The Parador de Cardona is a medieval castle, a 9th century fortress with an outstanding tower called la Minyona (11th century), 15 meters high and 10 meters in diameter, and the Romanesque church of San Vicente de Cardona, an example of Lombard-Catalan art. The Ducal Courtyard is another highlight, with its defense bastions overlooking the Salino Valley. The monumental castle, located in the province of Barcelona (Cataluña), is a National Monument owned by the State since 1949, as well as the collegiate church of San Vicente (since 1931).