Ajuntament de Valls introduced the latest tourist experience that will allow visitors to admire incredible views of sunsets over the city and the entire Camp de Tarragona from the Sant Joan church’s bell tower, which at 74 metres, it is the tallest in Catalonia. This guided tour adds a tasting of local produce and a glass of wine to an already incredible spectacle due at sunset. This activity has the support of local food stores and wineries of DO Tarragona.
The new “Sunsets at the tower bell” experience is due once a month, after the first event held on the 19th of October, due to the first weekend of celebrations for the Fira de Santa Úrsula of Valls, and just the day before this incredible monument turned 127 years old. The tower bell is therefore opened to public and tourists after the refurbishment works that finished on September.
The tour “Sunsets at the tower bell” starts at ground floor, by the monument, at the bell door, from which users start a 1-hour walk, upstairs, that will allow them to know more about its history and details of the bell tower, before and after it was first unveiled in 1897. Users will arrive at the top just as the sun starts to set behind the mountains, at the east, the perfect moment to enjoy a little tasting of local produce and a glass of wine by the wineries of DO Tarragona.
The actual winery representatives are the ones in charge of pouring the wine and telling users more about its characteristics, as well as what activities these wineries offer. At the moment, wineries such as Estol Verd, Mas Bella, Vives Ambròs, Vinícola de Nulles, Vinya Janine, Cellers Blanch, Padró, Magrinyà Calaf or Castell d’Or – Cooperativa de Vila-rodona have joined the project. At just 6€, users can book the experience by getting in touch with the local Tourist Office (+34 977 612 530 or turisme@valls.cat). Besides, visitors can purchase an available pack that includes, added to the actual tour, a ticket for Món Casteller – Human Towers Museum of Catalonia.
Tours every Sunday.
This sunset experience is not the only new activity after the bell tower’s comeback. Since last October, Turisme Valls offers users the opportunity to visit the monument with no prior reservation. Those interested can simply go to Plaça dels Escolans, right by the church, for the tour. These are tours users will enjoy with a guide and that take around 30 minutes. Tours are available from 10.30h to 12h with no reservation, at just 3€.
Tours on Sundays, as well as the guided sunset tour on Saturdays, are just a first step designed to promote the bell tour as a tourist attraction, since this was ─together with the actual church and its surroundings─ declared “Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional (BCIN) by the Catalan Government. Thus, Ajuntament de Valls is working on special signs on various points of the tour inside the bell tower that will include historical photos and information.
A great icon and a watchtower of Camp de Tarragona.
The Bell Tower of Valls was opened on the 20th of October, 1897, during the Fira de Santa Úrsula celebrations, after 2 years, 8 months and 18 days after the cornerstone was placed due to the Candela festivity, on the 2nd of February, 1895. The monument, which become an icon due to its architectural uniqueness and sheer height, was designed by Francesc P. Villar i Carmona, which wanted a neogothic tower that would follow the lines of the church, which was built by Joan Oller Sans. The bell tower, which become even taller than was originally planned in order to beat the Prioral de Sant Pere, in Reus, is the tallest one in Catalonia, the most iconic image of the town and a great watchtower of Camp de Tarragona.