THE ARCHITECTURE OF DRY STONE OR HOW TO BUILD WITHOUT CEMENT AT THE COSTA DAURADA (GOLDEN COAST)

Ruta de la Capona

PLA DE SANTA MARIA, EL

VALLS

Dry stone constructions are rural cabins made especially during the great expansion of the vineyard cultivation on the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast) between the 17^th and 19^th centuries. They were built with discretion for farmers and pastors who on one hand wanted to depopulate the fields of stones to be able to cultivate or let their cattle graze, and on the other to have shelter and a store for useful tools for their work. Its great peculiarity is that they were made without using any cement linking the stones. They still resist standing!

Etiquetes:

Costa Daurada, Barraques de pedra seca

HOUSES HOSTING KEEP BEEHIVES

In the area of Les Planes, on a plateau on the banks of the Gaià river, between Alió, Vila-Rodona, Aiguamúrcia, Pont d'Armentera and Pla de Santa Maria there is an interesting amount of dry stone constructions that are miraculously maintained to this day. The Ruta de la Capona or Barracks Route, entirely inside the term of Pla de Santa Maria, is a good option for walks. In a journey of about two kilometers, you will discover different types of barracks. There are circular plants, others with a large cover circular barracks, other with a large façacde and there are even some hosting today beehives. It is an even tour, also recommendable for children.

The access to the Barracks Route, is the C-37 road, 2,5 km away of Pla de Santa Maria in the direction of Pont de l'Armentera. It is well signposted to the side of the road and you will find a parking lot with tables in case you want to snack with the children.

THE LARGE ‘CALÇOTADA’ FEAST IN VALLS

Choose the finest onion, peel it with two fingers, twist it into the Romesco sauce, lift it above the head, and ... eat it! Can you imagine a calçotada with thousands of people doing this at the same time? This and much more is the Great Calçotada Feast in Valls, surely one of the great festivals that are made in Catalonia. It is celebrated the last Sunday in January and allows the capital of the Alt Camp to kick off the calçot season. There are competitions of calçots growers and eaters of calçots, elaboration of Romesco sauce… Parades, castellers (human towres) and music make this event not only a gastronomic show but also a cultural spectacle.

According to tradition, calçotada with magic must have the Sierra de Miramar as a curtain, as scenario a farmhouse of Valls and as its stalls, the city, the cradle of this dish that has crossed borders. If you cannot be present at the big party, you have time well into the month of April to visit one of the dozens of restaurants that offer calçots (grilled onions) from Alt Camp and try them wherever you are.

VALLS, THE LAND OF 'CALÇOTS'

If you have have raised your head to swallow the calçots, perhaps you have found a beautiful bell tower cutting the sky. The church of Sant Joan de Valls is the highest in Catalonia - measuring 74 meters - and is one of the reference stops of the "Valls, terra de calçots" route organized by the tourist office. The itinerary passes by the most emblematic corners of the capital city of the Alt Camp, such as Patio Square or the Trigo Square, and ends with a visit to the Agricultural Cooperative, where the history of calçot and its cultivation is shown and thye origin of the calçotada unveiled.

THE ANTI-AIR RAIDS SHELTER OF THE CAPITAL TOWN OF THE ALT CAMP

Do you want to digest calçots? Do you fancy a visit with much history to the depths of Valls? Under Blat square a few years ago the largest anti-air raid shelter in the Tarragona demarcation has been restored and recovered as an itinerary. It had to serve during the Civil War so that the citizens of Valls protected themselves from the ravages of the bombs of the fascist aviation. But fortunately the eventual attack never arrived and the construction was not released.

The shelter has a depth of 8 meters, with corridors of 1.50 m in width and 1.80 m in height. It is accessed from the Ca Segarra Memory Centre, where you can go deeper into the history of Valls. The access to the refuge is guided tour. Once inside, close your eyes and imagine the Italian aviation unloading bombs a few meters above your head ... What a real nightmare had to live thousands of Catalans just 80 years ago!