Catalonia - Independent Travel

Catalonia
Catalonia
Barcelona
Girona
Lleida
Tarragona
I
C O N T E N T S
Introduction
Introduction
1
A walk round the capital cities
Barcelona
Tarragona
Lleida
Girona
10
10
16
19
22
Trips round the autonomous
community
Girona
Barcelona
Tarragona
Lleida
25
25
31
35
39
Leisure and shows
42
Useful information
47
GETTING TO KNOW CATALONIA
Ireland
United
Kingdom
Dublin
London
Paris
France
Cantabrian Sea
Catalonia
Portugal
Madrid
Lisbon
SPAIN
Atlantic Ocean
Mediterranean
Sea
Ceuta
Melilla
Front cover:
Aiguablava. Girona
Back cover:
Monastery of Montserrat. Barcelona
Text:
Sebastiá Barrufet Rial
Translation:
Hilary Dyke
Printed by:
EGESA
D.L. M- 44129-2007
NIPO:704-07-048-2
Published by:
© Turespaña
Secretaría de Estado
de Turismo y Comercio
Photographs:
Turespaña Picture Library
Printed in Spain
Ministerio de Industria,
Turismo y Comercio
Graphic design:
P&L MARÍN
6rd Edition
According to a legend widely
accepted by the Catalonian
people, in the ninth century,
just before Wifredo I
(El Velloso) died, blood from
his battle wounds was
smeared onto his shield,
forming four vertical lines:
the four red stripes featured
on the senyera, or flag of the
Autonomous Community
of Catalonia. Thus was born
the symbol of identity of
Catalonia, an outwardlooking, Mediterranean
region with its own culture
and language (Catalan),
through which its personality
has gradually taken shape.
Of a friendly nature,
Catalonians are extroverted
yet discreet and these
characteristics come to the
fore in their traditional dance,
the sardana, a true reflection
of fraternity, performed to the
beat of music charged with
melodiousness.
With a population of over six
million, Catalonia covers a
surface area of 31,930 km2 in
the northeast of the Iberian
Peninsula. It is flanked to the
north by France and Andorra,
to the south by the
Autonomous Community of
Valencia, to the west by
Aragón and to the east by the
Mediterranean Sea, whose
waters bathe its more than
500 km of coastline.
A land of contrasts, the
Catalonian community is of a
varied relief which endows it
with clearly differentiated
landscapes: deep valleys,
remote mountain villages,
large capital cities, seafaring
towns, snow-capped peaks,
spacious beaches and even
tiny coves that may be
reached only from the sea.
As a result, the visitor finds
himself in the enviable
position of being able to
enjoy highly different scenes
within easy distance of one
another.
Coast of Girona
Catalonian rural houses
known as masíes.
The region's climate is
conditioned by its varied
relief. Of the Mediterranean
continental type, it is mild and
warm on the coast but more
extreme in the areas of higher
altitude, where snow is
frequent. It is humid on the
coast and dryer inland.
Catalonia, which is divided
administratively into four
provinces (Barcelona, Girona,
Lleida and Tarragona) and
territorially into 41 regions, is
one of the Mediterranean's
major tourism centres and is
specifically equipped for the
purpose with a first-class
infrastructure which makes it
a popular choice among
congress and convention
organisers. With facilities
ranging from hotels, hostels
and boarding houses to camp
sites and rural tourism hotels,
the Catalonian community has
an accommodation capacity of
approximately 500,000 places.
River Monastero. Lleida
The Pyrenean mountain range
runs from west to east along
Catalonia's northern
territory until it reaches the
Mediterranean Sea. Between
the Pyrenees and the littoral
and pre-littoral chains lies the
community's flattest area,
formed by the central
depression.
In addition to tourism,
Catalonia has always been an
important centre of industrial
activity, based originally on
the textile sector, though it
has spread towards other
areas such as the car industry,
food, chemicals and
electronics. A modern
community, well-positioned in
The inland area is essentially
a land of farmers and
cattle-breeders. Here, the
countryside is made up of
arable land speckled with
villages and the typical
2
the area of new technologies,
its inhabitants remain loyal to
custom and tradition.
Catalonia's seaports (including
two of the leading
Mediterranean ports,
Barcelona and Tarragona),
fishing ports and pleasure
harbours total 43, while
61 percent of its surface area
is covered by forest, with
about 6,500 km2 of protected
natural spaces making up a
huge enclave of biodiversity.
