Tortosa

Municipality

Flag

Coat of arms

Tortosa

Location in Catalonia

Coordinates: 40°48′46″N 0°31′24″E / 40.81278°N 0.52333°E

Spain

Government

• Mayor

Ferran Bel Accensi (2015)

Area

• Total

218.5 km² (84.4 sq mi)

Elevation

12 m (39 ft)

Population (2015)

• Total

33,864

• Density

150/km² (400/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Tortosí, tortosina

Website

tortosa.cat

Tortosa (Catalan: [tuɾˈtozə], locally: [toɾˈtoza]; Spanish: [toɾˈtosa]) is the capital of the comarca of Baix Ebre, in Catalonia, Spain.

Tortosa is located at 12 metres (39 feet) above sea level, by the Ebro river, protected on its northern side by the mountains of the Cardó Massif, of which Buinaca, one of the highest peaks, is located within Tortosa's municipal term.

Before Tortosa, across the river, rise the massive Ports de Tortosa-Beseit mountains. The area around Mont Caro and other high summits are often covered with snow in the winter.

The municipality includes a small exclave to the west.

Tortosa (from Latin: Dertusa or Dertosa, via Arabic: طرطوشة‎‎‎ Ṭurṭūšah) is probably identical to the ancient Hibera, capital of Ilercavonia. This may be the ancient settlement the remains of which have been found on the hill named Castillo de la Zuda. In Roman times, the town adopted the name Dertosa. After more than 400 years of Muslim rule, the city was conquered by the Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona in 1148, as part of the Second Crusade. Because of the crusading appeal made by Pope Eugene III and his representative Nicholas Brakespear (the future Pope Hadrian IV), the siege received the aid of crusaders from multiple nationalities (Genovese, Anglo-Normans, Normans, Southern-French, Germans, Flemish and Dutch), who were on their way to the Holy Land. The siege of Tortosa was narrated by the Genovese chronicler and diplomat Caffaro.

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Wikipedia