Tortosa

Tortosa
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Tortosa Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 0°31′24″E / 40.81278°N 0.52333°E / 40.81278; 0.52333
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Comarca	Baix Ebre
Government
• Mayor	Ferran Bel Accensi (2015)[1]
Area[2]
• Total	218.5 km2 (84.4 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population (2015)[1]
• Total	33,864
• Density	150/km2 (400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Tortosí, tortosina
Website	tortosa.cat

Ebro river in Tortosa

Tortosa (Catalan: [tuɾˈtozə], locally: [toɾˈtoza]; Spanish: [toɾˈtosa]) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in Catalonia, Spain.

Tortosa is located at 12 metres (39 feet) above sea level, by 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 term.

Before Tortosa, across the river, rise the massive Ports de Tortosa-Beseit mountains. The area around Mont Caro and other high summits are often covered with snow in the winter.

Population centres

• Bítem, 1.139; includes Santa Rosa
• Campredó, 1.168;
• Jesús, 3.755
• Els Reguers, 679
• Tortosa, 27.131
• Vinallop, 363, includes Mianes

The municipality includes a small exclave to the west.

History

Tortosa (from Latin: Dertusa or Dertosa, via Arabic: طرطوشة‎‎‎ Ṭurṭūšah) is probably identical to the ancient Hibera, capital of Ilercavonia. This may be the ancient settlement the remains of which have been found on the hill named Castillo de la Zuda. In Roman times, the town adopted the name Dertosa. After more than 400 years of Muslim rule, the city was conquered by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1148, as part of the Second Crusade. Because of the crusading appeal made by Pope Eugene III and his representative Nicholas Brakespear (the future Pope Hadrian IV), the siege received the aid of crusaders from multiple nationalities (Genovese, Anglo-Normans, Normans, Southern-French, Germans, Flemish and Dutch), who were on their way to the Holy Land. 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.^[3]

Formerly there was a railway line between Tortosa and Alcañiz, opening a communication gate between this region and Aragon.^[4] 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 was never completed before the line was terminated by RENFE in 1973.^[5]

Main sights

• Castle of Sant Joan, or Suda, commanding the city from a 59-metre-high (194-foot) hill. Though the Romans were the first to fortify the place, the current structure dates to Muslim Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III. After the conquest by Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, in 1148, it became a residence of the Montcada and the Knights Templar, and from the 13th century it became a royal mansion.
• The Cathedral, begun in 1347 and consecrated in 1597.
• Bishop Palace
• Convent of Santa Clara, founded in 1283.
• Montagut Palace
• Despuig Palace (14th century)
• Oliver de Boteller Palace (15th century)

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Tortosa is twinned with:

• Avignon, France^[6][7]

Demography

Climate

Due to its irregular precipitation patterns, that sees winter months have less precipitation than September but still a substantial summer drought, Tortosa has a transitional climate between a humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) and a semi-arid climate (BSk), with mediterranean (Csa) influences.

Notable people

• Felip Pedrell (1841–1922), composer and musicologist, was born in Tortosa.

See also

• Bishop of Tortosa
• Disputation of Tortosa
• Battle of Dertosa

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tortosa.

• Official website (Catalan)
• Information - Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Monasteries in Catalonia. Tortosa (Catalan)

	Aldover Alfara de Carles	Tivenys	El Perelló
	Beceite (Aragon) Roquetes		Camarles
		Tortosa
	La Sénia Santa Bàrbara	Masdenverge Amposta	L'Aldea

Municipalities of Baix Ebre
L'Aldea Aldover Alfara de Carles L'Ametlla de Mar L'Ampolla Benifallet Camarles Deltebre Paüls El Perelló Roquetes Tivenys Tortosa Xerta

Municipalities of the province of Tarragona
Aiguamúrcia Albinyana Alcanar Alcover Aldover Alfara de Carles Alforja Alió Almoster Altafulla Amposta Arbolí Arnes Ascó Banyeres del Penedès Barberà de la Conca Batea Bellmunt del Priorat Bellvei Benifallet Benissanet Blancafort Bonastre Bot Botarell Bràfim Cabacés Cabra del Camp Calafell Camarles Cambrils Capafonts Capçanes Caseres Castellvell del Camp Colldejou Conesa Constantí Corbera d'Ebre Cornudella de Montsant Creixell Cunit Deltebre Duesaigües El Catllar El Lloar El Masroig El Milà El Molar El Montmell El Morell El Perelló El Pinell de Brai El Pla de Santa Maria El Pont d'Armentera El Rourell El Vendrell Els Garidells Els Guiamets Els Pallaresos Falset Figuerola del Camp Flix Forès Freginals Gandesa Garcia Ginestar Godall Gratallops Horta de Sant Joan L'Albiol L'Aldea L'Aleixar L'Ametlla de Mar L'Ampolla L'Arboç L'Argentera L'Espluga de Francolí La Bisbal de Falset La Bisbal del Penedès La Canonja La Fatarella La Febró La Figuera La Galera La Masó La Morera de Montsant La Nou de Gaià La Palma d'Ebre La Pobla de Mafumet La Pobla de Massaluca La Pobla de Montornès La Riba La Riera de Gaià La Secuita La Selva del Camp La Sénia La Torre de Fontaubella La Torre de l'Espanyol La Vilella Alta La Vilella Baixa Les Borges del Camp Les Piles Llorac Llorenç del Penedès Margalef Marçà Mas de Barberans Masdenverge Masllorenç Maspujols Miravet Mont-ral Mont-roig del Camp Montblanc Montbrió del Camp Montferri Móra d'Ebre Móra la Nova Nulles Passanant i Belltall Paüls Perafort Pira Poboleda Pontils Porrera Pradell de la Teixeta Prades Prat de Comte Pratdip Puigpelat Querol Rasquera Renau Reus Riba-roja d'Ebre Riudecanyes Riudecols Riudoms Rocafort de Queralt Roda de Berà Rodonyà Roquetes Salomó Salou Sant Carles de la Ràpita Sant Jaume d'Enveja Sant Jaume dels Domenys Santa Bàrbara Santa Coloma de Queralt Santa Oliva Sarral Savallà del Comtat Senan Solivella Tarragona Tivenys Tivissa Torredembarra Torroja del Priorat Tortosa Ulldecona Ulldemolins Vallclara Vallfogona de Riucorb Vallmoll Valls Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant Vespella de Gaià Vila-rodona Vila-seca Vilabella Vilalba dels Arcs Vilallonga del Camp Vilanova d'Escornalbou Vilanova de Prades Vilaplana Vilaverd Vimbodí Vinebre Vinyols i els Arcs Xerta