Spotlight

Spotlight is a monthly feature that focuses on a part of Catalunya or an aspect of life here.

In the Spotlight......Reus

If traffic figures for its airport and visitor numbers to Reus were compared you would think the huge difference meant the city couldn't be worth visiting. Surely all those people being transferred to the resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Daurada (Dorada) then back again to catch their flight couldn't be wrong? Well, as is frequently the case, they are. Reus is well worth a stop both as a day trip or as a base to explore the surrounding region.

The 18th Century was the golden era for Reus and when the city saw major growth both in terms of population and its wealth, manly due to the liquor trading, seeing it become the second most important city in Catalunya (Catalonia) after Barcelona. This wealth is still evident today with the city's clean streets, well maintained buildings and abundance of boutique shops.

Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus in 1852 and he lived in the city for 16 years before moving to Barcelona and finding fame and fortune. While Reus wasn't lucky enough to have any buildings designed by Gaudí there is some beautiful architecture including several buildings by Gaudí's Modernista (the Catalan version of the wider Art Nouveau movement) contemporary, Luís Domènech i Montaner, including one of his largest works the Pere Mata psychiatric institute.

Despite the lack of his work Reus is however proud of being Gaudí's birthplace and had the statue Gaudí nen (Gaudí the child) commissioned in his honour in 2002 to commemorate the 150 year anniversary of his birth and a museum dedicated to him, La Caspa Gaudí, will open in the centre of the city in 2007.

Reus is a compact city with most of its attractions focussed around the centre with the exception of the Pere Mata psychiatric institute which is a couple of kilometres to the west. However with some excellent restaurants, hotels and guest houses and being located just 8 km from the beaches of the Costa Duarada and the city of Tarragona and only an hour or so on the train to Barcelona it is also an excellent base for a longer stay.

Highlights

The main square, Mercadal, is the location of several buildings of interest including the Ajuntament (Town Hall) and the newly built museum in honour of Gaudí, La Caspa Gaudí. Immediately around Plaça Mercadal are several examples of modernista architecture including another beautiful example of Luís Domènech i Montaner's work. There is also the Prioral de Sant Pere, which though not classed as a cathedral is nevertheless impressive, and numerous narrow side streets with some excellent shopping.

There is a signposted modernista trail which takes you past the façades of all the most important buildings of this era though there is also a tour organised by the local tourist office which includes a visit to part of the interior of the Pere Mata institute and the garden of Casa Rull. Tours take place twice daily from Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning from July to September and from once a week on Saturday morning from October to June with advance booking required.

 

Major festivals

Carnival – February

The whole town gets involved with Carnival with thousands of people organising into groups, each with its own float, and everything from tomato and confetti fights to outdoor eating and drinking and huge firework displays. It's no wonder it lasts for ten days.

Trapezi – May

Catalan circus acts fill the streets and theatres for four days with sixty companies, over 120 performances and a spectacular opening show in Plaça Mercadal.

Sant Pere, Festa Major de Reus - June

This is the big one in honour of the city's patron saint and takes place over 2 weeks. Music, fireworks, human towers , parading giants and street entertainment are all part of the mix.

Festes de Misericòrdia – September

Not content with one Festa Major, Reus has a second slightly shorter festival with parades, dancing, music and the Correfoc, the 'Devils' letting off firecrackers in the streets.