Montferri, Alt Camp

About the place:

If you look for an pleasant route, not too far from the coast and of Tarragona city, you should go to Tarragona’s sanctuary of Montserrat, a route that will take through fields of hazels, olive trees and, mainly, grapevines, until a place with a magical touch.

Only 20 kilometers of the coast, at the outskirts of Montferri a small hermitage inspired by the mountains of Montserrat emerges between the vines. 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.

Direction tips:

The route begins in La Nou de Gaià. You must follow the T202 until Salomó, passing by fields of multi culture and stonen walls. If you are travelling with smaller children, you can stop in Salomó. In the center of the town you will find a playpen and a basketball field. From Salomó you should follow the T204 direction Montferri. You will find the sanctuary at the outskirts of the town. After a visit and a small promenade, you can follow the T204 direction Rodonyà. When you arrive at a crossing you must take the C-51, a little less pleasant part, since we pass through an industrial zone. We leave the C51 direction Masllorenç taking the TP2045. Once in  Masllorenç, where we arrived passing through vines, stone cabins, olive trees and fields, we must follow the TV-2041 until Bonastre. The landscape changes here and the route finishes.  You must continue until Roda de Barà, where you can take to the state highway (N340) or the freeway (AP-7), that takes you in all directions.

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Timetable:

Schedule of visits of the sanctuary: Sundays from 11:30 to 13:30. The guided visits are only for groups of more than 20 people (contact: Maria Mercè, Tel. 686 763 239).

Lunch tips:

You can have lunch at the restaurant La Bota, at Roda de Barà which has a nice playpen or at the Barko Basko in Coma-ruga, a restaurant in boat form.

More info:

Difficulty: although it does an easy route, it is recommended to do with children who already have a certain interest for the landscape and cultural tourism.
Types: semicircular route (approx 38km)
Duration: approx 50 min (without stops)
Accessibility: by asphalted highways (with some curves). It is not possible to arrive to the main door of the santuary by car; athough the parking is really close. For small car and wheelchairs it is a little more complicated, since there is a good hill until the main entrance.

Photo: © ExploraTgn.cat