From coastal tourism
(Costa Daurada, Costa de
Garraf, Costa del Maresme
and Costa Brava), winter and
mountain holiday resorts
(the Catalonian Pyrenees)
to rural tourism (inland) and
sightseeing, coupled with the
Port of Tarragona
charm of each town and city,
there is a wide range of
tourism activities, all within
Catalonia's boundaries.
When visiting this
autonomous community,
the traveller will realise that
Catalonia is much more than
this brochure could ever
describe. With the chance to
breathe in the fresh mountain
air, go bathing in the region's
waters, admire the
monuments, enjoy refined
cuisine, in Catalonia, pleasant
surprises await round every
corner. The best thing for the
visitor to do is to study the
maps and establish areas of
priority interest, confident in
the knowledge that whichever
spot he chooses, Catalonia will
not let him down.
HISTORY
Catalonia's history has evolved
alongside a people's tenacious
efforts to conserve their signs
of identity; a people that have
lent their territory to a
number of civilisations,
drawing from their cultures
and accumulating a vast
historical-artistic heritage.
In ancient times, this territory
received an initial influx of
Indo-European peoples who
came from Central Europe.
Later, the Celts would arrive
and, between the eighth and
first centuries B.C., first the
Phoenicians and then the
Archaeological Walk. Tarragona
Greeks appeared, to be
followed by the Iberians, who
occupied the Mediterranean
strip of the peninsula, with
some tribes deciding to settle
in Catalonia. The Romans
arrived in these lands in the
second century B.C., starting a
Romanisation process which
would reach its culminating
point 200 years later. The
Moslem era would come
afterwards.
Towards the year 800 A.D., the
troops of Charlemagne won
part of what is now Catalonian
territory from the Moslems.
The ninth century marked the
period of Catalonia's political
construction. The area was
organised into counties, the
main one being Barcelona.
In the eleventh century, the
Catalonian counties joined
together under the
domination of Ramón
Berenguer I. Having formed a
dynastic union with Aragón in
the twelfth century, Catalonia
undertook its great territorial
expansion process in the
following century, during
the reign of Jaime I
El Conquistador, who added
the territories of Valencia and
Majorca to his realm. Next
came the Trastamara period
and then the era of the
Austrias, with Carlos I, who
would forge dynastic union
between the Kingdoms of
Castile and Aragón in the
sixteenth century. As a result
of the defeats suffered by
Catalonia in the War of
Succession in the early
eighteenth century, Felipe V
assumed the throne.
twentieth century.
The complex business of
establishing the Generalitat
de Cataluña (Catalonian
government) was completed
during the Second Republic.
However, after the Civil War,
Franco's government
remained aloof of such
aspirations until, in 1979, a
more open-minded political
approach led to the approval
of the Autonomy Statute and
the restoration of what is now
the Generalitat de Cataluña.
ARTISTIC HERITAGE
The many peoples who settled
in the territory of Catalonia
left their mark in the form of
an artistic legacy, with
countless constructions of
great architectural interest.
Catalonia's most ancient
artistic possessions are the cave
paintings found in El Cogul,
El Perelló and Ulldecona and
the megalithic monuments
which may still be seen in the
region's northern area.
In nineteenth century
Catalonia, a widespread desire
for self-rule took root, starting
off with a struggle to recover
the region's own law and to
maintain its own language
and customs. Thus was born
the Mancomunitat de
Cataluña (the commonwealth
of Catalonia), the embryo of
the autonomous government,
at the beginning of the
The short-lived Greek
colonisation left behind it the
archaeological remains of the
ancient city of Rhode (Roses)
and of Empúries, where there
is still valuable evidence of the
Roman era also. However,
the greatest exponent of
Romanisation in Catalonia is,
5
beyond any doubt, the city of
Tarragona, which stands proud
of its walls, amphitheatre
and circus, amongst other
important monuments.
The range of Catalonian
Romanesque covers over 2,000
constructions, from early rural
churches to huge cathedrals.
Remarkable instances of the
first Catalonian Romanesque
style are to be found in the
series of churches standing in
Valle de Boi in the Western
Pyrenees. In the thirteenth
century, what is known as the
second Romanesque style
flourished, moving towards a
fine sculptural decoration such
as that seen in the Cathedral of
La Seu d'Urgell, the cloister in
the Cathedral of Girona, the
frontispiece and the cloister of
the Cathedral of Tarragona and
the old monastery at Ripoll.
