Places to Visit in Catalonia

One of the most interesting in Catalonia, the historic city of Girona invites visitors to trace its more than 2000 years of history through two fortified enclosures, the Força Vella and the Medieval Quarter. The Força Vella dates back to the Roman foundation while the medieval extension of the city walls was carried out during the 14th and 15th centuries. The city's artistic heritage has been preserved in the numerous monuments that have survived until today. The highlights of Girona are rounded off by the impressive old Jewish Quarter or Call, with its beautiful streets and porticoed squares, and by the exuberant baroque spaces and Noucentisme-style buildings by architect Rafael Masó. 

• Girona Toursim

• Link on how to get there

Inaugurated in 1974, the Dalí Theatre-Museum was atop the remains of the former Theatre of Figueres, and contains a broad spectrum of works covering the artistic career of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), from his early artistic experiences and his creations within the sphere of surrealism through to works dating from the last year of his life. 

Some of the most outstanding works on exhibition there are Port Alguer ( 1924), The Spectrum of Sex Appeal (1932), Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon (1941), Poetry from America, the Cosmic Athletes (1943), Galarina (1944-1945), The Bread Basket (1945), Atomic Leda (1949) and Galatea of the Spheres (1952). 

We might also note the sets of work the artist created expressly for the Theatre-Museum, such as the Mae West room, the Palace of the Wind room, Monument to Francesc Pujols and Rainy Cadillac. 

The Dalí Theatre-Museum has to be seen as a whole, as the great work of Salvador Dalí, since it was conceived of and designed by the artist in order to offer visitors a genuine experience that would take them into his entrancing and unique world. 

• Museum Dalí website

• Link on How to get there

• Figueres toruism website

Visiting Montserrat is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. It’s easy to get to and gives you an opportunity to see the countryside. The views from the monastery are breathtaking, well worth a day of your time while you are in Barcelona. Montserrat is a rocky mountain range in Catalonia. “Montserrat” translates to “saw mountain” in Catalan, owing to this mountain range’s jagged, sawtooth appearance. Sitting atop the mountain range is Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery. Located inside of the monastery is a statue of the of the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the few black madonnas of Europe. This is Catalonia’s most important religious retreat, as many people make an overnight hike to watch the sunrise from the peak of Montserrat. Highlight: Don't miss the Escolanets, the boy choir sign at 1pm! It is a must for anyone visiting Montserrat!

For some people, a visit to Montserrat is a religious pilgrimage. For others, it’s a visit to a unique mountain range offering views over Catalonia. Be whisked to the top by a scenic cable car ride, take short hikes through the mountain peaks, and take a funicular higher up onto the mountain for even better views. Those who enjoy hiking can walk to Sant Jeroni, the highest peak of Montserrat. If that seems too much, you can also hike to La Santa Cova or La Creu de Sant Miquel. Begore going home remember to try Mató amb Mel, a typical cheese that you will find in the stoles of the farmers who sell their fresh products in the monastery. 

• Montserrat tourism website

• Things to do there. Fantastic for hiking and via ferrata (a type of rock climbing). 

• Link on how to get there. 

Tarragona is an hour from Barcelona by train and was once the capital of the Roman Empire here in Spain. Today Tarragona is a place where history and culture are crowned with Mediterranean blue skies, blessed with beautiful beaches and complemented by an abundance of fine wine and cuisine.

Walking around the area where you can see the amphitheatre, the views are absolutely amazing, as the amphitheatre is right by the sea. Behind you are parts of Tarraco, which is one of Catalonia’s 9 wonders of UNESCO sites and heritage, but there’s just so much besides in the city. The cathedral, the praetorium, the roman circus, the forum...

Tarraco is an impressive sight from many places, as are the views from the Mediterranean Balcony (Balcó del Mediterrani). Tarragona has tangible history that palpitates around you, it has modernist architecture, a magnificent cathedral and Ramblas, not unlike those of Barcelona. In the Rambla Nova you’ll find some unique Modernist buildings. 

