Santa Oliva is a municipality situated next to the most important tourist places of the area. This privileged situation together with the good communications with other places has made it to become an ideal place to rest and visit. We can not forget also the possibility of being received by its inhabitants, who are very dynamic and kind.

In February of 986, the frankish king Lotari gave Odó, who was the Sant Cugat's Abbot, the possession of the church of Santa Maria de Santa Oliva. These domains were extended from La Guàrdia de Banyeres to the village of Domaubin (Tomoví), and from the village of Domenys to the sea.

The township of Santa Oliva is situated in the plane of the Baix Penedès county, in the north of the capital of this county, El Vendrell, and four kilometres far from the beach. It has an area of 9.54 Km², and L'Albornar belongs to it.

Santa Oliva has always done a good use of the water, which has always been an abundant element. Induced by this, the place names of the water mills are still the old ones. The waters have been used for the construction of an irrigation system that is actually being used. It is directed by the Sindicat de Regants.

The landscape is a combination of the rural, urban and industrial elements. We have to take into account that the expansion of the tourism has partially modified the labour dedication of the township, and that it has completed the economy. Thus, it has been a good mixture of the rural landscape, with the vineyard, the olive and the almond trees, and the industrial development of different commercial sectors and services companies.

The nucleus of Santa Oliva was founded more that one thousand years ago. In its streets and buildings we can observe a deep historical air that has known how to match the old building with the most modern constructions. The municipality has perfectly adapted itself to the evolution of the modern age.

The village has got two big industrial estates for the economical expansion. The first one is the "Molí d'en Serra" industrial estate, where there are some medium and small firms. The second industrial estate is called "L'Albornar". It this one, there are some big firms, a part from the IDIADA firm (Institut d'Investigació Aplicada de l'Automòbil) that belongs to the Generalitat de Catalunya. Both industrial estates are basic for the creation of jobs in the area.

The village is very well communicated through the set of roads that are around the municipality. There is an easy access to the A-2 and A-7 toll roads, and to the N.340. The distance to Barcelona is about seventy kilometres, and there are forty and fifty to Tarragona and Reus.

Santa Oliva is still growing. There are 2100 inhabitants for now. In the last years this growth has been so important that it made necessary to design a project of urban and social planification so as to improve the future development.

Where to eat:

Restaurant El Molí de Cal Tof
Ctra. Santa Oliva - El Vendrell
Telephone number 977 66 26 51

El Bon Amic
Molí d'en Serra Industrial Estate
Telephone number 977 66 00 63

Restaurant Sant Jordi
Ctra. de Valls - Urb. Sant Jordi
Telephone 977 66 37 65

Where to sleep:

Càmping Santa Oliva (2nd.class)
C/ Jaume Balmes, 122
Telephone number 977 67 95 46