Esplugues de Llobregat: Tiles, History and Art

Can Tinturé is Spain’s first monographic tile museum. The exhibition displays tile examples from the 14th to the 19th century. It traces the chronological and aesthetic development of patterned tiles from the Middle Ages to the threshold of industrialisation. Can Tinturé is located in a historic tower in the historic centre of Esplugues. The tower was built in 1898 by the architect Claudi Duran i Ventosa.

Culture

La Rajoleta has six Arab-style kilns. The facilities include two large underground kilns and two bottle kilns. There is also a kiln for lustreware ceramics. The remains of settling basins and the mill room can be seen on the site. Other visible remains include the clay corner, the foundations and the chimney of the steam engine. Thus, in addition to the kilns, various components of the ceramics facility have also been preserved.

The Monestir de Montsió includes a Gothic cloister dating from the 14th century. The Monestir includes a monastery church and the modernist house Can Casanovas. Can Casanovas was designed by Antoni Maria Gallissà. Espai Corberó is a large-scale work of art by the sculptor Xavier Corberó Olivella. Guided tours present Xavier Corberó’s creative world of arches and windows, as well as his monumental sculptures. They convey the artist’s career. The cultural programme therefore brings historic architecture, ceramics and modern sculpture together, with different forms of interpretation.

History

La mà d’Esplugues is a historic walking route through the centre of Esplugues. It comprises 16 notable stops. The route can be completed independently using a smartphone. It can also be taken as a guided route. One city route explores the effects of the Spanish Civil War on the city. The period covered runs from 1936 to 1939. It is based on real eyewitness accounts and other sources. The route La memòria de la ciutat includes a visit inside the Monestir de Montsió. The historic offerings therefore combine a route with stops, a city history confined to a specific period and the interior of the Monestir.

The Festa Major de Santa Magdalena is nicknamed Festa Petita. It includes local dances, offerings, an iron procession, a Casteller festival and a walking human tower.

Nature

The Parc dels Torrents covers 16 hectares. The park contains native vegetation. Stairs, ramps and footbridges make it easier to move through the park. The park therefore combines the aforementioned natural areas with various built elements to facilitate movement through the grounds.

EspluLAB offers activities for everyone interested. Its programme includes workshops and talks. The museums of Esplugues are served by Trambaix lines T1, T2 and T3 at the Pont d’Esplugues stop. La Rajoleta can be visited as part of a guided tour on the second Sunday of the month at 10:30 a.m. and 12 noon, and on the third Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Other destinations include: Torrelles De Llobregat, Corbera De Llobregat, Sant Climent De Llobregat, Cornellà De Llobregat, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Boi De Llobregat.

For the higher-level travel overview: Baix Llobregat.