Altafulla is a small town in the province of Tarragona whose main attraction is that it is far from the hustle and bustle of tourism on the Costa Dorada. Without overcrowded beaches and crowded hotels and with streets full of history, Altafulla becomes the ideal destination for family tourism, for couples or for those looking for a quiet place to rest and disconnect from the routine.
The cultural, sports and leisure offer is complemented by its historical heritage, of which there are many architectural examples. In fact, in 1998, the town was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest for the medieval complex of Vila Closa. And two years later, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site for the Roman villa Els Munts.
Altafulla, with its Mediterranean climate, boasts mild winters, hot summers and warm springs and autumns. So any time of the year is a good time to visit the town and enjoy its beaches or its natural environment.
In addition, the strategic location of Altafulla will allow you to visit other places without having to travel long distances, such as Barcelona, the Roman Tarraco, the beaches of the Costa Dorada, PortAventura, the Ebro Delta or the wineries of Priorat and El Penedès.
What to see in Altafulla
To get to know Altafulla, there is nothing better than walking through its streets and squares to soak up its history. But if you want to delve a little deeper, we suggest you take a guided tour of the Vila Closa, Els Munts or the maritime district. They are organized by the local Tourist Office and reservations are required.
Below we show you the most emblematic places of Altafulla.
We start with the Vila Closa. It is the old medieval walled and fortified nucleus, built around the eleventh century but remodeled during the eighteenth century, so many of its manor houses and squares belong to that time. Of the wall there is only a section that surrounds the castle, two towers and three reformed gates.
The most emblematic building is undoubtedly the Castle, also known as “el Castell dels Montserrat”. It was located on the border between the County of Barcelona and Al-Andalus, an area of frequent disputes, so it was more a defensive fortress than a royal residence. Its good state of preservation is due to the reconstruction that was carried out in the seventeenth century based on plans from the fifteenth century. It still preserves the original courtyard and a Renaissance gallery.
As it is privately owned, you cannot visit its interior, but sometimes the Altafulla City Council uses it for public events. For example, chamber concerts.
Right next door is the Church of Sant Martí, a building with a baroque façade and a neoclassical floor plan in the shape of a cross with three naves. Inside are buried the remains of the Marquises of Tamarit. In addition, you can admire a baroque altarpiece from 1745.
Behind the temple, something that escapes many people, lies the half-buried Piedra del Colsero, a block of stone from Roman times (second century) with an inscription as an epitaph.
On one of the flanks of the church stands the Rectory, also known as the Forum. It is a stone building with a simple facade and totally square. The importance is in its interior as it is completely renovated preserving the Gothic stone arches. This will help you get an idea of what the structure of a medieval house was like and, in addition, you will be able to enjoy different works of art as it is used as an exhibition hall.
The castle, the rectory and the church surround the Plaza de la Iglesia, which stands out for its excellent acoustics. If you visit Altafulla in summer you can see it in person, as it is the place where, especially in the evenings, musical and poetic events such as the Festival of Voices or the Concert Series take place.
In the Vila Closa you will also find La Placeta, the smallest square in the historic center from which you can have a timid view of the sea through one of the gates that gave access to the wall.
Although the most emblematic place of this ancient medieval center is the Plaza del Pou. At one end is the Town Hall, built in the nineteenth century and surrounded by several stately homes. Next to it, you can see the monument erected in honor of the illustrious son of Altafulla, Antoni de Martí i Franquès, a chemist who was considered one of the most advanced scientists of his time.
At the other end of the square is the monument to the human towers, or “castells”. It was built in clay at the end of the 20th century to commemorate the pillar of eight with lining and handles that the Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls got in 1878 in that same square. It is sure to impress you because it is a full-scale work.
To go from the church square to the Plaça del Pou, you will have to walk along one of the most charming streets of Altafulla: the Calle del Forn. Its name comes from the old bread oven (forn, in Catalan). Walking along it you will feel like you have traveled back in time, with its stairs, the details reminiscent of medieval architecture or the gate that was part of the wall.
If you are in Altafulla during its Festival, in early November, you will be lucky to see a feat available to only a few. Every year on the 11th of that month, the town’s castellers form a pillar of four with which they climb the forty-two steps of Carrer del Forn to unload in front of the church of Sant Martí.
Walking on the outskirts of the town you will find the hermitage of Sant Antoni. It was built in 1717 thanks to donations from the fisherman Baltasar Rabassa. But when he ran out of money, the construction was paid for by the rest of the fishermen, who pledged to donate part of their catches to finish the work.
If you go down to the promenade you will not find large buildings and hotels on the beach, but you will be surprised to discover that the town retains its authentic seafaring essence in what has ended up being called the Botigues neighborhood.
This has its origins in the eighteenth century, when small warehouses were built facing the sea that fishermen used to store their gear and where traders stored products destined for the American colonies. But it was at the beginning of the 20th century when these spaces were transformed into homes, summer residences and restaurants, transforming the beachfront into a neighborhood.
Another of the most visited places in Altafulla is the Roman villa of Els Munts. It is a residential complex, from the first century, whose remains will give you a clear idea of how a high Roman leader lived. Many luxurious villas were built around Tarraco, very close to the beach and intended for agriculture and leisure.