Recommendations for lunch? Visit the Serrallo, the sailor's neighbourhood where the fish that was fished throughout the day is auctioned in the afternoon. It is a representative area, with its own personality where to taste the best fish and seafood of Tarragona in its charming restaurants. 

• • Tarragona tourism website

  • How to get to Tarragona 

There's a certain magic in the air in Sitges. For decades Sitges has been a meeting place for people from all walks of life. A sophisticated getaway for young and old, gay and straight, families and friends. The town is full to bursting with classic art deco buildings and the seafront promenade is lined with palm trees. Its 17 beaches are some of the best on the Mediterranean coastline. 

Sitges has been a resort town since the 19th century, and was a key location for the Modernisme movement, which paved the way for the likes of Picasso. These days it’s Spain’s most famous gay holiday destination. In July and August the town cranks up the volume to become one big beach party, while Carnaval unbridles Sitges’ hedonistic side. But despite bacchanalian nightlife, Sitges remains a classy destination: its array of galleries and museums (Don't miss Cau Ferrat) belie its small size, there’s a good sprinkling of upmarket restaurants in its historic centre, and an October film festival draws culture fiends from miles around. 

• • Sitges Tourism website

  • How to get to Sitges

Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is indisputably the Capital of Cava, with over eighty local Cava wineries making this product. Since the late 18th century, vine-growing and winemaking have been the town's main occupation. From the start of the production of sparkling wine in the Penedès, Sant Sadurní was a prime model of its exploitation and refinement, setting down the roots of a tradition that reaches us today witho ver a hundred and fifty municipalities making up the Cava Region, which is the delimited production area for the Cava Designation of Origin (DO). 

To visit a winery you have different options such as visiting the major producers or visiting a small but familiar cava in the town:

• Freixenet. This is good because you can take the train from Arc de Triomf and will get off the train right next to the place. Eternal rivals of  Cavas Codorniu, Cavas Freixenet started their business in 1861 in Casa Sala by the hands of Francesc Sala Ferrés. His business was the first from Sant Sadurní d’Anoia to export Cava. But it wasn’t until 1914 that Mr. Salas Ferrés’s Cava business truly took shape. It was in that year that his granddaughter married Pere Ferrer i Bosch, whose family owned the La Freixeneda plantation (a plantation dating back to the XIII century). From that point on, Sala Ferrés’s business grew exponentially and donned the label “Freixenet” on their bottles of Cava. In 1935 they opened the first branch in the US, and continued to maintain business through the years of dictatorship in Spain. Nowadays, Cavas Freixenet hold is the world lead in selling traditionally-produced sparkling wine. They own the biggest Cava warehouse and a total of 32.000 hectares of vineyards.

• Codorniu. Cavas Codorniu took shape through Josep Raventós i Fatjó, a farmer who created his first bottle of Cava in 1872. His version of the drink was inspired by french champagne, and elaborated with white grapes grown in El Penedés. While his first Cava production yielded only 3.000 bottles, his son, Manuel Raventós i Domenech, soon turned his father’s work into a commercial business. In fact, for centuries the Cava business was monopolized by Codorniu. But in the 70’s, the Cava industry began to grow, and more and more companies began producing their own bottles. Currently there are more than 270 companies in the Cava industry, located across 7 Comunidades Autónomas. 90% of the production is made in the region of El Penedés and 75% in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. 

The Costa Brava also boasts an array of cultural assets: sites that display the wonderful legacy of Salvador Dalí in Empordà; the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes or the castle of Peratallada; mediaeval towns such as Tossa de Mar, Púbol or Pals; the ruins of Empúries, a major archaeological site providing a fascinating insight into how the ancient Greeks and Romans lived; the traditional ceramics of La Bisbal; and Girona's old quarter, featuring a superb historical gem, the call (Jewish quarter).

There are plenty of towns to visit, but these are our favourites:

• Cadaqués (where Dalí spent his summers). This is the furthest to get to, but has beautiful views and is right in the middle of a national park where the Pyrenees Mountains meet the sea, so plan on doing some hiking along the trails on a landscape that will feel like the moon. Hotels here can be expensive and are often booked up in the summer months, but the off season this turns into a sleepy little village and you can get some great deals. Google search hostels or look for apartments for some deals.

