Tours & Activities in Lerida
Tours & Activities in Lerida
Traces of Modernism in Lerida
Lerida is one of the capitals of Modernism. This artistic movement – which was born in Catalonia and spread throughout the planet – has, in this city, one of the largest observation routes in the region.
The imprint of Modernism in Lerida is found mainly on Blondel Avenue and Main Street, with the Magi Llorens House being its most distinctive building.
This is the work of architect Francisco Lamolla Morante, who designed it in 1907.
The Magi Llorens House stands out for the artistic treatment of its façade, its gallery, its balconies and the floral motifs on the ground floor.
Other buildings that show the great influence of this artistic movement are the Teatre Municipal de l'Escorxador, the Melcior House, the Morera House or House of the Lyre, the Balasch Houses and the Xam-mar House.
Old Bridge
This structure is so old that there is no precise information about its construction. The most accurate record available states that it was erected before 47 BC.
The original Old Bridge was demolished during the conquest of the city by the troops of General Francisco Franco in 1938. The new bridge was built in 1944.
This bridge is located over the Segre River and is 149 meters long, with three pillars and four arches.
It is a corbel bridge, which is why it was very innovative in its time. Its solidity as a structure has been demonstrated on several occasions, as it did not suffer any ill effects during the two major floods that occurred in the city in 1966 and 1982.
Jaume Morera Art Museum
This museum is home to a vast collection of artistic pieces of modern and contemporary art. Its exhibitions collect the main artistic trends of the 20th century and the exhibitions of artists linked to the city.
The Jaume Morera Art Museum is located in the historic Casino building in the heart of the city. Its opening was made possible by a generous donation from the painter Jaume Morera. The museum's temporary exhibitions present multiple artistic disciplines such as paintings, photographs, audiovisual pieces and sculptures.
How to get around Lerida
Most of the tourist places in Lerida are located in the Historic Centre. They are close in distance, so one can access them on foot or by bicycle. To use this latter means of transport, one must know the circulation route regulated by the city municipality.
In addition, one can use public transport to get around the city, as there is an extensive network of urban buses that, in many cases, offer intercity connections.
Lerida has 11 public transport lines and a tourist route. The service is very comfortable and fast. Also, it offers discounts for young people and students. The buses run from early morning until almost midnight.
Likewise, one can take a taxi, as multiple transport companies provide a good service. One can request a taxi by phone or go to one of the seven stops located throughout the city.
To get to and from Lerida, there are many options. One of the most used is by land, as the city is located in a very busy communication hub.
Lerida also has a train station with several lines linking it to towns in Catalonia and the rest of the country.
In addition, the city has an airport known as Lerida-Pirineos. This air terminal has modern facilities, with daily departures to national and international destinations. It is located just 15 kilometres from the centre of Lerida. The city bus line runs to the airport.
Accommodation in Lerida
Without a doubt, the best option for staying in Lerida is in the Historic Centre, as it is home to the main historical sites and the best places to enjoy the city's nightlife and gastronomy.
In this area is located the Eix Comercial (Commercial Axis), which is a well-known sector including more than 450 stores and commercial premises. In fact, it is one of the longest commercial avenues on the continent. This area is fully connected to the entire city through public transportation.
Two other areas to consider when choosing accommodation are those near the Lerida-Pirineus station and the University of Lerida.
The Lerida-Pirineus station is located northeast of the city and is the centre of land transport operations, as the train services and public bus network are located there. Also located in this area is the Llotja de Lerida, which is the event palace and great theatre of the city.
A third option is the area south of the historic centre, where the University of Lerida is located. It is just a five-minute drive by car. The south of Lerida is characterized by being very quiet compared to the central area. This makes it ideal for family enjoyment. It is one of the best options for affordable and comfortable family accommodation.
Gastronomy in Lerida
Panadones
This is a delicious vegetarian dish widely consumed during Holy Week.
“Panadones” are empanadas filled with spinach, raisins and other vegetables. One can find this delight in the vast majority of pastry shops in the city.
It bears a great resemblance to “Coca de Recapte”, a baked dumpling made with vegetable “escalivada” combined with sardines, tuna, anchovies and sausage. This dish is also native to these lands.
Snails 'a la llauna'
It is impossible to not mention snails 'a la llauna', as this is the star dish of the capital of snail cuisine in Spain.
This dish is prepared by cooking snails with spicy sauce in a large can.
Snails 'a la llauna' in Lerida has its own festival, as every year the famous Snail Meeting is held. Known as “Aplec del Caragol”, it has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
Cod “escalivada”
This dish was born in these lands, but has established itself in other parts of Spain.
It comes from the Catalan term "escalivar", which means to roast over the fire. That is exactly how this dish is prepared, as the vegetables are roasted, and then cod is added.
It is a very fresh, healthy and delicious dish, served as an appetizer.
Cristina de San Blas
This is a bun filled with cream, truffle or pastry cream. It is a dessert little known outside the region.
It is traditionally prepared in the first days of February to commemorate the festival of Saint Blaise, a very popular festival in Lerida. However, it can be found at any time of the year in the bakeries of this city.
Tours & Activities in Lerida
Tours & Activities in Lerida
Beef “fridadó”
This is a traditional stew prepared in a clay pot. Its main ingredients are a beef fillet and mushrooms such as “moixernó” or “perretxico”.
Its preparation is based on flouring the fillets on both sides to seal them in the casserole, then adding the mushrooms, which give it a unique flavour. This dish is prepared in autumn, as this is the time of year when one can take advantage of the freshness of the mushrooms.
Other ingredients used in this stew make up the “sofrito”, which has a base of onion and garlic with a splash of white wine, as well as a mixture of nuts such as almonds and pine nuts.
Other information of interest
On the banks of the Segre River, in the economic heart of the city, is La Lojta de Lerida, a majestic building that sublimely combines the modernity of Lerida with the entrepreneurial vocation of its people.
Since its creation, La Lotja has become the most emblematic building in the city, as it unifies the contemporary and the historical tradition of Lerida. This is manifested by its proximity to the Seu Vella, which is located behind it.
The enclosure was designed by architect Francine Houben, who belongs to the Dutch architecture studio Mecanoo.
It has been widely awarded and praised for its aesthetic originality and vast functionality for the region.
The complex was conceived to host major events in Lerida. It is the city's events palace, a public square and the artistic and cultural centre.
La Lotja has three large areas. The first and main one is the theatre area, containing an auditorium with a capacity of 1,000 people. It offers perfect acoustic and visual quality from any location.
The heart of this building is the second level, which has a panoramic window from which one can look out at the city and river. This area functions as a conference and meeting room. The roof is an extensive and beautiful terrace. Its facade is made of stone slab brought from Brazil.
At the ground level is a beautiful square for outdoor activities. In short, it is a place that represents the citizens of Lerida to the world.
Tours & Activities in Lerida
Tours & Activities in Lerida