Solsona is one of the perfect plans from Barcelona. Even though, it has very few tourists. This is a town in the middle of a very sparsely populated region. The villages around are small and rural. Being Solsona a main point of the inner Catalonia recieves many Catalan visitors. Nevertheless, it is barely visited because of its isolated location. To Solsona you need to go on purpose but despite the effort you will take to go it is very worth it.
The medieval town has plenty of corners full of charm, history and traditions. This is the perfect town for strolling since its streets have beautiful buildings, all the heritage is walking distance and the vibe is charming. Solsona is not spoiled and can be one of the very good and surprising plans from Barcena. It is authentic, the services are good value for your money. It is also a Besides the Obvious destination. The visit includes the chance of visiting some nice natural and cultural assets nearby the town.
A bit of History
There are documents from the 9th century about a town called Solsona, with a church dedicated to Santa María. Solsona is one of the perfect plans from Barcelona. Is a city with more than 400 years of history. This is the capital of Solsonés county, located in the province of Lleida, Catalonia.
What to visit in Solsona?
Solsona has many assets to entertain visitors for a whole day of visit and clearly as well to spend a complete weekend. We recommend checking Solsona Experience, the official website of a non-profit cooperative project promoted by a group of young people from Solsona. There, you will get updated information about prices and schedules of the main tourist assets in town.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa María is the main church of the bishopric based in town. Santa Maria is probably the best of the medieval assets that Solsona has to convince tourist to come. It was built in the early Romanesque, with three apses, a cloister and the square bell tower are still preserved. In the 13th century, the locals rebuilt it in the Gothic style. Two doors give access to the cathedral, one of them is neoclassical from 1780 and has a sculpture of Saint Augustine in ecstasy. And the other is baroque from 1769 and has a relief of the Assumption.
The interior is austere and covered by a Gothic ribbed vault, the Romanesque apses serve as a sacristy and the high altar has an impressive canopy surrounded by the choir, all illuminated by the Gothic stained glass windows of the apses and the large Romanesque rose window. It also has a Baroque organ and two chapels. It preserves the Virgen del Claustre, from the 12th century, which is one of the most important sculptures of the Catalan Romanesque.
The Church fountain
On one side of the Solsona cathedral we see the Church fountain, one of the three 15th-century Gothic fountains in the city. The church fountain it will be a nice surprise for the average of the visitors.
Episcopal Palace, Diocesan Museum
Attached to one side of the cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, a building built in the 18th century by Bishop Rafael Lasala. Its main façade is one of the most outstanding examples of the Catalan neoclassical. Inside the Palace is one of the first diocesan museums in Catalonia, and treasures remain from periods from the Neolithic to the Baroque. There is also a curious room dedicated to salt sculptures from the Cardona mines, which operated from 1929 to 1990. In the center of the square there is a beautiful round fountain.
The visitor will be able to get in freely till the counter since nobody will stop you to take a look at the firsts rooms and corridors of the interior.
The Main Square (Plaça Major)
Plaça major is the main square in town and the heart of it. It is the place where the most important festivities and events of the city are held, where the giants of the Fiesta Mayor and the caricatures of the Carnival dance. In addition, on Tuesdays and Fridays the visitors could spot the weekly market. The square is the perfect place to drink a Catalan traditional vermut.
Ice Well
The ice pool was in use from the 17th to the 19th century. It was very useful to store the ice from the Negre River. In summer the heat of the territory is a serious problem to preserve the food in a moment when fridges were not in the picture. The structure has a circular floor plan and it has a large dome. You can visit the Ice Well only on guided tours for 4 euros.
Tower of the Hours
Walking along Carrer del Castell (castle street) you will be able to spot another of the city’s emblematic points: the Tower of the Hours. This watchtower dated before the year 1500, had two bells, one to warn of the fire and the other to mark the hours and which continues to do so today.
Bridge Gate
The city had walls from the 14th to the 18th century. There are remains of the first walls in different parts of the city. The construction of the Portal del Pont (Bridge Gate) began in the mid-18th century and finished in 1795, becoming the main entrance to the city.
The enclosure of Solsona is on the Inventory of the Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. The gate is a Cultural Asset of National Interest.
Saint John’s Square
Plaça de Sant Joan has a picturesque 15th-century fountain in its center. Above it, there is a 18th century chapel dedicated to Saint John. Around it you can spot some important historic houses. The Cabanes house stands out at number 1 of the square, a manor house belonging to one of the most important families in Solsona.
City hall
Solsona Town Hall is located in a small square, built at the beginning of the 16th century.
The Giants’ Room
If you go with children you can visit the Quarto dels Gegants (The Giants’s room), located on Sant Llorenç Street 37. A place where the beasts, giants and big heads that parade in the city are exhibited mainly on the days of the Corpus Christi and other local festivities. They say that Solsona is the city in Catalonia with the most Giants and popular Bestiary per square meter. There is documentary evidence of them from at least 1710. Besides, this heritage is under protection for having elements of national interest worth of preservation because its condition and antiquity.
What to do close to Solsona?
Olius
This is not even 5 kilometers far away from Solsona and you can reach the village by car in just 6 minutes. It has a romanesque church with a crypt, Iberian deposits and an impressive Art Nouveau cemetery included on the list of the European Cemeteries Route.
Santuari del Miracle
The Miracle Sanctuary is 13 kilometers far from Solsona and it will be a nice positive surprise for the traveler. It is in a beautiful natural area and it has a very big church and a good restaurant.
How to get to Solsona from Barcelona?
Car
Solsona is an hour and a half away from Barcelona by car. Definitely, to rent a car is the best opcion and gives the chance to wander around this naturally beautiful territory.
Bus
You can check your opcion from Barcelona, Lleida, Manresa or Andorra with Trainline
Flights
The nearest airports are:
- Lleida-Alguaire: 113 km
- Barcelona-El Prat: 117 km
- Reus: 122 km
- Girona: 151 km
Where to stay in Solsona?
In Solsona there are some nice options of accommodation. Check here the best prices guaranteed with our partner:
Enjoy our discounts in the place
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