Els Munts was one of them. The complex preserves the first floor, two ponds of what was the garden and the warehouse, as well as the water tanks that supplied the villa. This residential area, where Caius Aurelius is said to have lived with his wife Faustina, is part of the archaeological complex of Tarraco and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
In the remains of the rooms you can still contemplate parts of the murals that decorated the walls. And you will surely marvel at the mosaic that covered the floor of the corridors.
Also of great importance are the thermal baths (or private baths) that stand out for being the largest in Catalonia.
Because Els Munts is part of the architectural ensemble of Tarraco, many of the pieces found in this site are preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona. It is only 12 kilometers from Altafulla, in case you decide to pay it a visit.
The natural environment
Altafulla is a municipality framed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Gaià River, which gives it an important ecological value. Precisely the mouth of the river Gaià was declared a Wildlife Nature Reserve in 1995, is part of the Network of Wetlands of Southern Catalonia and was included in the Plan for Areas of Natural Interest in 1992.
If you like nature we encourage you to go into its paths to discover the various habitats where small birds, field mice and rabbits live and nest. And if you are lucky you might even see a fox, a badger or a weasel.
The white pines are the typical trees of the mouth, and squirrels live in them, although you have to be patient to see one.
La Sima Environmental Association organizes guided tours for groups and offers services and activities that will allow you to get the most out of this environment.
But, undoubtedly, one of the attractions of Altafulla are the beaches. The municipality has two: the beach of Altafulla and Canyadell. Both have crystal clear waters and fine golden sand.
The first, with more than a kilometer long, is the most urban and every year receives the Blue Flag that guarantees its quality. It is home to the Maritime Club which, although it offers the possibility to practice different nautical sports, promotes the practice of sailing. In fact, it has been the venue for the Catalan, Spanish and world championships in this modality.
It is not a crowded beach but if you are looking for more tranquility, we recommend that you go to El Canyadell, a small cove of 60 meters long located in the shelter of the rocks and away from the city center.
What to do in Altafulla
The tranquility of this village invites you to stroll through the maritime district and discover its souvenir stores and small stores. But if you are looking for large shopping areas, it is best to go to the upper part of Altafulla. There, next to the Vila Closa, you will find the Eje Comercial Amorós, which has a wide range of services. You can also move to the outskirts, towards Tarragona, and go to the Les Bruixes Leisure Center, where you can take the children to a playground.
If your thing is hiking, Altafulla organizes the Ronda Verde de El Baix Gaià. It is a route that can be done on foot or by bicycle and that crosses about 30 kilometers of rural roads connecting the different populations of the lower part of the river. Starting at the hermitage of Sant Antoni, you will not only walk through the natural environment but you can also visit a group of defensive fortifications from medieval times.
Being a quiet town, Altafulla flees from the excesses of nightlife, so if you are looking for trendy locals and nightclubs, we advise you to visit Tarragona or Torredembarra. But you can have a good time in the dance hall of the town and enjoy good drinks and conversations in one of its bars or pubs.
Gastronomy
Altafulla, like most of the municipalities of Tarragona, is famous for its calçots (spring onions). calçotsgrilled spring onions accompanied by romesco sauce. It is one of the specialties that you can not miss. Nor the xató (a salad based on endive, nuts, tuna, anchovies and cod), the Catalan cream or various traditional seafood recipes.
If you want to enjoy a unique gastronomic experience you can visit the restaurant Bruixes de Burriacwhere Xef Jaume Drudis offers seasonal cuisine prepared with top quality products.
A bit of history
The first records of the town date back to the mid-11th century. It formed part, along with other fortified hills, of the southern boundary of the county of Barcelona. Being located on a promontory, it dominated the surroundings and offered protection to the population. At the same time, the Roman Via Augusta provided good communications with the whole territory.
Until the 15th century it belonged to the counts. But it was from the seventeenth century, when it passed into the hands of the Marquis of Tamarit, when Altafulla lived a period of economic splendor by trading its products with the American colonies. Already in the 18th century, the population increased and was forced to extend towards the sea, overcoming the walls.
During the Civil War, the town was sacked several times and did not recover until well into the 19th century.
Altafulla reached the twentieth century as a consolidated tourist destination that has lasted until today.
How to get there
Altafulla is located very close to the Mediterranean Highway, which connects with the center and south of the peninsula. If you travel by car, take exit 32 of the AP-7.
If you do it by bus, you should know that there are regular lines from Barcelona, Lleida and Zaragoza. From Tarragona the best option is line 9 of the urban bus, with route to the Amphitheater and the walls of Tarraco, or the bus line of El Penedés in the direction Tarragona-Salou-PortAventura.
If you travel by plane and land at Reus airport, you can reach Altafulla in about 20 minutes in one of the buses and minibuses with direct link to the village.
On the other hand, if you land at Barcelona-El Prat airport you can also travel to Altafulla by bus. It will take you about 45 minutes.
Another possibility is to travel by train. At 20 kilometers from Altafulla is the station of the AVE Camp de Tarragona, which connects with Barcelona, Madrid and Seville. From there you only have to take a direct bus. If you prefer the conventional train, Altafulla has a station with trains arriving from Barcelona, Tarragona and Salou.
You can find more information about tourism in Catalonia at Catalonia Tourism.