Similarly, Arab domination
left signs of its brief
occupation, such as the castle,
Castillo de la Suda, in Tortosa.
Little by little, all these
ancient civilisations
endowed Catalonia with a
historical-artistic heritage
which was further enhanced
in the Middle Ages when
Romanesque art and later,
Gothic, chose this territory to
erect their architectural gems.
La Sagrada Familia. Barcelona
The complex construction
of the great Cistercian
monasteries at Poblet, Santes
Creus and Vallbona de les
Monges was also started
in accordance with the
Romanesque model, although
ultimately, Gothic prevailed.
When, after the conquest of
the Balearic Islands and the
Kingdom of Valencia,
Catalonia was enjoying one
of its greatest moments of
splendour and all the towns
and cities were seized by a
passion for new buildings,
Gothic art became the
dominant feature. Barcelona
boasts a first-class Gothic
heritage, with its magnificent
6
cathedral, the superb Church
of Santa María del Mar and
the monastery at Pedralbes.
In Girona, the cathedral has
the widest Gothic nave in
Europe, while in Lleida, there
is the Seu Vella Cathedral and
in Tarragona, the cathedral
and the walled monumental
ensemble of Montblanc.
of the buildings in the city of
Reus, built by the architect,
Domènech i Montaner.
Later, in the early years of the
twentieth century, avant-garde
art would begin to make its
presence felt. The first quarter
of the century welcomed the
arrival of such major figures as
Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí,
two artists who were destined
to reach worldwide fame.
Renaissance and baroque
were of less significance in
Catalonia than the above
aesthetic tendencies. Even
so, there remain fine examples
of that period, such as the
Basílica de la Mercè, in
Barcelona; the instances of
Renaissance art in Tarragona
Cathedral; the Seu Nova de
Lleida and the interesting
baroque altarpieces in the
churches at Cadaqués, on
the Costa Brava, and at Arenys
de Mar, in Maresme.
NATURAL HERITAGE
Catalonia possesses a
boundless wealth of
landscapes of extraordinary
diversity and beauty, treasured
in the form of a national park
and a good number of nature
parks: an ideal setting in
which to switch off from daily
routine and go and watch the
spectacle of life.
During the closing decades
of the nineteenth century,
Catalonia witnessed an
outburst of modernism.
In Barcelona, Antonio Gaudí,
the movement's greatest
exponent, erected buildings
admired the world over, like
Pedrera, Park Güell and the
as yet unfinished Sagrada
Familia. From the exceptional
ensemble in the city itself,
modernist art spread all over
Catalonia, creating works of
special interest such as some
Mountain of Montserrat
7
The province of Barcelona is
home to the nature park,
Parque Natural de la
Muntanya de Montserrat, one
of the most popular places in
Catalonia, not only because
of the overwhelming beauty
of the Mountain of
Montserrat but also because it
is here that the shrine of Mare
de Déu de Montserrat stands.
The shrine, with its image of
the patron saint of Catalonia,
La Moreneta, is frequently
visited by Marian devotees.
Close at hand are two other
nature parks: Montseny,
declared as a Reserve of the
Biosphere owing to its
ecological diversity, and
Parque Natural de Santa
Llorenç del Munt i L'Obac, of
particular interest on account
of the vegetable and animal
habitat found in its caves,
home to several species of
bats and insects, some of
which are exclusive to
the area.
Tosa d'Alp. Amongst the
park's attractions are the
all-terrain circuits and trips
by sledges drawn by
Nordic dogs.
In the province of Girona,
there are three nature parks:
Parque Natural d'Aiguamolls
de l'Empordà, formed by a
group of lakelets which
provide a privileged habitat
for aquatic birds (over
323 bird species and a reserve
for mammals like the otter
and the polecat); Parque
Natural Zona Volcánica de
la Garrotxa, situated round
the town of Olot, with as
many as 30 volcanic cones,
craters and lava outflows,
making it into one of Europe's
major nature parks and
Parque Natural de Cap de
Creus, a combination of land
and sea set in the superb, wild
countryside on the peninsula
of the same name.
