We never tire of saying that we love the towns of Spain. And the reasons are many and varied. Although we have barely put a stop to summer, the truth is that we are already beginning to long for the cobblestone streets where we can take refuge for a few hours from the asphalt. And in search of nature, culture and art we go to Tarragona, one of the most charming destinations of Terra Alta. It is about Horta de Sant Joanand his name will ring a bell because he is linked to one of our painting geniuses. This small town served as a source of inspiration for the young Picasso, who spent a couple of seasons in this corner of the interior of Tarragona and captured part of its beauty in some of his canvases.
A walk through the historic center
Located in the heart of Ports Natural Park, Horta de Sant Joan has a long history linked to the Iberians, Romans, Muslims and Templars. All these towns, and some others, left their mark on this small Tarragona town that had its greatest splendor between the 14th and 16th centuries. And some of the main monuments of this fortified town date from this period.
One of the best plans in Horta de Sant Joan is to enjoy a relaxing walk through its well-kept historic center, full of steep streets with stone houses, some with attractive arcades. Declared a Historic-Artistic SitePablo Picasso was inspired by him to paint several of his works. On first impression, the first thing that will catch your attention is the medieval appearance of Horta and the perfect state of conservation in which it is located.
Of course, among all the places, the 16th century porticoed square stands out, which will surely be one of the most beautiful in Spain. Within the enormous heritage of Horta, there are two Renaissance buildings that you should not miss: the Town Hall (16th century) which, as happens with other buildings in the town, has attractive arcades, and the Tithe House. Also come to the parish church of Sant Joan Baptistawhich was built in Gothic style during the 13th and 14th centuries. Another visit that we recommend is to the town’s old prison, which still preserves the punishment well and is currently used for temporary exhibitions.
In the footsteps of Picasso
That the painter from Malaga fell in love with Horta could not go unnoticed, neither for us nor for the town. For this reason, the old hospital building was rehabilitated to house the headquarters of the Picasso Centerwhere today you can see about 200 reproductions of the most important works made by the artist during the two periods of time he spent in this small town. Photographs and objects related to the artist are also exhibited.
What to see around Horta de Sant Joan
The Heritage of Horta de Sant Joan does not end in the town. About two kilometers and under the Santa Barbara Mountain (which was also immortalized by Picasso) is the Franciscan Convent of Sant Salvador. We advise you not to overlook this magnificent example of Catalan Templar architecture. It is made up of a series of buildings, built between the 12th and 17th centuries, and located around a Renaissance cloister. Currently only the church and atrium remain standing, but the ruins of the rest of the complex can be seen.
And don’t leave Horta without visiting its oldest neighbor. It is known as Lo Parot and is the oldest olive tree in all of Catalonia. It has a height of eight meters and a trunk perimeter of seven and a half meters. With its 2,000 years of life, it has been cataloged as a monumental tree since 1990. It is located on the outskirts of the town.
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