Curiosities of Ivorra that you will like to know if you stay in a holiday cottage
It is said that the toponym
Ivorra is already documented in the 11th century with the same current form and that it must be a name of pre-Roman origin, perhaps Ibero-Basque.
The town, also known as
Les Ivorres , was one of the few towns in
Segarra that had two parishes in the same nucleus, a fact that highlights the importance of this place in medieval times. On the one hand, there was the population center that was arranged around the castle (to the east) and which had the
Parish of Sant Cugat d'Ivorra and on the other hand, the center of Santa Maria to the west, the which included the
Parish of Our Lady . Currently, this second church has become the
Sanctuary of Sant Dubte or the Mother of God of Ivorra.What can you see in Ivorra from your holiday cottage?
Ivorra had been an important closed town. The urban plot of the 11th and 12th centuries is still preserved to the west of the castle, located at the highest point of the town. The houses were arranged inside a wall with a circular plan, the remains of which have been attached to some houses, although the main dovetailed portal is preserved. The only thing that remains of the castle is the Torre del Moro or Torre d'Ivorra , a master tower that surprises with its 20 meters height, which later served as a municipal prison.
The Municipal Church of Sant Cugat (1782) represents one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in the region, as it was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century and is where you can find the Romanesque image of Santa Maria d 'Ivorra (13th century) and the Gothic reliquary of Sant Dubte , one of the best works of religious goldsmithing from the 15th century.
The Santuari del Sant Dubte , located one kilometer from the town, is another mandatory stop if you spend a few days in a holiday cottage in Ivorra and want to know why it is a town subject to pilgrimage. It is said that around the year 1010, the priest Bernat Oliver doubted the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, while he was giving mass, and it was at that moment that he began to pour blood from the chalice. The miracle was recognized a year later by Pope Sergius IV. Since the church was too small to accommodate all the pilgrims who went there, a new one was built in the 17th century, larger and which included an inn for pilgrims.
Under the Plaça Major, there is the old town cistern , built at the end of the 13th century.
Things to do in Ivorra during your stay in a holiday cottage
On Sunday named pasqüetes, the second Sunday of Easter, Ivorra celebrates a meeting with other neighboring towns in honor of Saint Doubt, where everyone can participate. After the mass, a popular meal is shared around the Sanctuary.
The Sant Galderic Fair in Ivorra pays tribute to the patron saint of Catalan farmers, where it is considered that the life of a farmer is the essence of the town. It is a fair where agricultural machinery is exhibited and where you can taste local and Km0 products, all accompanied by live music.
And to eat?
And for food, don't leave Ivorra without trying its sausage and bread with tomato.