Olerdola Archaeological Site

The site of Olerdola has been occupied by various groups of people since the Bronze Age, roughly 4,000 years ago. The hilltop position has been a strategic location at many points in history, and was occupied by Iberian tribes by 500-400 BC. By the beginning of the first century BC the site had been taken over by the Romans, who established a military camp to control the road from Penedes to Tarragona (Roman Tarraco), which was capital of the Roman Province. The Roman wall, the cistern, and a watchtower still remain from that era. By 25 BC the Romans abandoned the military outpost, and it remained uninhabited for nearly 1,000 years.
It was reoccupied in the Middle Ages, when it was "founded" in the year 929 by Sunyer, count of Barcelona, who built a perimeter wall, the churches of San Miguel (inside the wall) and Santa Maria (outside the wall) and the castle. The anthropomorphic tombs dating from this era, particularly those of children and infants, are both striking and tragic.
The early twelfth century marked the decline of Olèrdola, as the population, feeling more secure, moved into the Penedes plain.
The walk is short and easy, but there is so much to see and do there, so much history, that two hours barely covers this excursion.
Animal life we might see include birds of prey, especially buzzards and eagles, thrushes and other song birds, wall lizards, and the occasional snake.