Rodonyà, Alt Camp

About the place:

If you like the agricultural landscape, you’ll enjoy for sure the route between Rodonyà and Montferri. Following the margins of dry stone separating the fields, you’ll arrive to Montferri.  Emerging among the vineyards, you’ll see small hermitage inspired by the mountains of Montserrat. It seems that the town thanks this small modernist jewel to a revelation of the jesuit Daniel Maria Vives, son of Montferri. While it was praying to Montserrat black Vergin it came to him that on this hill of Montferri ther had to be sanctuary dedicated to the Moreneta, to approach the Virgin of Montserrat the people of Tarragona.

The sanctuary has a Gaudinian air, since the architect Josep Maria Jujol collaborated very closely with Gaudí in works like the La Pedrera or the Güell park.

A short route highly recommended in times of harvest (early September) to enjoy the vineyard in full splendor!

Direction tips:

The route begins at Rodonyà. You have to go to the Ángel Guimerà street (near the Equestrian center). At the end of the street you’ll arrive to a green space with a pond. Here you can park your car and start the bike trail. Leave the pond on your left to take, as indicated by the signpost, the asphalt road that takes you among the vineyards to Montferri. On reaching a junction, you continue straight, always following the paved street. At the next intersection (1.2 km) also continue straight. Now you’ll also see some olive and almond trees. At 2.5 km you will find a detour to the left. This path takes you directly to the hermitage of Montferri, although cycling here is not possible. If you continue straight on paved road, you’ll reach the T204 300 m further. You turn left to reach a roundabout. At the left side you’ll find the entrance of the Sanctaury of Montferri. (you’ll have to take about 350 meters of a main road). You must undo the way to return to Rodonyà.

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Timetable:

Visiting hours of the Hermitage of Montferri: Sundays from 11:30 to 13:00. Price 1 €. Children: free. Contact: +34 686 763 239.

Lunch tips:

Although there is no picnic area near the sanctuary of Montferri, there is a wide area under pine trees where you can sit on the floor or on a low stone wall to eat a sandwich in the shade. There are also toilets and a fountain. If you prefer to go to a restaurant, you can eat with all the elegance at the Rocamora Castle. If you prefer a restaurant with animals, swimming pool and lots of area to run, go to the Xaconera in Ardenya.

More info:

Difficulty: Easy
Type: linear route
Distance: approx. 6.2 km (includes roundtrip)
Duration: 60 minutes (without stops, total itinerary two ways)
Accessibility: The route follows a paved road with little slopes.
Recommendations: There is no shade during the route. Take enough water with you, because you will not find any source to Montferri.

Photo: © ExploraTgn.cat