Twelve Modernism jewels in Costa Daurada

Casa Navas_Reus

ARBOÇ, L'

BELLMUNT DEL PRIORAT

CAMBRILS

ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ, L'

FALSET

MONTFERRI

NULLES

REUS

SARRAL

SELVA DEL CAMP, LA

TARRAGONA

VENDRELL, EL

Did you know that in both Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre there’s proof of over 600 Modernism examples that belong to near 100 municipalities? These 2 numbers speak for themselves about the importance of this cultural, artistic and political movement that stirred up the entire country and has left a historical legacy one can now follow, visit and admire.

If we’re referring to villages and cities, Reus ─which was the second city in Catalonia in the late 19th century─ is the undisputed capital of Modernism in Costa Daurada. The capital of Baix Camp has around 30 catalogued buildings of great beauty, with Casa Navàs and Institut Pere Mata as main examples. In this post you can find the greatest examples of the Modernism tour in Reus, which you can end in the Gaudí Centre.

Parc Samà

But in this post, we’d like you to discover 12 Modernism jewels in Costa Daurada, so you can design your own tour. Near the Modernism epicentre, Reus, start you journey in Cambrils, by visiting the exuberant Parc Samà, built in 1881 by Salvador Samà i Torrens (1861 – 1933), marquess of Marianao. This is a 14ha outdoor botanical garden with over 1.500 species of flora and fauna. By the way, a part from the palace, everything else (gardens, pond, fountains, Neogothic tower, cages, depots, service rooms and others) was built by architect Josep Fontserè i Mestre ─who also built the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona─ very possibly with the help of Antoni Gaudí.

Leaving the seaside and towards the mountains, but still in Baix Camp, stop by yet another Modernism historical building: Mas Passamaner, attributed to Lluís Domènech i Montaner and that today hosts a 5-star hotel with spa. The entire estate has a very distinctive Modernism atmosphere, but it is by staying in one of the suites or the country house that you get to travel back to the 19th century.

Celler Adernats

Some of the most singular buildings of Modernism were the so-called “cellers agrícoles”, also known as “Catedrals del Vi” (Wine Cathedrals), and you can find many examples in Costa Daurada, all of them with an amazing architectural value. Still, let’s focus on the Celler del Sindicat Agrícola of Nulles ─today Adernats─, located in Alt Camp and built by César Martinell; the ones in L’Espluga de Francolí and Sarral ─today, Celler Portell─, both in Conca de Barberà and both built by Pere Domènech, and Celler Cooperatiu of Falset (Etim), the capital of Priorat ─the greatest wine area in Costa Daurada─ also by César Martinell. Still in Priorat, visit Bellmunt and admire the Casa de les Mines ─a building from 1905─ and end your tour in the Museu de les Mines in Bellmunt.

Santuari Montferri

One of the most spectacular Modernism monuments in Costa Daurada can be found in the small village of Montferri, Alt Camp, where vineyards, almond and carob trees surround the impressive Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Montserrat, which looks like a boat from the sky. This building by Josep Maria Jujol ─Gaudí’s disciple─ started in 1925 and was finished in 1999... that’s 73 years later!

Mercat Tarragona

Jujol was one of the most prolific architects of Modernism in Costa Daurada. In the main capital, Tarragona, he left his style in Teatre Metropol, where he yet again designed the main hall to resemble a boat that leads spectators towards the sea of salvation. In Tarragona, you can also contemplate one of the very few documented buildings by Antoni Gaudí still present in this area, the Manifestador in the Santuari de Nostra Senyora del Sagrat Cor. Also, by Pujol, we find the Tarragona Central Market, where you should definitely pop in and discover the best local produce.

Xalet Bonet Salou

Also in the Tarragonès region, but now in Salou, we recommend that you walk along Passeig Jaume I and admire the spectacular Modernism Villas, with examples such as Xalet Bonet ─aka Voramar─, Vila Enriqueta, Xalet Loperena, Xalet Miarnau or Xalet Torremar, home of the Salou Tourism Board, where you can get even more information about these amazing buildings.

Time now to discover our 2 last ─but not least─ examples located in Baix Penedès. In El Vendrell ─its capital city─, visit the Casa Benvingut Socias, a building promoted by Manuel Marquès Bolet and which was once home of local pianist Benvingut Socias i Mercadé (1877 – 1951).

Finally, we’re going to end our tour in L’Arboç to admire yet another Modernism treasure: the Giralda de l’Arboç, which has a very particular inner-history you can learn during your visit and which will allow you to understand its connection with the Andalusian Giralda.

So there you are, Costa Daurada is a privileged area to travel and discover various Modernism buildings. Enjoy your tour!