The
Montsacopa volcano is one of the main symbols of Olot. It has a
cone of volcanic material and a circular crater. From above, a 360° panoramic of the city can be seen. The volcano also has a chapel on its top, dedicated to
Saint Francis, and two watchtowers surrounding the crater. The old town, which grew up in the 9th century, has a rich cultural heritage, including the three-storied
neo-classical cloister from the
Hospici (charity building), the church of la Mare de Déu del Tura (patron of Olot), the
Renaissance cloister of
El Carme (which is a site of National Cultural Interest), and the Sant Esteve Parish Church, which was built in 1763 and it contains several artistic treasures, including an original
El Greco (
Christ carrying the Cross). Also in the old town there are examples of
Art Nouveau architecture, like the Solà-Morales house. Painting, sculpture and ceramics have been the key elements in the art of Olot, not to mention the tradition of the Nativity Scenes (
pessebres), and the worldwide famous sculptures of saints. Also of importance is the School of Art, which was created in 1783 and nowadays it is the most important school of arts in the
province of Girona (
Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny d'Olot). The artistic tradition of the city can be seen in several museums, being the
Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa the most relevant. In Olot, there are two important natural areas, the Moixina and the Parc Nou, which are characterized by their
oak woods, which boast an understorey of plants that are extremely rare on the south side of the
Pyrenees. These woods also inspired many of the painters from the "
Olot school". With the city being situated in the
Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park, the surrounding area also offers spectacular natural places like the ''
Fageda d'en Jordà'' (a
beech forest with volcanic blisters) or the natural springs of Sant Roc. The city also has a
bicycle lane connecting to
Girona, which was an old railway. Main products of Olot's local
gastronomy are the sweet herbal liquor
ratafia, the traditional cakes
coca de llardons and
tortell de matafaluga, the
charcuterie from Olot, the Olot potatoes (wafers of potato stuffed with meat, covered in egg and flour, and then deep-fried), and the
buckwheat flour. Some of the restaurants of the city have grouped together, offering the so-called "volcanic cuisine". ==Notable people==