Gandesa

 The architectural heritage of Gandesa, a town that was a node of communication between Catalonia, Aragon and Valencia still clear examples of periods and styles most representative of the country as a result of its strategic location. The town was settled by the Knights Templar in the late twelfth century and was gaining in importance until, in 1280, became its deputy commander of this Order. In the early fourteenth century became a dependency of the Order of the Hospital. The center of the old Gandesa is the church square. Keep parts framed and highlights the building of the Town Hall, built in the fifteenth century, with colonnades and windows decorated with finely worked capitals. The other notable building in the square is the Archpriest's Church of the Assumption, dating from the seventeenth century, although it is based on an ancient Romanesque church of the XII belonging to the school of Lleida, with Arabic-inspired ornamentation . From this period remains a magnificent facade of five arches, with highly decorated capitals and archivolts. According to tradition, in this same place there was an old mosque. Then, we walk through the streets near the church square, formed by beautiful buildings, some quite remarkable, as the House of Lior, Sunyer House, the Barons of Purroi, that of Ca Inquisitor, etc.. Another highlight is the prison building. It is located in Castle Street, magnificent way that preserves the medieval atmosphere, and in fact was the palace of the knights of the Order of the Hospital of St. Joan. It preserved Gothic elements, such as a portal and two pointed arch windows. It was renovated in the seventeenth century to prepare it as a prison. This use remained until 1841. Already on the edge of Gandesa, one can not forget a magnificent modernist building Cesar Martinell, built in 1919. It is the cellar of the Agricultural Cooperative. Emphasizes the use of the Catalan vault with parabolic arches of brick.   Landmarks Prison Castle Street Ca Inquisitor The house of the Barons of Purroi House Sunyer House Lior The old site Church of the Assumption Counties: Terra Alta Signage: Yes Duration: 3 h Topics: Culture     Criteria of usage of these routes   See restaurants here See hotels here Source: Government of Catalonia. Directorate General of Tourism / Data Update: 24/03/2006 

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