Lleida has one of Spain's
prettiest national parks,
Parque Nacional de
Aigüestortes i Lago de Sant
Maurici, a majestic landscape
noted for its lofty peaks
looking down onto countless
pools and ponds. Water
is in abundance here, with
24 mountain lakes, the
best-known of which is Sant
Maurici. Of equal interest are
the Estany Gran, with its
Approaching the Barcelona
Pyrenees lies Parque Natural
Cadí-Moixeró, Catalonia's
largest nature park, where
nature lovers have the chance
to observe a wide variety of
fauna and to admire the
Alpine-like landscapes,
including the chain formed by
the Cadí and Moixeró ranges,
Macizo de Pedraforca and
part of the Puigllançada and
8
splendid cascades, and the
Estany Negre. A good starting
point for a trip round the park
is Camí dels Enamorats and
Roca de la Cremada. The route
crossing the park from Boi to
Espot is one of the most
fascinating in the entire
Pyrenees.
there are flora and fauna that
are unique to Catalonia: over
300 different bird species
and fish in great abundance.
In the town of Deltebre, the
visitor is recommended to
look round the Ecomuseo,
where he will find lots of
information about the Delta.
Lastly, to the south of the
province of Tarragona, lies
Parque Natural Delta de
l'Ebre, a seaside area of
great ecological importance
consisting of a vast plain
generously endowed with
canals and pools. The
shoreline's main features
are the huge sandbanks and
impressive dunes formed
by the action of the sea.
Particularly noteworthy are
Illa de Buda, El Fangar and
Port dels Alfacs. In this natural
area, measuring 7,736 hectares,
There are more protected
natural areas in Catalonia,
like Sierra de Albera, famous
for its valuable population
of Mediterranean tortoises,
and Los Medes; not forgetting
partially protected areas,
such as Riera ArbúciesHostalric, Timoneda d'Alfès,
Mas de Melons and Alt Àneu,
among others; and certain
sections of some rivers, like
La Llosa, Segre-Isòvol and
Noguera Pallaresa.
www.gencat.net
National park of Aigüestortes i Lago de Sant Maurici
da
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7
9
10
11
12
13
14
18
27
31
Going along Calle de El Bisbé
and then under the neoGothic bridge of Casa dels
Canonges (5), the visitor
reaches Plaça de Sant Jaume
(6), where the buildings
housing the city hall and
the autonomous government,
Generalitat de Catalunya,
stand face to face. From
here, Calle Ferran will
lead us to the heart of the
Ramblas (7), which start at
Cathedral
Casa de l’Ardiaca
Roman wall
Pía Almoina
Casa dels Canonges
Plaça de Sant Jaume
Ramblas
Monument to Christopher Columbus
La Boquería Market
Palau de la Virreina
Gran Teatre del Liceu
Plaça Reial
Basílica of Santa Maria del Pi
Basílica de la Mercé
Palau de la Música Catalana
Iglesia de Santa Maria del Mar
Las Ramblas
10
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Escudellers
31
ada
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Plaa V’ctor
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Carrer Nou
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de la Ramb
Palau
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Carrer
7
C. Sant
Domenec
12
Carrer Marqus
de Barberˆ
Carrer Montserrat
The nucleus of the capital
of Catalonia is the Gothic
Quarter, where some of
the city's most symbolic
buildings are to be
found, such as the
u
Rauric
Pa
Teatre
Arc del
Coming out of the cathedral
through the main door, one
sees Casa de l'Ardiaca (2),
rebuilt from the fifteenth
century onwards on the city's
Roman wall (3), of which a
number of notable
fragments still remain.
Nearby is the mediaeval
building of
Pía Almoina (4).
Carrer d'en Roca
l
Carrer
C. Agla Escudell
C. Arc
S. Ag de
ust’
an
de S
Sant
s Plaa
Avinguda Plaa Antoni Av. Francesc
la Nova
Camb—
Maura
Catedral
la Pal
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d EsglŽsia de
4
Plaa
2
er St. Felip Neri
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del Pi
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Palau
Santa Caterina
3 Reial
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a
Carrer de la Princesa
Ferr‡n
de
Carrer
6 Carrer de Jaume I
Plaa
Museu Picasso
Sant Miquel
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11
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del
Biblioteca de
Catalunya
Carrer Petrit
Carrer
Bertr
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Plaa Vila
de Madrid
Carrer Nou de
Sant Francesc
Founded by the Romans in
the area between the Rivers
Llobregat and Besòs, the
primitive enclosure of
Barcino was situated on
the Mons Taber. A universal,
cosmopolitan city, Barcelona
is a city of contrasts where
the ancestral past lives
on side-by-side with the
most contemporary of
architectures in a state
of perfect harmony.
