Activities

Escornalbou takes us back to a time when the wealthy bourgeoisie did up old historic buildings to turn them into their private residences. In 1911, Eduard Toda purchased the former monastery of Sant Miquel d'Escornalbou and restored it to suit himself.

The tour provides insights into the interior of a well-to-do home in the early 20th century, in this instance, a home where leading figures of the Renaixença (the Catalan Renaissance movement) would gather at Toda’s invitation. The collections Toda amassed during his travels are displayed in the various rooms. The vice-consul to Macau, Hong Kong and Shanghai and the consul to Egypt, he made the most these experiences to get to know other cultures. He was especially interested in Ancient Egypt, joining excavations in Thebes and putting together a private collection of Egyptian art that he donated to the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid and the Víctor Balaguer Museum in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

It is possible to make out the remains of the monastery, founded in 1153, amid Toda’s particular interpretation of the complex. He retained some parts, such as the church and cloister, though he altered this to turn it into a garden that offers one of the finest views of the districts of Tarragona.

This guided tour of the monument provides an opportunity to discover the most impressive spaces in this house, its surroundings and the life breathed into it by Eduard Toda.