![Spain Ebro river in Tortosa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Spain_Ebro_river_in_Tortosa.JPG)
Tortosa (; ) is the capital of the ''
comarca
A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...
'' of
Baix Ebre
Baix Ebre (, "Lower Ebre") is a comarca (county), on the coast in southern Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by it ...
, in
Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy.
Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
Tortosa is located at
above sea level
Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''.
The comb ...
, by the
Ebro
, name_etymology =
, image = Zaragoza shel.JPG
, image_size =
, image_caption = The Ebro River in Zaragoza
, map = SpainEbroBasin.png
, map_size =
, map_caption = The Ebro ...
river, protected on its northern side by the mountains of the
Cardó Massif, of which
Buinaca, one of the highest peaks, is located within Tortosa's municipal boundary.
Before Tortosa, across the river, rise the massive
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit (), also known as Ports de Beseit, or simply as Els Ports or Lo Port by locals, is a limestone mountain massif located at the north-eastern end of the Sistema Ibérico, a complex system of mountain ranges and massifs in ...
mountains. The area around
Mont Caro
Mont Caro () or Caro is the highest mountain of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain.
Geography
It has an elevation of 1,441 metres above sea level.. There are two large antennas and a Virgin Mary shrine on top of the summit.
This mounta ...
and other high summits are often covered with snow in the winter.
Population centres
*
Bítem, 1.139; includes
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the Italian, Portuguese and Spanish name for Saint Rose.
Santa Rosa may also refer to:
Places Argentina
*Santa Rosa, Mendoza, a city
* Santa Rosa, Tinogasta, Catamarca
* Santa Rosa, Valle Viejo, Catamarca
* Santa Rosa, La Pampa
* S ...
*
Campredó, 1.168;
*
Jesús, 3.755
*
Els Reguers, 679
*Tortosa, 27.131
*
Vinallop, 363, includes
Mianes
The municipality includes a small
exclave
An enclave is a territory (or a small territory apart of a larger one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of one other state or entity. Enclaves may also exist within territorial waters. ''Enclave'' is sometimes used improperly to deno ...
to the west.
History
Tortosa (from la, Dertusa or , via ar, طرطوشة ''Ṭurṭūshah'') is probably identical to the ancient
Hibera
Hibera is an ancient city, known for being a strategic point from which the Second Punic War is said to have originated. It was fought over by the Carthaginians and the Roman Republic, Romans during this period. According to the texts, most of th ...
, capital of
Ilercavonia
Ilercavonia ( ca, Ilercavònia, es, Ilercavonia) is an ancient comarca of Spain formerly populated by the ancient Iberian tribe known as Ilercavones. It is a greater comarca made up of smaller ones. The ties between the people of the region tran ...
. This may be the ancient settlement the remains of which have been found on the hill named Castillo de la Zuda. In
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
times, the town took the name Dertosa ( grc, Δέρτωσσα).
Tortosa was occupied in about 714, during the
Arab conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom. It remained under Muslim rule for more than 400 years. King
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
laid
siege to Tortosa in 808–809, but although the city submitted he did not manage to occupy it.
The city
was conquered by the Count
Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona
Ramon Berenguer IV (; c. 1114 – 6 August 1162, Anglicized Raymond Berengar IV), sometimes called ''the Saint'', was the count of Barcelona who brought about the union of the County of Barcelona with the Kingdom of Aragon to form the Crown of Ara ...
in 1148, as part of the
Second Crusade
The Second Crusade (1145–1149) was the second major crusade launched from Europe. The Second Crusade was started in response to the fall of the County of Edessa in 1144 to the forces of Zengi. The county had been founded during the First Crusa ...
. Because of the crusading appeal made by Pope
Eugene III
Pope Eugene III ( la, Eugenius III; c. 1080 – 8 July 1153), born Bernardo Pignatelli, or possibly Paganelli, called Bernardo da Pisa, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 February 1145 to his death in 1153. He w ...
and his representative Nicholas Brakespear (the future Pope
Hadrian IV
Pope Adrian IV ( la, Adrianus IV; born Nicholas Breakspear (or Brekespear); 1 September 1159, also Hadrian IV), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 4 December 1154 to his death in 1159. He is the only Englishman t ...
), the siege received the aid of crusaders from multiple nationalities (Genovese, Anglo-Normans, Normans, Occitans, Germans, Flemish and Dutch), who were on their way to the
Holy Land
The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...
. The siege of Tortosa was narrated by the Genovese chronicler and diplomat
Caffaro.
After its conquest, the city and its territory were divided among the victors, with multiple lands being granted to foreign crusaders and to the military and religious orders.