• Tossa de Mar. Easy to get to, great beach and nightlife. An abundance of hotel options and ease of getting there and back makes this is a favorite for past students.

• Calella de Palafrugell. Some of the most beautiful parts of the Caminos de Ronda pass through here, so hiking is great and the views here are breathtaking. 

• L'Escala and L'Estartit. Of the two, L'Escala has a cute town but L'Estartit is known for scuba diving. The hike between the two towns is about 3 hours and takes you over impressive oceanside cliffs and down into coves for a dip. There are also the ruins of a Greek and Roman city in L'Escala which is a great visit for history fans. 

• Palamós. The town has a cute center and an important fishing port. The best beach on the Costa Brava is outside of town (about a 45 minute walk) called Platja Castell. 

• Blanes. This is the start of the Costa Brava and the only town you can get to on the train. 

GETTING THERE

The Sarfa bus company runs out of Barcelona Nord station (next to Arc de Triomf metro stop). Buy your tickets in the station rather than online (there is sometimes a hassle with getting the tickets if you buy from your computer). The busses run a few times a day to each town, so check the schedule for times. It'll take 2-3 hours depending on where you're going. 

Some towns are reachable by train. Check the Renfe website to see the lines and timetables. 

CAMINOS DE RONDA

If you like hiking, you will LOVE the caminos de ronda, linking the little towns along the coast. If you're staying in a town you have two options - hike out a ways and when you get tired, turn around and come back the way you've walked, or keep going to the next town and then work out a bus or a taxi back to your starting point. Some people come with a small backpack and go town to town, staying in different villages each night. The best stretches? Between L'Escala and L'Estartit is great, or Calella de Palafrugell to Blanes. Come by our office to borrow the book with trail guides. This website is great but in Catalan so use google translate if you don't understand something, and this blog in English is a good place to start. 

To stroll around the historical centre of Vic is to stroll around the past and history of Catalonia. A signposted route takes in 30 buildings of historical, architectural or artistic interest, such as the 2nd-century Roman Temple, the 14th-century city walls, the cathedral with its combination of Romanesque, Gothic, baroque and neoclassical architecture, the Plaça Major (also known as Plaça Mercadal) and the city hall... 

Pork products (llonganissa, somalla and other cured sausages…), black truffle, Vic onions, pa de pessic (sponge cake), game, honey, cheese (including blue cheese), wild mushrooms, Collsacabra beans and market garden produce are just some of the stars of local cuisine in Osona. The most known is: The Llonganissa, produced in various towns in the area of the Vic Plain, llonganissa is a dry-cured sausage made from lean pork and diced bacon fat, seasoned exclusively with salt and pepper. It holds the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) seal, a guarantee of its quality and origin. 

A perfect time to visit? The Mediaeval Market in Vic is held to coincide with the Pont de la Puríssima (public holidays of 6 and 8 December, with many people also taking 7 December off). On these days the city becomes an ideal setting for recreating the Middle Ages. It is also a good place for a hot ballon ride to enjoy the countryside from the heights. 

• Vic Tourism website

• How to get there

Montblanc is a fine medieval town whose historic centre lies within its defensive walls. Just 9 km from the remarkable Monestir de Poblet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Montblanc is also well worth a visit.

Enter through the Bover Tower, a defensive gate and entrance into the old town. Wander around the lanes and old streets and admire the 13th and 14th century buildings as you walk. The St Jordi gate is the spot where St George killed the dragon. There is a plaque marking the site of his legendary victory and Montblanc have a festival every April filled with dragons, fire and celebrating the victory of St George. As you wander there are a number of Romanesque and Gothic monuments to see. If you wish to make sure you see them all there is a map on the medieval gate, the Portal de Boue.

