TOUR DE LA VILLE
The church of Santa Maria is the only neo-Gothic church in the area, designed by the architect Joan Martorell
If the silhouette of the neo-gothic station, built in 1929, remains one of the emblematic images of Portbou, one will also appreciate its pretty bay, its rambla and its sloping alleys. A visit to its marine cemetery, suspended above the sea, is not to be missed. Nearby is the Passagen monument, a work erected by the Israeli artist Dani Karavan, in memory of the philosopher Walter Benjamin, who died in Portbou while fleeing from Nazism. The visit will continue to the Church of Santa Maria (Plaça Santa Maria, s/n). The only neo-Gothic church in the area, it was designed by the architect Joan Martorell and has a nave 20 metres high and 33 metres wide. Inside there is a statue of the Virgin Mary, the work of the sculptor Frederic Marès, a local boy whose other sculptures can be seen in the village. Although the old fishing activity is also a thing of the past, Portbou now has a marina which was completed in 2001. A few steps from the border, it can be tempting to take advantage of the price difference. The municipal market is located at Passeig Enric Granados and Carrer del Mercat (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 2pm). In addition, walkers can also enjoy the impressive cliffs of Punta del Claper, which form an excellent viewpoint over the bay of Portbou. This is also the starting point for the GR-92, a long-distance, high-difficulty hiking trail that goes all the way to Ulldecona. 20 stages to cover 583 km.