Formerly there was a railway line between Tortosa and
Alcañiz
Alcañiz () is a town and municipality of Teruel province in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region. It lies ...
, opening a communication gate between this region and
Aragon
Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...
. Construction work began in 1891, but it was haphazard and the first trains between Alcañiz and Tortosa began only in 1942. The last stretch between Tortosa and
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Sant may refer to:
People
* Alfred Sant (born 1948), Maltese politician
* Andrew Sant (born 1950), English-born Australian poet
* David Sant (born 1968), Catalan director, actor and writer
* Indira Sant (1914–2000), Indian poet
* James Sant ( ...
was never completed before the line was terminated by
Renfe in 1973.
Main sights
*Castle of ''Sant Joan'', or ''Suda'', commanding the city from a hill. Though the Romans were the first to fortify the place, the current structure dates to Muslim Caliph
Abd ar-Rahman III
ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Rabdī ibn Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Dākhil () or ʿAbd al-Rahmān III (890 - 961), was the Umayyad Emir of Córdoba from 912 to 92 ...
. After the conquest by
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, in 1148, it became a residence of the Montcada and the
Knights Templar
, colors = White mantle with a red cross
, colors_label = Attire
, march =
, mascot = Two knights riding a single horse
, equipment ...
, and from the 13th century it became a royal mansion.
*
The Cathedral, begun in 1347 and consecrated in 1597.
*Bishop Palace.
*The Royal Schools. Founded by Charles V for the education of the Moors, are one of the best examples of Renaissance civil architecture in Catalonia. The architectural known as the Royal Colleges will consist of three buildings:
**The College of Sant Jaume i Sant Maties (it currently houses the local historical archive of Baix Ebre),
**the College of Sant Domènec i Sant Jordi,
**the church of Sant Domènec (now the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
Interpretation Centre).
*Convent of ''Santa Clara'', founded in 1283.
*The Rose street: Despuig Palace (14th century), Oriol Palace and Capmany Palace.
*Oliver de Boteller Palace (15th century)
*Walls and fortresses: Tenasses, Sitjar, Orleans...
*Architecture of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: Municipal market, the old municipal slaughterhouse (''Museum of Tortosa''), Montagut Palace, house Pilar Fontanet, Temple of Repair, house Lamote (Siboni), house Brunet, Sabate clinic, house Ballester, house Bernardo Grego, house Pallares, house Camós, house Llorca, Teodoro González municipal park, etc.
*
Air-raid shelter
Air raid shelters are structures for the protection of non-combatants as well as combatants against enemy attacks from the air. They are similar to bunkers in many regards, although they are not designed to defend against ground attack (but many ...
''number 4'' (
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
) in
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fic ...
Street.
Museums
*
Tortosa Cathedral
The Catedral of Saint Mary of Tortosa is a cathedral located in Tortosa, Catalonia, Spain and seat of the Diocese of Tortosa. The present structure is located in the center of the city's old town.
Design
Its construction began in 1347 on the rem ...
and the permanent exhibition.
* The Museum of Tortosa.
* The Prince's Gardens, Santiago de Santiago's outdoor Sculpture Museum.
* The Renaissance Interpretation Centre (Church of Sant Domènec-The Royal Schools)
* The Holy Week Interpretation Center (''Centre d'Interpretació de la Setmana Santa'') is located in St. Anthony Abbot's Church.
Tortosa, city of the Renaissance
* Tortosa
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
Festival. Over 3,000 citizens in period costumes and 60 shows a day with over 500 actors transport us to the Tortosa of 500 years ago. In the second half of July, Tortosa celebrates the Renaissance Festival. Under the title ''the Splendour of a 16th Century City'', the Festival commemorates, through a wide range of cultural and recreational activities, the historical period of the 16th century, one of the most interesting periods in our city's existence.
Declared
Fiesta of National Tourist Interest of Spain (2005).
Nature park (
Biosphere reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...
)
*
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit (), also known as Ports de Beseit, or simply as Els Ports or Lo Port by locals, is a limestone mountain massif located at the north-eastern end of the Sistema Ibérico, a complex system of mountain ranges and massifs in ...
. This mountains that lie between Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon, are part of a limestone massif, characterised by its abrupt cliff faces, which has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times.
*
Ebro Delta
The Ebro Delta ( ca, Delta de l'Ebre, ; es, Delta del Ebro, ) is the delta region of the Ebro River ( ca, Ebre, links=no, es, Ebro, links=no) in the southwest of the Province of Tarragona in the region of Catalonia in Spain. It is located o ...
.
International relations
Twin towns — sister cities
Tortosa is
twinned with:
*
Avignon
Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...
, France (1968)
*
Alcañiz
Alcañiz () is a town and municipality of Teruel province in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region. It lies ...