On an evening head for the Placa Major and join the Spanish promenade or passeig, a very civilised way of spending early evening walking and greeting friends and neighbours. Particular places to see in Montblanc are the Gothic church of Santa Maria with its ornate facade.  Also the Romanesque Sant Miquel and the Sant Marcel which contains the Museu Mares. The 13th century Els Jueus building was once Catalonia 's parliament building. Outside of the medieval walls there is a lovely old stone bridge, a convent and the old hospital of Santa Magdalena. There is a mound behind the Santa Maria which has excellent views over the town.

The perfect time to visit? In April the town celebrates the Medieval Week when they represent the legend of Saint George who killed the dragon. All the citizens get involved and during this week they pretend to live in the Middle Ages. 

• Montblanc tourism website

• How to get there

Are you ready to disconnect? As soon as you get to the Ebro Delta the landscape changes completely. There are no hills here and the horizon is an almost perfectly straight line. This 320 square kilometre flat surface creates an optical effect that gives rise almost immediately to a feeling of freshness and freedom. But the Ebro Delta, with the town of Deltebre as its regional capital, has a lot more to offer. To begin with, it's Catalonia's most important wetland area and the second most important one in Spain. You can see more than 350 species of birds here, fish in the river and the sea and eat some of the finest rice dishes in the world. As they say in Deltebre, rice is planted in April, harvested in September and eaten all year round. 

Visit the Ecomuseum, which is located in Deltebre. There you'll find a scale model of the Delta, depicting the natural elements that make up its landscape and its traditional activities. It's also a tourist information centre, so you can kill two birds with one stone. You can also visit the Rice Museum, located in Molí de Rafelet in the town of Deltebre. This company boasts of producing rice using traditional and organic methods. When it gets dark, don't miss the opportunity of seeing the moon reflected in the water of the river Ebro as it flows past Deltebre. Take a walk on Lo Passador, the bridge that connects the two banks of the river and which has replaced the traditional boat ride connecting the two sides of the Delta. 

Best activities to do: Rent a bike and head for the rive mouth or the Fangar bay, go fisihing, visit the mussel beds and practise bird watching.

• Terres de l'Ebre Tourism Website

• How to get there

Take a 50-minute bus ride to a little-known town just 30km from Barcelona, blessed with curative thermal springs, magnificent Roman ruins and the second-largest cache of Picasso originals in Catalonia. Not to mention a summer festival where you get singed and soaked in equal measure. Perched on a tectonic fault, Caldes de Montbui is characterised by the thermal waters that flow up into its streets, breaking through the surface at a toasty 76 degrees. Nowadays, just like in Roman times, locals make the most of this subterranean source for leisure, craftmaking and medicinal purposes. 

On the edge of the old town sits the Lavadero de la Portalera, named for the four gates in Caldes’ medieval wall that used to lead into this public laundry house. The phrase ‘fer safareig’ means to do laundry or to wash clothes, but it also means ‘to gossip; to chat about everything and nothing, everyone and no-one’. The word safareig is behind the modern Spanish ‘chafardear’, meaning to gossip, and gives new meaning to the British phrase ‘to wash your dirty linen in public’. 

Perfect time to visit? Every second Saturday of July, the people of Caldes gather for the Escaldarium festival to celebrate this mystic source: In 1619, following torture, several women accused of witchcraft in Caldes ‘confessed’ to the crime, and were promptly hung from gallows erected in the town’s main square. This wasn’t the first time the town had been associated with witchcraft, though. Its thermal waters are said to have a legendary origin of their own, conjured through the acts of witches themselves. 

• Caldes de Montbui tourism website

• How to get there

A treat for lovers of wine and the outdoors, the rural region of Penedès sits just 45 minutes south of Barcelona. With a cheery, laid-back atmosphere to complement the dramatic landscape, Penedès is home to over 150 vineyards. Renowned for its Cava and billed as white wine heaven, this area is the perfect setting for a relaxing day filled with friendly locals, breathtaking scenery and plenty of great food and wine. (We recommend E Moli Tours.)

• How to get there

Skip the cities and check out small towns to really see how spectacular Catalonia is. Hiking, canyoning, rafting, there is a lot to do.

Check out towns like: Organyá, La Seu d'Urgell, Sort, or Vall de Núria