What to Do in Santa Coloma de Cervelló

Santa Coloma de Cervelló is a municipality of Barcelona located in the Baixa de Llobregat Valley. It’s about thirty minutes by car or forty-five minutes by public transportation from Barcelona’s city center. Although it’s a small town, Santa Coloma de Cervelló is home to a variety of sights to see and makes for an excellent day trip outside of Barcelona. If you’re considering a visit, here are some of the best things to do in Santa Coloma de Cervelló.

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Colonia Güell

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The number one sight to see in Santa Coloma de Cervelló is Colonia Güell. This unfinished work by Catalonia’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí, is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The project began in 1890 when industrialist Eusebi Güell decided to move his textile mill to Santa Coloma de Cervelló. Colonia Güell was to be an industrial village that would improve the worker’s quality of life by containing everything they might need. The facility would include homes, a church, gardens, a school, and more. In 1914, however, the Güell withdrew funding for the project. Gaudí had only finished the crypt at the time, which still functions as a church today. Although unfinished, Colonia Güell is considered to be one of Gaudí’s hidden gems outside of Barcelona.

Castillo Torre Salvana

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Castillo Torre Salvana dates all the way back to the 12th century. Its exact origins are unknown, but it has been speculated that it was once the summer home of the counts of Barcelona. It has the characteristics of a defense tower and is frequented by many visitors who want to see the beautiful, crumbling ruins and destroyed walls. According to legends, Torre Salvana is also the sight of paranormal activity. They say that ghosts, shadows, and strange lights are sometimes seen among the ruins.

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Catalunya en Miniatura

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If you’re visiting Santa Coloma de Cervelló, you won’t want to miss out on seeing Catalunya en Miniatura. In this huge exhibition of scale models, you can visit all of Catalonia’s most emblematic sights in miniature version. A walk through the miniature park takes about an hour and a half and you’ll see sights like a miniature Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Montserrat, and more. The park includes models from Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, a Gaudí corner, and an exhibition on the art of model making. Children especially love visiting the park and seeing all the intricate models.

How to Get There

To get to Santa Coloma de Cervelló from Barcelona by car, take the B-10 and the A-2 about twenty kilometers west of the city. By train, take the R6 from Plaza Espanya towards Igualada. The journey takes about 50 minutes by train and Santa Coloma de Cervelló will be the eleventh stop on the line.