Siurana brings together a range of historical themes with walking trails, climbing routes and views of the surrounding mountains. The Iglesia de Santa Maria represents Romanesque architecture, while the Castillo Árabe points to an older military history. Exploring the area lets you combine these buildings with walking trails and experiences in the landscape.

Romanesque church, castle and legend

The Iglesia de Santa Maria is a fully preserved Romanesque building, constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries. Its portal features a figurative tympanum framed by three rounded archivolts. The archivolts rest on columns with decorated capitals. The portal thus brings together figurative ornament, arched forms and finely worked column capitals in a clearly structured architectural detail.

The Castillo Árabe was a military “hisn” and was built around the 9th century as a control centre. Compared with the church, its historical focus dates back several centuries earlier, while the estimated construction date remains approximate. Following an initial phase of restoration, the perimeter of the complex and its defensive towers are clearly visible. The church and castle therefore represent two distinct chapters in the area’s history: Romanesque religious architecture and military castle construction.

A local legend is also associated with a striking rocky site: the Salto de la Reina Mora is a cliff linked to the legend of Abdelazia. A deep horseshoe-shaped imprint can be seen in the rock at the edge of the precipice. Here, a landscape feature and a traditional story come together, though the imprint itself does not tell the legend.

Walking trails and landscapes

The “Recuerdos de princesas y guerreros” hike starts beside the castle ruins. From there, it follows historic access paths to the old route between Cornudella and Siurana.

From Siurana, you can enjoy views of the Sierra de Montsant, Gritella and the Montañas de Prades. The “Els miralls de la muntanya” trail, by contrast, offers views of the Siurana Reservoir, Montsant and this part of the Priorat. If you choose trails based on their landscape, note the difference between the features mentioned here: the mountains around the village, or the reservoir, Montsant and Priorat along the trail.

Climbing, the reservoir and seasonal experiences

There are more than 1,700 climbing routes in Siurana and its surroundings, spread across several sectors. The area thus offers a distinct focus alongside its architecture and walking trails. The figure covers Siurana and the surrounding area, and the routes are distributed across multiple sectors.

To reach the Toll de la Palla swimming spot from the car park at the Castillo, take the Camino de la Trona, marked PR-C7. Only non-motorised boats are permitted on the El pantà de Siurana reservoir. Check the local navigation rules before planning a water-based activity.

A guided sunset visit combines the history and legends of Siurana with a tasting of sweet wine and músic dessert. This seasonal tour is available only in July and August. If it is important for your stay, check the specific dates before looking for hotels in Siurana.

Discover more destinations

Cabra Del Camp, Tivissa, Roda De Barà, L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Els Guiamets, Vallclara, Prades, El Papiolet

For the main travel overview: Tarragona.