àngel (pumpkin jam), which will set you up for the day.

From the market, we'll head for the river and the old municipal slaughterhouse, a Modernista-style building that nowadays hosts the Museum of Tortosa. For an admission fee of 3 Euros you'll have access to an itinerary that will introduce you to the history of Tortosa and its territory, from prehistory to the end of the 20th century. There are exhibits from all these time periods from the museum's own collection, as well as pieces on loan from institutions like the Prado Museum in Madrid and the MNAC in Barcelona. You'll find everything from prehistoric flint tools and Roman funeral stellas to Andalusian ceramics and testimonies to the many floods that have affected the town.

Now that you're more familiar with the history of Tortosa, you may want to explore its streets in more depth. The town's historical centre, which is located inside the old walls, boasts iconic constructions such as the Royal Colleges, an ensemble of three buildings belong to the Dominican order located in Carrer de Sant Domènec, as well as a number of mansion houses belonging to local noble families during the Renaissance. It's a good idea to go on a guided tour to explore them all. After that, we'd like to propose lunch by the river. There are three or four establishments that offer magnificent views of the river and the Suda Castle. It's now time to venture outside the city walls to one of the busiest and most commercial avenues in   Tortosa. Avinguda de la Generalitat is one of the city's main thoroughfares and has an extensive and varied range of shops. If we walk towards the new neighbourhood of Temple, we'll reach the Teodor González municipal park, the town's most iconic green space. Its central avenue, which is lined with hundred-year-old plane trees, standing among date palms, pines and some cedar and eucalyptus trees, is a well known sight. The park is a venue for a large number of events and celebrations, including the fiesta mayor, military parades, dances and concerts. It's worth losing yourself on its footpaths and coming across hidden corners like the 14th-century wheat porch, which is the old auction block, though it's currently used to display the city's giant and animal figures that appear in parades.

In the evening we'll head for Plaça de la Immaculada, which is also known as Plaça del Paiolet, to begin our visit to Tortosa's ancient Jewish Quarter. One way of doing it is on a dramatised tour with a local guide, Pili Cugat, who plays the part of a Jewish woman of the period. With her, you'll learn all about the everyday life of Tortosa's Jewish community while exploring the maze of narrow streets and alleyways that make up the Jewish Quarter, to a background of Sephardic melodies. Once your nocturnal visit has finished, we'll complete the day in the area around Suda Castle. This impressive fortress, which dominates the city and the river, is a must-see for any visitor.

Nowadays, the castle is part of the Paradors Nacionals hotel network and is a good accommodation option when visiting the city, though it's obviously not the cheapest. On Saturday nights you'll find plenty of leisure options and atmosphere in both the old town and the more modern Eixample district. In the area around Carrer Cervantes and Plaça d'Alfons XII there are a number of restaurants specialising in tapas and small dishes that are ideal for sharing. If you're looking for a night out we should warn you that Tortosa doesn't have a really wide assortment of venues, but you could try your luck along Carrer Ramon Berenguer IV, which is the main pub zone. One place with Cuban airs stands out for its programme of live concerts and stand up performances. Sunday is a good day to visit a church, and Tortosa's Santa Maria Cathedral is open to the public from 10am to 2pm on that day. Behind its unfinished façade that mixes baroque and neoclassical styles, you'll find a gothic church made up of three naves. The visit also allows you to explore the old dependencies of the seventh-century Augustinian monastery and the eighth-century cloister. The cathedral's permanent exhibition will also help you to deepen your knowledge of Tortosa and the role that the city has played throughout history.

In the basement there's an exhibition of Roman, Visigothic and Arabic stone epigraphy and stones from the Cathedral choir. In the old refectory you'll find a tapestry depicting the Last Supper, the altarpiece of the transfiguration, which is attributed to the school of Jaume Huguet, the altarpiece of the Holy Entombment of Christ and a collection of religious clothing, paintings, sculpture, furniture and gold jewellery. In the former dormitory there is a collection of chairs, the Saint Christ from the choir, the Corpus Custody and displays of sacred relics, tapestries, chests and choir books. After our overdose of culture this morning, it's time to concentrate on more earthly matters. We'd like to suggest that you get in your car and drive towards the Ports mountain range, stopping off at Reguers. This town is within the bounds of Tortosa and located at the foot of the Ports. It's famous for its restaurants serving grilled lamb. We recommend that you stop here for lunch and to take a walk around the town, where you'll see fields of olive trees and pines, as well as people hinting for snails and collecting asparagus when they're in season.

After a relaxing lunch and a stroll, it's time to head back to Tortosa to pack your bags, take a last walk along the river and say goodbye to the city of three cultures until another occasion.