Amposta

Amposta, situated on the right bank of the river Ebro, is the capital of the comarca (county) of El Montsià, the southernmost part of Catalonia. It covers an area of 136 square kilometres and has a population of 17,000 people.
It is extremely well-connected: the A-7 motorway, the N-340 main road and the C-230 Eix de l'Ebre (Ebro axis) main road place it in a central position between the autonomous regions of Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon, and link it to the European transport network. It can be reached from the A-7 motorway, exit 41 of which lies right next to the town. It also has an extensive network of secondary roads connecting it to all the towns and villages around it.

Amposta enjoys a Mediterranean climate, although this maritime influence is slightly moderated by the presence of the hills of El Montsià. Average annual temperatures are over 16ºC throughout the plain. Winters are mild, and frost is rare. Average temperatures for January are over 7ºC. Summers are warm, with high temperatures made milder by the sea breeze, which creates a rather humid atmosphere. Average temperatures for July are above 24ºC on the plain.

THE MUSEUM

The Montsià museum is to be found in Amposta’s municipal park, housed in an Art Nouveau building by the architect Ramon Salas.
The museum explains three aspects of El Montsià, all of which are essential in getting to know it:

Nature

It introduces visitors to the area’s flora and fauna and its ecological setting, from Els Ports with their considerable surviving natural population down to the Ebro Delta, one of the most important wetland areas in the Mediterranean region.

Rice

Devoted to the tools and jobs associated with rice-growing, this exhibition reflects the development of this type of farming over the last hundred years. It also includes a reconstruction of a barraca, a traditional farmer’s house from the time when the Delta was being settled for agricultural purposes.

Archaeology

Rooms exhibiting the archaeological wealth arising from settlement in the Montsià area during the prehistoric and classical periods, and portraying the development of different cultural facets and systems of burial throughout the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Iberian and Roman periods.

FESTIVALS

The Festes Majors (town festivals) of Amposta take place in August, this year from 12th to 21st. They feature a wide range of activities which liven up the town throughout the day, including races, competitions, meals, street performances by the municipal bands and, in particular, the bulls, both in the square and in the midday encierros in the town. In the evening there are concerts for both the older and younger generations. Along with the events organised separately by local businesses, all these activities create a lively atmosphere in which there is always something going on throughout these days.

THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE

El pont penjant, the suspension bridge, was opened in 1921 by the Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera. It was designed by Eugeni Rivera, the civil engineer who introduced reinforced concrete into Spain.
The bridge consists of two columns which are 24 metres high, and has a total length of 134 metres. Before it was built, people crossed from one side of the river to the other using a kind of barge.
The bridge is characterised by its two stone pillars in the form of triumphal arches, one on each side of the river, and by its metal structure held up by cables.
Over the years it has become the main symbol of the town.

TORRE DE LA CARROVA

The tower known as La Torre de la Carrova was built in the 14th century, and its name comes from the Arabic place name alcharrova. It is situated 4 kilometres from Amposta along the Eix de l’Ebre main road, and is the most representative example of the fortifications which guarded navigation on the river Ebro. It is built on a square plan and has Gothic windows. The outside walls are built from limestone. Opposite it, on the other side of the river, stands a similar tower. Legend tells that a great chain stretched between the two towers, restricting the passage of vessels. From 15th century to 19th century it belonged to the convent of Benifassà. In 1837 it was acquired by the marquis of Santamaria, and today it belongs to Amposta town council, which purchased it in 1991. The interior, exterior and the gardens surrounding it have been restored.

Amposta town council