Porrera, Priorat

About the place:

If you are looking for an original route, you have to go to Porrera. Between vineyards and olive trees you will find a big treasure at this small hamlet in the Priorat. Cross its old bridge and get lost in the narrow and steep streets of this village in order to find the sundials. You’ll find them in different colors and forms decorating the houses, although  most of them are from the XIX century.  A gymkhana to find the fourteen clocks will entertain young and old  during a while. 

Direction tips:

Park the car at the Vidal i Barraquer avenue between the trees and go towards the Catalunya square. It is the first square you will find when you enter the village. Immediately you will see the river Cortiella and the old bridge. To start the itinerary, cross the old bridge. Once you have crossed the bridge, you have to pass the portico you’ll find on your left. On the facade of the house you will find the first sundial which has a shield. Now return towards the old bridge and just in front of you will find the second clock. This sundial curiously only marks the hours passed midday, because before lunch time the sun does not shine on the façade. From this point on, we recommend you to print the map  we attach. We will only give you some recommendations for the quick location of the sundials.

You will go to Unió street where you will find a big clock on one of the front walls of the houses. To find the fourth one you have to go across the small stream and walk until reaching some stairs from where you will be able to see the sundial. The fifth is difficult to find. Look upwards on your left. It is small and it can be passed unobserved, but if you have a good look, you will find it on a kind of column.  The sixth one is an easy one. To find the seventh clock we have to pass trough the Church square and going through go through it very quickly, but along picturesque streets and you’ll arrive to the castle square.  Since the sundial here is still to be restored, just enjoy the landscape.  It will surprise you! And after the uphill, comes the slope. Approximately halfway of the Peixatera street, you’ll find a very big building. Don’t be surprised if you do not see the sundial immediately. It can only be seen from a strategic point. Get to the Obac street, always looking towards the big building. At some point you’ll see the sundial that also marks the half hours. Number nine and ten are very visible. Number eleven and thirteen give more problems. Just remember a building has four walls. Turn around the buildings and you’ll find them. Number twelve is not complicated either. And finally number fourteen: a fantastic sundial, one of the largest examples in Catalonia. This sundial even has a riddle. 

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Timetable:

It is necessary to avoid the hours of strong insolation of the summer days.

Lunch tips:

If you want to continue enjoying the landscape of the Priorat, go to Poboleda which is about 14 kilometres away. There at the Populetus restaurant you will be able to enjoy of a great catalan lunch.

More info:

Difficulty: easy
Type: semi circular
Duration: aprox. 2 hours including stops
Distance: aprox. 1 km
Accessibility: although you will always be walking along village streets, they’re really steep. This makes it really complicated for wheelchairs and buggies.

Recommendations: even though it is a route within a village, it is recommended to bring good footwear, since the slopes are very steep.

We recommend the route for children from 5 years on, since they can enjoy the contest of finding all the “stickers”.  Since it’s a route in a village, you can stop at any time if the children get tired.  For the small ones, there is a zone with swings in the Rossend Giol street (This is a street near the Catalunya square, where you started the itinerary.)

As a curiosity: Porrera is the village where the singer-songwriter Lluis Llach spent many seasons and where now has his cellar.

Photo: © ExploraTgn.cat