In the second fortnight of July, Tortosa is transformed for a trip back in time to display the splendour of a 16th century town.

This original fiesta has been celebrated in this town in the province of Tarragona since 1996. It recreates one of the most interesting periods of the town’s history: the Renaissance. Over these days, the streets and façades are decorated with tapestries, rugs, flaming torches and banners, while the Tortosa locals dress in exuberant period costumes, showing off the rosettes that represent the colours of their respective neighbourhoods. More than 3,000 people in total take an active role to recreate the atmosphere of a 16th century town.

The whole town is transformed with a unique atmosphere: shopkeepers in costume display their wares on open-air stalls, period recipes are prepared in restaurants and performances by artists and actors in the streets encourage everyone to get into the fiesta. One of the main events is the so-called “Parade of Arms in Honour of the Flags of the Town and the Veguería Region”, which runs through the historic centre. The programme of festivities also includes a host of activities and spectacles showing the trades, traditions and day-to-day customs of a Renaissance town.