EsglŽsia
de Betllem
.
Carrer del Bisbe
Barcelona
C
Carrer Ortigosa
27
Com
Carrer
d'en Monec
A walk round
the capital cities
Old Quarter
er
Carr ster
ca
Lan
cathedral (1), where features
from different styles are
combined. Built in the period
from the thirteenth to the
fifteenth centuries, it is a
temple with three Gothic-style
naves and a nineteenth
century facade. The building
houses an outstanding artistic
heritage in the form of
the spacious cloister, the
Romanesque Chapel of
Santa Llucía and the crypt
of Santa Eulàlia.
Carrer Santa Anna Carr
er
C.
D
C. BonsuccŽs
11
LEGEND
Tourist Information Office
Parking
Post Office
Train Station
Police
Carrer de Independència
Carrer Rogent
Castillejos
Cartagena
de
M
ER
ID
IA
N
A
Carrer
de
Carrer
Carrer
d´Àvila
Badajoz
de
Lutxana
Carrer
d´Àlaba
Turró
Doctor
Carrer
Carrer
Carrer de Zamora
Carrer de Pamplona
Trueta
20
Carrer Salvador Espriu
Parc
Port Olímpic
Parc dels Ponts
Pas
seig
Marítim
Platja
Nova Icària
Plaça de Catalunya (8) and
end at the monument to
Christopher Columbus (9).
The upper section of this
world-famous promenade
is known as the Rambla de
Canaletes, after the spring
of the same name. Tradition
has it that any traveller who
drinks from its waters will
return to the city.
Plaça de Catalunya
elona
a
Mar
Adoberia
CARRER
Carrer de Joan d´Austria
Wellington
de
Padilla
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Pin
de
PERE
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Bo
ta
de
Carrer
Sancho
l
ne
Carrer
de
elo
Bolívia
Carrer dels Almogàvers
RRER
Moll Mestral
ítim
Carrer
a
arc
Carrer
Sicília
Nàpols
de
de
Carrer
Carrer
Sardenya
Flor
de
Roger
de
C.
CA
Carrer
A
D
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Carrer
Carrer de Tànger
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Teatre Nacional
de Catalunya
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16
19
A
Parc de la
Plaça . D
Poeta Bosça òria Barceloneta
seig
Pas
de
SANT
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DE
de
PASSEIG
de
Carrer
Carrer
Museu de
Geología
València
orats
Enam
D´ARAGÓ
Plaça
Glòries
Catalanes
CATALANES
IN
AV
Passeig Lluís
Companys
Cascada
Mallorca
Auditori
de Barcelona
Pujades
és
Museu d'Art
Marqu tera
rgen
Parc Modern (MNAC)
Plaça Isabell II L´A
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8
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
29
30
Monument to Christopher Columbus
The Ramblas are the liveliest
part of the city. Here, one may
pause to watch the pavement
artists or pass the time
browsing at the well-stocked
newspaper stands. Failing
that, one may observe the
street sellers, with their arrays
of flowers and even small
12
13
Moll
Xaloc
Plaça de Catalunya
Drassanes
Port Vell
Puerto de Barcelona
Barceloneta
Vila Olímpica
Anella Olímpic
National Palace of Montjuïc
La Sagrada Familia
Park Güell
Casa Batlló
Casa Milà “La Pedrera”
Parc de la Ciutadella
Collserolla
Monastery of Pedralbes
LEGEND
Tourist Information Office
Parking
Hospital
Post Office
Police
Train Station
Bus Station
Platja
Bogatell
animals. Moving along the
Ramblas, the visitor will find
the popular market,
La Boquería (10), the palace,
Palau de la Virreina (11), an
austere rococo building from
the eighteenth century, and
the Gran Teatre del Liceu (12),
opened in 1847 and rebuilt
after it was burnt down in a
tragic fire in 1994. On the
other side of the promenade
stands Plaça Reial (13), an
architectural ensemble of
nineteenth century porticoed
buildings. Not far away, the
great Gothic Basílica de Santa
Maria del Pi (14) can be seen.
building named after the city's
patron saint. This route will
take us to the Barceloneta (19),
the old fishermen's district
which is now full of seafood
restaurants. From here,
Rompeolas may be reached.
