Overlooking the Ebro Delta, San Carlos de la Rapita is a lively town on Catalonia’s Costa Dorada. It was originally founded as a port for trading with the colonies and is today an important fishing hub. Its waterfront restaurants serve the daily catch, with prawns, eels and oysters among the local specialties.
Things to do in Sant Carles de la Ràpita
One of San Carlos de la Rapita's most impressive buildings is the Esglesia Nova, a Neoclassical church fronted by four Ionic columns. Designed in the 18th century in the style of a Greek cross, it was constructed on the orders of Charles III of Spain. Today, this beautiful monument houses rotating art and cultural exhibitions.
If you’re a fan of muscles, don’t miss a visit to the Musclarium, a restaurant and muscle farm positioned on a floating platform. Due to its position in the middle of the Ebro Delta, it is only accessible by boat, which only adds to the experience. Learn about the lifecycle of muscles and how to expertly open an oyster before feasting on the freshest of seafood.
San Carlos de la Rapita is an ideal base for exploring Parque Natural del Delta del Ebro, which encompasses rivers, dunes and beaches that support abundant birdlife. Over 400 different species have been recorded in its coastal lagoons and salt marshes, resulting in it being designated as a Ramsar Site and a UNESCO Natural Biosphere Reserve. Learn about the local ecology at the Ecomuseum before admiring the delta’s colony of pink flamingos.
Getting around Sant Carles de la Ràpita
San Carlos de la Rapita is an hour's drive from Tarragona and two hours from Barcelona. Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport is just under two hours away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to San Carlos de la Rapita and travel throughout the town.