Albarca is a small village situated in the east side of the Serra del Montsant. It is at a height of 815 metres, and added to Cornudella de Montsant (in the Priorat county). It was an independent municipality until half of the 19th.century. Historically it was a part of the Prades Earldom.

It is a small village, placed on not very rich lands, which are only used for unirrigated crops and grazing areas. In the beginning of this century there were over one hundred inhabitants. After the Civil War (1936-1939), the village experienced a fast decrease in the number of inhabitants.

In Summer the elder inhabitants who use to spend the Winter months with their families in the cities, go back to the village together with the families. There are some more visitors from Tarragona and Reus who live in Albarca during the Summer months. In Easter and in other bank holidays, there are lots of visitors and excursionists. The month in which the total population is bigger is August. Permanently, there are over twenty people.

The economic activities in Albarca are a cattle-breeding exploitation, and the mountain refuge, which is open all the weekends. The guides of Montsant Serra de Prades offer a wide set of activities that help to discover the wild surrounds.

The village celebrates the feast of La Mare de Déu d'Agost, which was not celebrated some time ago. In 1995 the first number of the "La Carxana" magazine was published. It announces the history and popular culture of the village. It is printed once a year.

The best argument for suggesting your visit to Albarca is the extraordinary view that can be contemplated in any direction. In one side, there is the Ulldemolins valley, with the Serra de la Llena at its end. In other direction, we can see the Serra de la Gritella with Siurana in the middle of some cliffs. Behind it there is the Puig de Gallicant.

Albarca is the point where many excursions start. You can go up the Montsant walking alont the old way of Ferradura, go to the La Mare de Déu Hermitage, or go to the Serra Major. Other possible excursions are the way to the Ulldemolins Hermitage, the walk of the old Cartujanos paths, the visit to Sant Joan de Codolar, or Cornudella.

The only service that exist in the village is the refuge. It offers drinks and typical meals. There is not abundant water, although when it rains a lot, there is water in the fountain of La Plaça del Castell.

(With the aim that it has been declared as: Bé Cultural d'Interès Nacional-BCIN -within a cultural set of monuments)

Siurana, the village on a cliff.

Siurana is placed on the top of a cliff of limestone rocks, at a height of 737 metres. It is in the lowest part of the Serra de la Gritella. Through the Arbolí cliffs and the Serra Major del Montsant, it sights all the Siurana valley, and to its left, it sights the Siurana River. It is drained by the L'Estopinyà water stream, and in front of the twin pedestal of Ciuranella.

The highest mountains around it are La Gritella (1.089 metres) and the Gallicant (1.028) peaks.

Siurana is one of the smallest villages in the Priorat county. It is formed by over thirty houses and twenty inhabitants.

To get in the village, we have to go through a strait. This entrance is controlled by an Arabian Castle. On the other side, there is a Romance church of one nave.

It is a place of natural defense, and it was the last Arabian redoubt of the Walí Almira Alemoni.

The zone is a place of great beauty, with some wonderful natural landscapes, and it is rich in legends.

It was discovered there a workroom of sílex, with axe of polish stone, arrow puntas, pieces of bell-shaped vase, and brass materials.

In Siurana there are two restaurants. One is the "Restaurant Acàcia", which is in the Plaça Nova. The second restaurant is the "Restaurant Siurana", which is in Major Street. There is a refuge called "Refugi Cirià Bonet", which belongs to the "Centre Excursionista de Catalunya", detrás of the Plaça Nova.

This village has been the centre of meeting for the best climbers.There are hundreds of people that decide to climb them after being attracted by their beauty.