The year of 1992 is a key date
in the city's history because it
was then that Barcelona hosted
the XXV Olympic Games.
In preparation for this event,
the city of Barcelona, also
known as the Ciudad Condal,
was completely transformed:
with the Vila Olímpica (20),
now a leisure centre, the
seafront was recovered and
some areas which had, until
then, been abandoned, were
made into inviting beaches.
Such is the case of Mar Bella
and El Bogatell.
The next stop on our walk will
be the Drassanes (15), the
city's old shipyards, and then
Port Vell (16), linked by the
floating footbridge of Rambla
del Mar to the Maremàgnum,
a huge amusement and
shopping centre. Close by is
one of the Mediterranean's
busiest ports, Puerto de
Barcelona (17).
Also resulting from this
renovation process is the
Anella Olímpica (21), situated
Vila Olímpica
Not far from Paseo de Colón is
the Basílica de la Mercè (18),
an eighteenth century baroque
Nautical sports centre
on the mountain of Montjuïc.
Of special note are the Estadi
Olímpic, the Palau Sant Jordi,
covered by an enormous
metallic structure designed
by the Japanese Arata
Isozaki, and the Torre de
Telecomunicaciones, by
the architect Calatrava. At the
foot of the mountain are the
Montjuïc castle and national
palace (Castillo/Palau Nacional
de Montjuïc) (22), joined to
Plaza de Españya by the María
Cristina Promenade, famous
for the illuminated fountains
which add further appeal to
the walk as far as Font Màgica.
Casa Milà “La Pedrera”
The visitor should bear in
mind that the overriding
symbol of Barcelona's identity
is modernist architecture, best
represented by the figures of
Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i
Cadafalc and Lluís Domènech
i Montaner. Accordingly, it is
an absolute must to visit
buildings like the Sagrada
Familia (23), Park Güell (24),
Casa Batlló (25), Casa Milà "La
Pedrera" (26) and the Palau de
la Música Catalana (27). The
last two of these works, along
with Park Güell, have been
declared world heritage sites.
of the city are to be had; and
the two major works in Catalan
Gothic, the Monastery of
Pedralbes (30) and the Church
of Santa Maria del Mar (31).
Anybody visiting this great city,
considered to be one of the
best-equipped in the world in
terms of infrastructure, will
realise that the capital of
Catalonia has so much to see
and enjoy that it would take
sheets and sheets of paper to
describe it all. May the above
description suffice to give the
reader albeit a rough idea of
the many things he can expect
to find when he arrives in
Barcelona.
Other places of interest are
the city's largest park, Parc de
la Ciutadella (28), providing
access to the zoo; Collserola
(29), from where the best views
14
www.barcelonaturisme.com
15
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Roman wall
Cathedral of Santa María
Calle Mercería
Circus
Rambla Vella
Amphitheatre
Beach of El Miracle
Palaeo-Christian burial site
Calle de Çavallers
Port
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Proof of the Roman
occupation of the city is
furnished by the circus (7),
which goes back to times prior
to the first century A.D.. Its
remains are situated round
the present Plaça de
la Font, near Rambla Vella (8).
Although it has deteriorated
in the course of time, it is
one of the best-preserved
constructions of its kind
in Europe. At the end of
Pla
de Palau
A
Rambla Nova
5
REIN
The high part of the city is
made up of the old quarter,
a sightseer's delight set inside
the old Roman wall (4)
from the second century B.C..
Dominating the scene is the
Cathedral of Santa Maria (5),
the capital's main mediaeval
building, together with the
mediaeval arcades in Calle
Mercería (6).
r
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Ar
4
A
Situated on the mouth of the
River Francolí, Tarragona is
an ideal place from which to
survey the Mediterranean Sea.
For this purpose, at the end of
Rambla Nova (1), on Paseo
de Les Palmeres (2), there is a
de
UD
Present-day Tarragona
(Tarraco) became the chief city
in Roman Catalonia and one
of the leading towns on the
Iberian Peninsula. It has been
declared a world heritage site
by UNESCO. The capital of
Costa Daurada possesses a
considerable artistic and
architectural heritage which,
together with the beaches,
makes it into a tourism centre
of tremendous interest.
orx
s Plaça de
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magnificent vantage point or
mirador. If the intention is
to enjoy the impressive
panoramic views of the
capital, then the best thing
to do is to go to Paseo
Arqueológico (3), built around
the Roman walls, which date
back to the early years of the
Roman occupation. From here,
one can see as far as "Pont
del Diable" (Aqüeducte de les
Ferreres), a Roman aqueduct
which is a masterpiece of
engineering, situated about
four km from the capital.
