Riudoms, the village of Gaudí

Riudoms is an agricultural town in the Tarragona, rooted in its ancestral origins. All the historical cultures have left their mark; Riudoms is rich in Iberian, Roman and Visigoth sites.

In the 12th century, Robert de Aguiló gave Riudoms to the knight Arnau de Palomar, and the town passed to the archbishopric of Tarragona.

In the 13th century, the primitive church of Sant Jaume was built. In the 16th century, an adobe wall was built and the Franciscan convent of Sant Joan was constructed.

The Church of Sant Jaume has a very wide central nave and is an impressive height. Work began in 1593 under the direction of the French master builder Joan Mas and it was opened in 1617. At the end of the 19th century, when the vineyards were ruined by phylloxera blight, hazelnut trees began to be cultivated. Currently, Riudoms is a predominantly agricultural town. The construction of the reservoir of Riudecanyes promoted crop irrigation.

A series of local festivals are held, including the Hazelnut Fair. Although its origin dates back to 1599, it was not until 1981 that it became especially dedicated to hazelnuts, as well as other agricultural products, like olive oil.

Festivals and traditions