MONTSERRAT AND PENEDÉS WINERIES
Montserrat and Penedés symbolize the two poles of Catalonian personality: the spiritual and the festive one. Montserrat is an impressive boulder rounded off by years of erosion, the sacred mountain of Catalonia. The revered image of the black virgin is kept within the almost thousand year old monastery. In addition to the monks, the monastery is home to the altar boys, the oldest singing boys choir in Europe, whose performances can be seen every day. The Penedés region, which is 40 Km. south of Barcelona, is the great traditional cava – the local variety of champagne – and white and red wine producing area. The visit of a number of local wineries and the tasting of products are some of the activities recommended for this tour, in the course of which the visitors will be informed in detail about the wine and cava making process. One of the largest wineries in the World, the Codorniu cava cellars have been declared a national historical monument. For more information: www.montserratvisita.com and www.codorniu.com
SITGES
Sitges is a white town facing the sea, 37 km. south of Barcelona. It is an important tourist centre with a wide hotel and sporting offer and extensive beaches. During the Modernistic period, Sitges was a meeting point for the intellectuals and artists of the time. Recommended visits are the Cau Ferrat Museum, the old atelier of modernist artist Santiago Rusiñol, the Maricel de Mar Museum, the Romantic Museum, the Bonaventura Blai house, the town hall, the market, and the Prado Theatre and Casino. For more information: www.sitgestour.com
GERONA
Gerona is starting to be known as the Catalan Florence. It is located 100 km north of Barcelona, at a short distance from the Costa Brava. The rehabilitation of the riverside, the restoration of the old Call - the medieval Jewish quarter - and its university life make this town an ideal place to visit and live in. A stroll through downtown Girona will show us the Cathedral – built between the 14th and the 18th centuries - where the creation tapestry is on display, as well as the city wall walkway, the medieval houses on the Onyar river, the Arabic baths, and the Rambla de la Llibertat (Llibertat Boulevard), which is at present the main business and shopping core of the city. For more information: www.ajuntament.gi/turisme
FIGUERAS Y CADAQUÉS
Figueras, north of Barcelona, is the capital of the Alt Empordà district, which is internationally known as the place of birth of Salvador Dalí. Figueras is the capital of the Alt Empordà district, located north of Barcelona, which is internationally known as the place of birth of Salvador Dalí. The universe of this surrealistic painter is the ideal starting point for one of the best Costa Brava tours: his Theatre-Museum at Figueras; his residence in Port Lligat, and, of course, Cadaqués, a beautiful and cosy village by the sea where he spent the summers of his youth, and which was also patronized by other figures such as García Lorca, Buñuel or Man Ray.
For more information: www.mjc-figueres.net and www.salvador-dali.org
PORT AVENTURA
The name of the second largest theme park in Europe is Port Aventura, located one hour south of Barcelona. The park offers adventures for the whole family, and the ambience design takes the visitor on a fascinating journey through time and space across 5 fantastic worlds recreated in the Park: Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico and the Far West. You will enjoy the Dragon Khan, the largest roller coaster in Europe, as well as other attractions, shows, restaurants, shops, and an endless parade of games and entertainment which make up the park’s leisure offer. For more information: www.portaventura.es
TARRAGONA AND CATALAN ROMANESQUE
Located 92 kilometres south of Barcelona is Tarragona, the great Roman bulwark of old Hispania. Its artistic and architectural legacy has been designated a world heritage centre by UNESCO. Traces of the Roman domination are spread all over the territory of Tarragona; special highlights are the theatre, the forum, the circus, and the pretorium, as well as the fantastic collections exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum. The medieval footprint can be found in the old manor houses, the cathedral and Pallol square. For more information: http://www.tarragonaturisme.cat
PYRENEES: NATURE AND ADVENTURE
Two hours by car from Barcelona there rises the Pyrenees, a range of mountains that forms a natural border between Spain and France; these mountains are an ideal setting for alpine skiing in ski resorts such as Andorra or Baqueira Beret. In spring and summer, risk sports such as rafting, hydrospeed, or canoeing take place on the rivers flowing from several Pyrenees districts. These places are also very appropriate to practice mountaineering, mountain bike excursions, and paragliding. For more information: http://www.visitpirineus.com