Calafell’s castle occupies a commanding position above the old town, its square tower and warm golden stonework forming one of the most recognisable skylines on the Costa Daurada. While less monumental than Cardona or Montsoriu, the site has a particular charm: it is one of the most thoroughly and authentically restored medieval castle complexes in Catalonia, and the tight cluster of castle, Romanesque church, and medieval house within the old walled town (Vila Closa) has been exceptionally well preserved.
The first documented castle on this site dates to 1037, when it appears in records as a fortification of the Viscounts of Cubelles. The current tower and main walls date from the 11th and 12th centuries. The adjacent church of Santa Maria, with its single Romanesque nave and bell tower, was consecrated in the 12th century and remains in excellent condition.
The castle fell into serious disrepair during the 19th century, when the lower coastal town grew rapidly with the arrival of the railway. Systematic restoration began in the 1980s and has been ongoing, with archaeologists uncovering successive layers of occupation dating back to the Iberian period. The interior now houses a permanent exhibition on the medieval history of the Penedès coast.
From the castle terrace the view takes in the entire sweep of the Costa Daurada, from the Delta de l’Ebre in the south to the Garraf headlands in the north, with the church tower and tiled rooftops of the vila closa clustered just below.