It is thought that Alforja was formerly a Saracen farmstead that quarried silver mines.

The name of the place first appears in a parchment signed by Ramon Berenguer the 4th.

In 1154, the village and castle of Alforja were mentioned in the bull that pope Anastasi the 4th sent to archbishop Bernat de Tort.

Ramon Berenguer the 4th gave Ramon de Ganagod the place of Alforja, except for its tithes and taxes that were kept by the Count and the archbishop.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Alforja hosted and active Jewish community and, in 1393, the town had to buy a Royal Mercy to protect them.

For 84 years, the Ganagod family governed the place and their authority lasted until Pere del Arcs (son of Ramon de Ganagod) left his lordship to the Monastery of Bonrepós, which one year later, in 1234, decided to sell all that legacy to archbishop Pere d'Albalat, who, from that time on, became lord of the so called Alforja Barony.

From the 13th century the placed experienced an economical growth and was a member of La Comuna del Camp.

In 1464 Alforja made a pronunciation against Joan the 2nd and, for that reason the town was besieged by the Barony of Escornalbou and finally surrendered due to food shortage.

Alforja took part in the war of Els Segadors together with all the villages that formed the Commune.

During the war against Felip the 5th, Alforja, like all the villages in the area , supported archduke Carles.

The war against the French caused a severe economical crisis, since the town was forced to supply the army with food.

In 1810, some people for Alforja attacked the French in Les Borges but, they were caught in a mortal trap.

During the Succession Wars, Alforja backed the Absolutists and there were confrontations between both factions.

Finally, during the Malcontents Revolt, Alforja was the insurgent centre under general Joan Raf i Vidal's command.

Local Celebrities.

-Josep Crivillé, military engineer. Designer of the Rambla Nova in Tarragona and co-author of the book 'Descripción geográfica, histórica, estadística e itinerario que acompaña el mapa estadístico de la provincia de Tarragona', (1946).

-Josep Salvadó Jassans, sculptor (1938).

-Josep Rull, sculptor.

-Jaume Queralt, painter.

-Octavi Fullat i Genís, sociologist and author of about 30 books.

-Joaquim Balcells i Pinto, latinist. In his family mansion, Wilhem Meyer-Lübke wrote the book Das Katalanishe that was an essential piece for the recognition of Catalan as an independent language.

-Mare de Déu de Puigcerver's Day (1st Sunday in August).

-Town Festival on Sant Miquel's Day (September, 29).

-Festa Castellera (competition of human towers) and cooking of a huge paella (3rd Sunday in July).






-Festa del Avis (Homage to the Eldest) and Sopar del Pataco (cooking of a traditional dish) in the month of August.

-Parc de Nadal (December).

-Sant Antoni's Day (January).

-Sant Joan's Day (June).

The parish church of Sant Miquel, built in 1637, displays graceful lines and a slender bell tower. There are some remains from the old castle and its walls.

The shrine of La Mare de Déu de Puigcerver, of great popular devotion. The current building was built over a former temple from 1243 and has suffered terrible damages. It was rebuilt after the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).

The Hermitage or Sant Antoni, from the 18th century.

- Cortiella, F.Anguera, Pere. -Història d'Alforja.-
Alforja: Ajuntament, 1.986

- Jassans, Miquel.- Noms de lloc i de persona d'Alforja i Cortiella.-
Reus: Centre d'Estudis Comarcal Josep Iglésies, 1.991

- Anguera, Pere.- Història dels Pobles del Baix Camp.-
Alforja: Suplement editat en el setmanari "Reus Diari", 1.989

- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana

- Guia Turística de Tarragona.-
Suplement del diari de Tarragona, 1.986