The walls of the town's oldest districts are the chosen venue for Tortosa's Renaissance Festival, held during the last two weeks of July. Subtitled The Splendour of a 16th Century Town, the festival takes us back through a whole host of entertaining and cultural activities to the 16th century, one of the most interesting times in our town's long history.

Tortosa is right in the heart of an extensive region and shows its pride, vibrancy and everyday hustle and bustle through the revival of the old town government, trade, customs, gallantry, gastronomy and the festival's most diverse activities. The banners of the town guards who patrol the streets bearing the regional flag of Tortosa, take us back in time to the splendour of a 16th century town. A town with a history marked by its links to the Mediterranean Sea down the nearby Ebro river. A multicultural town open to the world through water.

Splendour shines brightly in the narrow, winding streets of the town's historical centre, showing all its magnificence in the Show of Arms and Parade, in honour of the flags of the Tortosa region and town. The town council, the defence militias, representatives from the town's districts and trades, merchants and traders, the townspeople of Tortosa as well as comedians and actors from all around take part in this parade.

The people of Tortosa line the streets and deck out their homes with plants, rugs and tapestries, torches and candles. Then they come out onto the streets to take part in the festivities and become true 16th century inhabitants for the days the festival lasts.