How do you like the idea of swimming or sunbathing among the pine forests overlooking the sea? Or in a secluded bay hidden between the rocks? This is one of the many reasons to visit Costa Brava, on the Girona coast. This magnificent coastline stretches between the French border towns of Portbou and Blanes, revealing a mosaic of incomparable landscapes. The only remaining Greek ruins on the Iberian Peninsula await you - in Emporion and Roses, natural treasures such as the Sierra de l'Albera, the Medes Islands and the natural park of Cap de Creus, the resorts of Playa d'Aro, Tossa de Marie and Lloret de -Mar and cute fishing villages such as Calella de Palafrugell or Cadaques. If you decide to head inland, you will find some magnificent medieval towns in the Empordà, such as Monells, Peratallada and Pals.
Among Catalonia travel guide, one cannot fail to mention the beaches of Tarragona, united under the general name Costa Dorada or Costa Daurada. Places you should definitely visit are the capital of the province of Tarragona, with its Roman archaeological site, declared a World Heritage Site in 2000, as well as the other important towns of Vila Secai Salou, whose municipalities share the first theme park in Spain - PortAventura World. A few kilometers inland you'll find Reus, a cozy town dotted with modernist buildings and vintage shops. Also worth mentioning are such picturesque enclaves as the medieval towns of Mont Blanc, Siurana and Prad. And if you like religious buildings, do not forget to take the Cistercian route, the pearls of which are the Poblet Monastery and the Escaladei Monastery, the oldest on the peninsula.
Volcanoes are a distinctive feature of this beautiful region of Girona. In addition to charming medieval towns such as Castellfollit de la Roca, Santa Paui Besalu, La Garrotxa also offers many places for lovers of rural tourism - the mythical Fageda d'en Jorda, one of the most wonderful beech forests in southern Europe, and the Santa volcano -Margarida, in the crater of which there is a small church. Also spend some time exploring Vals d'en Bas, where you'll see why Els Ostalets d'en Bas is nicknamed the Switzerland of Catalonia. Volcanoes are a defining feature of this beautiful region of Girona. In addition to charming medieval towns such as Castellfollit de la Roca, Santa Paui Besalu, La Garrotxa also offers many places for lovers of rural tourism - the mythical Fageda d'en Jorda, one of the most wonderful beech forests in southern Europe, and the Santa volcano -Margarida, in the crater of which there is a small church. Also spend some time exploring Vals d'en Bas, where you'll see why Els Ostalets d'en Bas is nicknamed the Switzerland of Catalonia.
Another place worth visiting in Catalonia is a small charming town whose main attractions are concentrated in the so-called Barri Vell. Its magnificent cathedral, which houses the largest Gothic nave on the planet, the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, the delightful alleys of the Jewish quarter or Cal, the Arab baths, colorful houses overlooking the Onyar River and the Peixeteres-Velles bridge are a must-visit in case you travel to Girona from Barcelona.
Until the opening of the Vielha tunnel in 1948, Vall d'Aran was the most isolated region in Catalonia. As a result, it has preserved its own language, the Aranese dialect of Occitan or Provençal, as well as festivals and traditions that reflect centuries-old traditions. In addition, this region is home to one of the most important ski resorts - Baqueira Beret, which is also a stronghold of Romanesque art. It is worth exploring its capital, Vielha, and amazing towns such as Arties, Salarduil or Tredos, whose church, Santa Maria de Cap d'Aran, still has medieval frescoes.
South of Val de Aran in the Alta Ribagorza region, you will find several churches of the Val de Boi, built between the 11th and 12th centuries and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Although religious paintings from these churches are now kept in the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, a visit to the buildings themselves will be unforgettable. You can also admire the beauty of the Aiguestortes i Lac de Sant Maurici National Park, with peaks reaching 3000 m above sea level.