The White House
The White House, built in 1843, is in a narrow street in Rasquera, a typical Catalan farming village, 150 kilometres south of Barcelona, in the foothills of the Sierra Card, two kilometres from the Ebro, Spain's longest river and 30 kms inland from Tortosa.
The house has been renovated to provide three bedroom accommodation. The first and second storeys comprise a lounge, kitchen-dining room, double bedroom, two single bedrooms and a bathroom. There is a roof terrace, which covers the whole house, with sunbeds and chairs.
Although the house has been fully restored and contains all modern amenities, it should be noted that it is not a modern hotel or beachside apartment. This is a genuine village house, furnished in a simple manner. It is a place for those seeking the tranquility of an authentic Catalan village and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.
Rasquera is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Card, 150 metres above the River Ebro, 25 kilometres inland from the unspoilt Costa Daurada.
It is three hours drive from Barcelona, but only 60 kilometres from Reus Airport.
The Old Quarter, where the house is situated, is a maze of narrow streets, alleys, steps and archways.
There are a few shops, a bank, a pharmacy, three bars, a restaurant and a fine fully-supervised public swimming pool ( open July & August only.)
There are also several bakeries, two with caf's, selling "pastissets," the local speciality.
There are major festivals in the village in May and August.
The River Ebro cuts through the nearby mountains, producing spectacular scenery, especially at Miravet with its cliff-top Templar castle ( pictured. ) Access from Rasquera is by an ancient ferry.
The Ebro is also noted for fishing, especially for catfish.
The Ebro Delta ( 30 kilometres ) is one of Europe's leading bird-watching areas, while eagles and kites inhabit the inland sierras.
The coastal towns of the Costa Daurada are largely undeveloped, with fine beaches and good restaurants at l'Ampolla, l'Ametlla de Mar, Sant Carles de la Rapita and l'Hospitalet de l'Infant ( all about 30 kms. )
Tortosa ( 30 kms ) boasts excellent shopping and a fine cathedral, while further afield, Tarragona, a World Heritage Site, is noted for its historic buildings and some of Spain's finest Roman remains.
For younger visitors, Tarragona's seaside resort of Salou is the home of Port Aventura, Spain's answer to Disneyland.
