a town of Spain, Catalonia, in the province and 43 miles S.W. of Tarragona, on the Ebro, 22 miles above its mouth. It consists of an old and a new town, both strongly fortified, although some parts of the defences are of considerable antiquity. The streets are narrow, crooked, and ill paved; but the houses are for the most part lofty, and solidly built of granite. Near the river stands the cathedral, a tasteless and over-ornamented edifice, in a variety of styles, but in some portions extremely ancient. Next to it, the most important buildings are the episcopal palace, town-hall, numerous churches, and nine convents, some of them suppressed. Tortosa has also a college, several schools and hospitals, manufactures of leather, paper, earthenware, linen, starch, soap, ropes, cordage, &c. There is an important fishery in the river; and an active trade is carried on through the ports of El Fangar Toscanella and Los Alfajares at its mouth, as well as directly, for vessels of 100 tons burden can come up to the town. Corn, wine, oil, wool, silk, and fruits are among the articles exported. Near Tortosa are rich marble quarries, and the whole surrounding country is very fertile and beautiful. Pop. 20,573.