Alcover: Culture, History and Trails

In Alcover’s historic centre, the Museu d'Alcover is located at the foot of the Muntanyes de Prades, between Tarragona, Reus and Valls, in the historic Ca Batistó building. The exhibition “Ca Batistó, modernitat burgesa” uses its representative rooms to explore bourgeois thinking and the transition to a new society.

Culture

The Convent de Santa Anna is classified as a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional, meaning a protected cultural asset of national interest. Its foundations date back to the 16th century; in 1582, the building became a monastery. The Font Vella, Alcover’s oldest fountain with medieval origins, and the Font de la Plaça Nova, built in 1894, are also part of the town’s history. At Plaça del Portal 2 stands Ca Lluís Domingo, a work by the architect Cèsar Martinell i Brunet featuring functional architecture and modernist elements. The building is privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside.

The Església Nova, the church of Nostra Senyora de l’Assumpció, was built between 1578 and 1630. The Església Vella, also known as Església de la Sang, was declared a historic-artistic monument in 1931 and is a Romanesque church from the late 12th century. The Església de Sant Miquel is considered Alcover’s first church; it is certain that it already existed in 1154 and became a parish church in 1166. The Baroque sanctuary of Mare de Déu del Remei was built in the second half of the 18th century.

At the Museu d'Alcover, the exhibition “Triàsic, explosió de vida” interprets fossil remains from the site and conveys what life and the landscape of the Muntanyes de Prades were like when they were still shaped by a prehistoric sea. The “Triàsic en família” activity is available year-round by prior reservation.

Landscape and Trails

The Vall del Glorieta is considered a cultural and natural landscape in the surroundings of the Muntanyes de Prades. In this valley, MiMo is housed in a restored former drying building belonging to a paper mill. The Pont dels Moros, also known as Pont del Molinet, is an old single-arch monument spanning the Glorieta River.

The Camí del Rourell, also known as Camí dels Quints, is a signposted nature trail approximately 4 kilometres long, designed as a circular route with a low level of difficulty. The Ruta del Glorieta is classified as historical-cultural local heritage and connects mills, irrigation channels, springs and water intakes. Routes of varying difficulty are available for this trail. The route from Alcover to Mont-ral begins at the Mas de Forès municipal estate in Alcover. Mas de Forès has leisure facilities such as a supervised paid car park and picnic tables.

The water from the Font del Lleó was used to fill the washhouse or for irrigation. The differing information on length, difficulty and season provides objective points of comparison for planning a day trip.

Events and Activities

Every year on 26 December, the children of Alcover gather at Plaça Nova to celebrate the Tió més llarg del món. The Fira de Bandolers takes place on the second weekend of October and was established in 2002 to revive Alcover’s traditional Fira del Remei. Alcover’s Festa Major takes place on the third weekend of October and includes numerous events showcasing popular and traditional culture, as well as further performances and activities.

The Viacrucis al Calvari takes place on Good Friday at 8 a.m. and leads from the church of Nostra Senyora de l’Assumpció to the Capelleta hill. The Gimcana bandolera can be undertaken at any time of year.

Further destinations: Cambrils, Caseres, El Montmell, Salomó, Vilanova De Prades, Masboquera, Sant Jaume Dels Domenys, Vandellòs

To the main travel overview: Tarragona.