, Spain (1972)
*
Vercelli
Vercelli (; pms, Vërsèj ), is a city and ''comune'' of 46,552 inhabitants (January 1, 2017) in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, ...
, Italy (2003)
*
Le Puy-en-Velay
Le Puy-en-Velay (, literally ''Le Puy in Velay''; oc, Lo Puèi de Velai ) is the prefecture of the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-central France.
Located near the river Loire, the city is famous for its ca ...
, France (2005)
*
Tartus
)
, settlement_type = City
, image_skyline =
, imagesize =
, image_caption = Tartus corniche Port of Tartus • Tartus beach and boulevard Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa • Al-Assad Stadium&n ...
, Syria (2007)
Demography
Climate
Tortosa has a
hot-summer mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...
(''Csa'') in the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
.
Clima: Tortosa
Climate-Data.org Tortosa enjoys a very warm climate for its latitude. Even considering it's located at miles inland from the coastline, this mostly happens because the city lies on the delta of the Ebro
, name_etymology =
, image = Zaragoza shel.JPG
, image_size =
, image_caption = The Ebro River in Zaragoza
, map = SpainEbroBasin.png
, map_size =
, map_caption = The Ebro ...
river, which acts as a natural barrier against cold fronts. Albeit being a Mediterranean climate, winter months have less precipitation than autumn (common pattern in eastern Spain), but there is still a substantial summer drought.
Notable people
*Pope Adrian VI
Pope Adrian VI ( la, Hadrianus VI; it, Adriano VI; nl, Adrianus/Adriaan VI), born Adriaan Florensz Boeyens (2 March 1459 – 14 September 1523), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 January 1522 until his d ...
(Utrecht, 1459 – Rome, 1523) was Pope of the Catholic Church (1522-1523) and Bishop of Tortosa
The bishop of Tortosa is the ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortosa in Catalonia, Spain. (1516-1522).
*Francesc Vicent Garcia
Francesc Vicent Garcia () i Ferrandis was an early modern Catalan poet known by the pseudonym of the ''Vallfogona Rector''. He was born in Zaragoza in 1579Although his father was born in Tortosa, in Catalonia. and died in Vallfogona de Riucorb ( ...
was an early modern Catalan poet known by the pseudonym of the Vallfogona Rector.
* Pedro de Alberní, was a soldier and discovered Port Alberni
Port Alberni () is a city located on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia, Canada. The city lies within the Alberni Valley at the head of the Alberni Inlet, Vancouver Island's longest inlet. It is the location of the head offices o ...
(Canada).
* Ramón Cabrera y Griñó (Tortosa, 1806 – Wentworth, 1877) was a Carlist general.
* Manuel Domingo y Sol (Tortosa, 1836 – 1909) was a Roman Catholic priest.
* Felipe Pedrell
Felip Pedrell Sabaté (Spanish: Felipe) (19 February 1841 – 19 August 1922) was a Catalan composer, guitarist and musicologist.
Life
Pedrell was born in Tortosa (Catalonia), and sang as a boy soprano at Tortosa Cathedral from age 9, where he ...
(Tortosa, 1841 – Barcelona, 1922) was a composer, guitarist and musicologist.
* Jaume Ferran i Clua
''Jaime Ferrán y Clúa'' (Corbera d'Ebre, 1851 – Barcelona 1929) was a Spanish-French bacteriologist and sanitarian , contemporary of Robert Koch, and said by his fellows to have made some of the discoveries attributed to Koch. As early a ...
was a Spanish bacteriologist and sanitarian who lived and worked in Tortosa.
* Agustí Querol Subirats
Agustí Querol i Subirats (or ''Agustín Querol y Subirats'') (May 17, 1860 – December 14, 1909) was a prominent Spanish sculptor, born in Tortosa, Catalonia, Spain.
Life
Born to a poor family, the son of a baker, Querol was educated u ...
(Tortosa, 1860 – Madrid, 1909) was a prominent sculptor.
* Rafael Vidiella
Rafael Vidiella Franch (1890 – 23 September 1982) was a trade unionist and communist politician from Catalonia. He served as a minister in the government of Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).
Early years (1890–1936)
Rafael ...
(Tortosa, 1890 – Barcelona, 1982) was a trade unionist and communist politician.
See also
References
Bibliography
* Antoni Virgili, "Angli cum multis aliis alienigenis: crusade settlers in Tortosa (second half of the twelfth century)," ''Journal of Medieval History'', 35,3 (2009), 297-312.
External links
Official website
Discover Terres de l'Ebre Reserva de la Biosfera
(Official website)
Government data pages
{{Authority control
Municipalities in Baix Ebre
Populated places in Baix Ebre