Reus is best known as the home town of Gaudí, but apart from this, the city centre is throbbing with remarkable architecture, sublime shopping and oodles of great food, culture and history. Located around 6 miles inland from the golden coast of the Costa Dorada, the beautiful city of Reus is frequently ignored by the hordes of Ryanair passengers who fly into the airport that is still entitled Reus Barcelona. Barcelona is a mere 76 miles up the road from the city of Reus!
Plenty of Irish and British tourists use this airport as a cheap way to get to various destinations, such as Salou, Cambrils and a whole host of others. So many of these people completely and blissfully ignore the striking city centre, which has so much to offer.
Stumble upon the city’s buzz and architecture
The first time I visited the city, I didn’t do any research beforehand, on purpose. I randomly wandered the streets, without any expectations, except to find the picturesque square that I had seen in photos online. I stumbled upon parts of a modernist route, and found myself enthralled by the city centre’s buzz and resplendent architecture.
Gravitate towards the beautiful main squares
There are two main squares in the city centre, both of them extremely beautiful and striking. I highly recommend getting your bearings in this way. Head towards Plaça de Prim and the other main square, Plaça del Mercadal. As you work your way out from either of these squares, pretty much in any direction, you’re spoilt for choice in terms of gorgeous buildings, boutiques and cafes.
Doing vermouth in Reus
Once you have a feel for the character of the city, it’s the perfect time to sample more of its personality, by drinking a local vermouth. Doing vermouth in Reus is a long-lived tradition, which can be traced back to the 19th century.
Originally the city was known for its production of brandy back in the 18th century, which was also drunk happily in bars in Paris. From the 19th century onwards vermouth was being produced, and being greatly appreciated by the people who did Vermouth in Reus. It’s so much a part of the city’s culture, that it would almost be rude not to sample at least one vermouth while spending time there.
Once you’ve been fortified by one or two local vermouths, it’s either time to see some of the most important architecture of Reus, or just continue on to sample some of the local foodie offerings.
Postcard pretty Plaça de Prim
Plaça de Prim was the square that I had seen in photos, before my first visit. I was wondering whether it would be a let down, as the photos were so lovely, but that certainly wasn’t the case.
The square is the quintessential postcard of Reus, with its focal point being the grand statue of General Joan Prim. He was an exceptional, charismatic figure, who could trigger both hatred and admiration. He was quoted to have said: looking for a democratic monarch in.Europe is like trying to find an atheist in heaven”
In 1843 in his hometown of Reus, he was heckled by a crowd. Standing in the same place where you can see his magnificent statue today, he told the crowd that one day a statue would be erected in that place in his honour. He wasn’t wrong.
Ornate grandeur in Plaça del Mercadal
This is the bigger of the two squares, where you’ll find the Reus Town Hall. The square itself, as well as the original Town Hall, can be dated back to the 16th century. This gorgeous square has been the hub of commercial and social activity in the town since those days. The facades of the majority of the buildings, that embrace the periphery of the square, are ornate and beautiful.
As you reach the square, you can’t help but notice that one building stands out as being very different from the rest. This is the Gaudi Centre, which I personally find quite out of place in terms of its design, in this setting.
Gaudi and the route of the four geniuses
The Gaudi centre and the Gaudí route are both excellent experiences for those who wish to understand as much as possible about the work and life of this amazing man. The Gaudi experience that you can enjoy in Reus is part of a special Catalan initiative, called the Route of the Four Geniuses.
The remaining three geniuses and the towns that they are related to are:
Picasso and Horta de Sant Joan
Joan Miro and Mont-roig del Camp
Pablo Casals and El Vendrell
If you have an interest in exploring some, or all of the rest of this route, make sure to contact one of the related tourist office before your trip.
Reus modernist route
There’s an abundance of wonderful examples of modernist architecture in Reus. During my first visit I chose to stumble upon them, which gave me that fun feeling of discovery for the first time. There is, however, a signposted route that takes you for a gentle stroll around the city, and includes what are considered to be the 26 most important examples of modernist architecture.
A sublime shopping experience
Reus has a strong commercial history, and as a visitor today, you can have a super shopping experience in the city centre. It’s not only that there are plenty of gorgeous shops to choose from, but so many of these are located in the city’s historical old quarter. The combination of these pretty, historical streets and tempting shops is sublime.
Diverse foodie offerings
Much like the shopping experience that you can look forward to in the city, the food offerings are also diverse and plentiful. In the historical quarter, and around the town, you can try the Menu del Dia, which is the set menu that Franco brought in originally for the workers.
Depending on the standard of the restaurant and of course the price range, you can enjoy three courses, with some drinks often included, from anywhere between 10-20. If you’re visiting during the weekend, sometimes this price may go up slightly, or some restaurants may not offer a Menu del Dia.
The city of Reus also has a good selection of prestigious restaurants. Don’t forget that Reus is set in an area where olive oil is almost like a religion, as is the local wine production….and of course, its savouring!
Seaside resorts close by
The two seaside resorts that are closest to the town of Reus are Salou and Cambrils. Salou is home to the famous theme park Port Aventura, and is an especially lively place, although it has some wonderful beaches and other charms. Depending on the time of the year and what you’re looking for from your holiday, this can either be a blessing or a curse. Cambrils, on the other hand, is also busy, but more buzzing then overrun. It has a lovely port area, and plenty of good restaurants to choose from.
Last, but certainly not least, is that you should certainly bear in mind that the fabulous city of Tarragona is only around 10 miles away. This also has some fantastic beaches, as well as an amazing amount of heritage, culture and sights…including its Roman town, Tarraco, with the amphitheatre by the sea and much more besides.
Jackie de Burca is Co-owner of Catalonia Valencia.
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