Reus is a small city in Catalonia, with many attractions, sprawling on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and is part of the province of Tarragona. It is world-famous for being the birthplace of the great Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi.
Between Tarragona and Reus is the airport, which is well known to our tourists who love Catalonia and all of Spain as one of the best places for recreation and entertainment, and arriving here from Russia on charter flights.
Top 10 attractions in Reus
Here we offer you a description of the best sights in Reus in Spain and recommend you to visit this fabulous place more often. So, what can be seen in Reus?
This mansion in Reus is one of the most exquisite masterpieces built in the Art Nouveau style, at least in Spain. Casa Navas, a house standing in the center of the city, is characterized by filigree, masterful interior and exterior finishes.
Such a unique beauty was built at the very beginning of the last century, and today is a museum, where you can go on a tour by appointment. Inside, viewers will find fabulous ceramics, delightful stained glass and antique mosaics.
The whole mansion seems to be made for the aesthete, not to offend, but only to please his taste cultivated over the years. At one time it was ordered by a rich businessman from Reus, who paid a lot of money for Casa Navas.
City Hall
This building was built in the 16th century, after which it was repeatedly rebuilt and restored. As a result, all the fashionable architectural styles from the Late Middle Ages to the New Age passed through it.
Reus City Hall is easily recognized by the tower, which has stood to the left of the facade for centuries. The city hall was originally built on the square where the fish market used to be, which was later removed. It was rebuilt the most in the 17th and 18th centuries.
And in the 1920s, the building underwent a major restoration. The best Spanish architects of the time worked on its appearance. After that, City Hall got its own neoclassical style, inherent in it today.
Giant Indian
This monument was erected in the 1990s at a local celebration of the Giants. During this festival, held in a Spanish city, they make giants of papier-mache, paint their faces and dress them in bright clothes.
The Indian is the tallest in Reus (over 3.5 meters), so it was chosen as the symbol of the Giant’s Day and the monument to the Giants in the city. The monument bears the inscription: “Reus is the City of Giants.
Today, the Giant Indian is an obligatory participant in all carnivals, festivities and celebrations in Reus. He parades through the city streets with the townspeople, performing his dances. The Giant Indian represents America at the festivities.
La Caixa Bank
The building of this bank was built in the first third of the 20th century, commissioned by a local businessman. It has a monumental appearance, columns and three domes. The architectural style of the bank building – neoclassicism. It has the scale of ancient Rome.
The building is divided into a central, facade and two domed sidewalls. At first the first floor housed various offices and offices downstairs, while the upper floors were rented out as living quarters. And then the bank bought the whole building.
The central part of the building looks the most majestic, royal. There is a colonnade ending at the top with a large dome. Each column has bas-reliefs with texts about the value of human virtues.
Gaudi Center
You can see this center on your own in Reus. It opened only ten years ago, and originally it was an ordinary gallery showing the work of Antoni Gaudi. Then modern interactive technologies were added to the center.
The first floor of the Gaudi Center houses a collection of historical exhibits. Visitors can view Gaudi’s clothes and other personal belongings. Gaudi’s correspondence with his friends and colleagues, etc., is of great interest.
On the second floor you can see what mysteries the master put into his creations, understand the mysteries of his buildings, examine many different layouts. On the third floor are scaled-down copies of Gaudi’s designs and a cinema with 3D technology.
The Church of St. John the Baptist. Peter
It is one of the most beautiful churches in Reus, built here during the Middle Ages in the late Gothic style and standing in the center of the city. It was in this church that Antoni Gaudi’s newborn son was baptized.
That is why the church is always full of admirers of the works of the great master and just tourists from all over the world. The site of this temple was previously occupied by an older church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The Church of St. John the Baptist. Peter was erected in the 16th century. It is decorated with magnificent stained glass windows. But her altar was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. There is a bell tower, which offers beautiful views of the sea.
The route of modernism
In Reus, there are entire neighborhoods of houses built in the Art Nouveau style. Tourists are always happy to take a ride through the ancient streets and view these architectural masterpieces. Many of them were built according to the designs of architect Pere Caselles.
During the tour you can see the exquisite balconies, floral ornaments, enjoy the subtlety of architectural forms. Not for nothing is it the birthplace of Gaudi himself. But the master himself has not built a single project in his city.
There are 24 buildings to see on the Modernist Route of Reus. These include the Casa Navas mansion described above. You will surely understand, feel and enjoy true Catalan architectural modernity.
Market square
This square is usually a hangout for tourists and locals, it is one of the main cultural attractions of Reus. And on holidays, everyone in town flocks here. There’s also a great restaurant.
There was a fish market on this square many years ago, but now it is open only once a year – on St. John’s Day. Peter. There are many architectural and historical monuments, this is the center of the historic old town of Reus.
Here are the city’s best attractions: the Gaudi Center, the City Hall, the Casa Navas and Casa Piñol mansions, the latter designed by the unique local architect Pere Caselles, and much more.
Cal-Masso Center for the Arts
Interestingly, this center is located in a former alcoholic beverage factory in a small one-story house in the center of Reus. The building was built in the early 20th century and does not look too presentable, but a visit is highly recommended.
Cal Masso has a huge collection of avant-garde artists from all over Spain. Everything here is real, there are no fakes and imitators of other people’s work. In fact, this center is more suited to avant-garde specialists.
Be sure to request a program for the season at the Center and attend local events: You will be invited to learn about current trends in the arts, music concerts, theater, dance, etc.
Tower of the Nuns
This stone Tower is located on the outskirts of Reus. It was built in the Middle Ages to defend the city. A total of three of these towers were erected, but two were destroyed over time. In fact, it is a powerful fortification.
The tower was built in the second half of the 14th century, and is named after the monastery that stood next to it. Which no longer exists. The tower has an octagonal shape and is almost 20 meters high. It has loopholes for observing the enemy
