Manresa, Historical municipality in central Catalonia, Spain
Manresa is a municipality in Barcelona Province, Catalonia, sitting on the banks of the Cardoner River. The three bridges connect both riverbanks, while the old town rises on a hill above the water.
The Romans established a camp here on the route between central Spain and the coast, which grew into a town with its own mint during the Middle Ages. The Catholic Monarchs granted city status in the fifteenth century and strengthened its position within the duchy.
The name derives from the Roman settlement of Minorisa, which later became a trading hub for salt and textiles. The medieval bridge still leads up to the old town, where narrow lanes wind between fourteenth-century townhouses.
The center is easy to explore on foot, though the climb to the upper town includes some steep sections. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time to wander through the winding alleys.
The cave where Ignatius of Loyola meditated sits outside the town in a rocky outcrop above the river. A small sanctuary now marks the spot, visited by pilgrims from around the world.
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