Tortosa

For the city in Syria called Tortosa during the crusades, see Tartous.

Tortosa
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Tortosa Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 0°31′24″E / 40.81278°N 0.52333°E / 40.81278; 0.52333Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 0°31′24″E / 40.81278°N 0.52333°E / 40.81278; 0.52333
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Comarca	Baix Ebre
Government
– Mayor	Ferran Bel i Accensi
Area
– Total	218.45 km2 (84.3 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population (2010)
– Total	34,473
– Density	157.8/km2 (408.7/sq mi)
Demonym	Tortosí, tortosina
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Ebre river in Tortosa

Tortosa (Catalan pronunciation: [turˈtozə], locally: [toɾˈtoza]. Latin: Dertusa or Dertosa, Arabic: طرطوشة‎ Ṭurṭūšah) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain.

Tortosa is located at 12 metres above sea level, by the Ebre river, protected on its northern side by the mountains of the Cardó Massif, of which Buinaca, one of the highest peaks, is located within Tortosa's municipal term.

Before Tortosa, across the river, rise the massive Ports de Tortosa-Beseit mountains. The area around Mont Caro and other high summits are ofen covered with snow in the winter.

Population centers

• Bítem, 1.139; includes Santa Rosa
• Campredó, 1.168; includes La Font d'en Quinto
• Jesús, 3.755
• Els Reguers, 679
• Tortosa, 27.131
• Vinallop, 363, includes Mianes

History

Tortosa is probably identical to the ancient Hibera, capital of Ilercavonia. This may be the ancient settlement the remains of which have been found on the hill named Castillo de la Zuda. In Roman times, the town adopted the name Dertosa. After more than 400 hundred years of Muslim rule, the city was conquered by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1148, as part of the Second Crusade. Because of the crusading appeal made by Pope Eugene III and his representative Nicholas Brakespear (the future Pope Hadrian IV), the siege received the aid of crusaders from multiple nationalities (Genovese, Anglo-Normans, Normans, Southern-French, Germans, Flemish and Dutch), who were on their way to the Holy Land. The siege of Tortosa was narrated by the Genovese chronicler and diplomat Caffaro.

After its conquest, the city and its territory were divided among the victors, with multiple lands being granted to foreign crusaders and to the military and religious orders.^[1]

Formerly there was a railway line between Tortosa and Alcañiz, opening a communication gate between this region and Aragon.^[2] Construction work began in 1891, but it was haphazard and the first trains between Alcañiz and Tortosa began only in 1942. The last stretch between Tortosa and Sant Carles de la Ràpita was never completed before the line was terminated by RENFE in 1973.^[3]

Main sights

• Castle of San Juan, or Zuda, commanding the city from a 59 m-high hill. Though the Roman were the first to fortify the place, the current structure date to Muslim caliph Abd ar-Rahman III. After the conquest by Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, in 1148, it became a residence of the Montcada and the Knights Templar, and from the 13th century it became a royal mansion.
• The Cathedral, begun in 1347 and consecrated in 1597.
• Bishop Palace
• Convent of Santa Clara, founded in 1283.
• Lonja (market), the oldest in Aragon.
• Montagut Palace
• Despuig Palace (14th century)
• Oliver de Boteller Palace (15th century)

Demography

Historical population of Tortosa

1991	1996	2001	2004
29,452	30,088	28,933	31,979

See also

• Bishop of Tortosa
• Disputation of Tortosa
• Battle of Dertosa

References

1. ^ Lucas Villegas-Aristizabal, "Anglo-Norman involvement in the conquest of Tortosa and Settlement of Tortosa, 1148-1180", Crusades 8 (2009), pp. 63-129.
2. ^ Historia de la línea de La Puebla de Híjar-Alcañiz-Tortosa-Sant Carles de la Ràpita
3. ^ El Punt - El cruel divorci entre Tortosa i el tren

External links

• Official website (Catalan)
• Tourism Official website(English)
• Video on Tortosa
• Information - Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Monasteries in Catalonia. Tortosa (Catalan)
• The Tortosa Forum