Tarragona
Exc
13
14
año 2005
the palaeo-Christian burial
site (11), considered to be
one of the most outstanding
gardens of rest of this type in
the western world, and Calle
de Çavallers (12), the main
street in mediaeval Tarragona.
This Catalan capital also
possesses a superb port (13),
one of the most important in
the Mediterranean. The area
round the port is the setting
for El Serrallo (14), the
fishermen's quarter, where
the visitor is recommended
to try the city's best selection
of fish and seafood.
Cathedral cloister
Tarragona is, beyond any
doubt, a city to suit all tastes.
Combining a modern outlook
with a pride in its precious
reminders of former times, it
is an ideal place to delve into
history.
this rambla stands the
amphitheatre (9), built in the
second century A.D.. A good
part of its structure may still
be seen today, overlooking
the pretty beach known as
El Miracle (10). Other places
of interest in the city include
www.costadaurada.org
Beach of El Miracle
After dark, bathed in the
shadows cast by the exterior
lights, it seems to step out
from its surroundings,
creating a splendid sight as
it holds sway over the entire
city. Also worthy of note is
the new cathedral, or Seu
Nova (2), an interesting
neoclassical work built in
the eighteenth century. It is
approached from Carrer Major.
Lleida
Spreading over the banks of
the River Segre, in the middle
of fertile, fruit-growing
country, Lleida boasts a variety
of monuments which bear
witness to the highly diverse
cultures that left their mark
on the capital. It is an
extraordinarily attractive city,
standing erect amid nature in
its purest state as it looks to
the future with the best of
the past behind it.
In the same street, packed
with shops and amusements,
we find Casino Principal (3),
built in the style of the
Novecento. Carrying on down
Avenida Blondel (4), sights of
different styles are to be seen.
Near Seu Nova is the Church
of Sant Llorenç (5) which,
though commenced in
a late Romanesque
style (thirteenth
century), possesses
a good number of
Gothic features.
The old town is situated on
the right bank of the river.
Here, of particular interest
is the old cathedral,
Seu Vella (1), a combination
of Romanesque and
Gothic built on
the site of an
age-old
Moslem
mosque.
In the interior,
the streaming
light greatly
enhances the
beauty of the
sculptural
decoration.
Other places to be
visited include the
palace, Palau de
Seu Vella
18
19
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through Tárrega to stop at
Cervera. This partly-walled
town has a curious old quarter
whose main attraction is the
university building. Opened
in 1720, it was the only
university in Catalonia for
100 years. Not far away is
the mediaeval Church of
Sant Antoni and the old
Church of San Bernat, where
the marriage of the Catholic
Sovereigns took place.
This town, still within the
province of Lleida, is also
famous for its popular carreró
de les bruixes, or witches'
alleyway, and for the Church
of Santa Maria, a fine example
of Catalan Gothic.
8
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Murallas del
Turó de la
Seu Vella
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Bisbe
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del
erón
LLEIDA
Salm
Palla
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Carr
año 2005
la Paeria (6), which has been
altered considerably since it
was built in the thirteenth
century and is now used as
the city hall; and Hospital
Santa María (7), of interest
on account of its late Gothic
inner patio suffused with
light.
www.paeria.es
Palau de la Paeria
5 Church of Sant Llorenç
The left bank of the river is
the site of the modern part
of the city, born of expansion
in the twentieth century.
Arts and crafts fairs and
traditional, folkloric events
are held in the prepossessing
gardens known as Camps
Elisis (8).
6 Palau de la Paeria
7 Santa María Hospital
8 Camps Elisis
LEGEND
Tourist Information Office
Parking
Post Office
When leaving Lleida, the
traveller is recommended to
take the N-II road, passing
Police
Bus Station
20
Cervera University
21
Caste
ll
Escales
s
an
y
Pere
de
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isbe
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23
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C.
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Be
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Alba
Plaça
Catalunya
Cathedral
LEGEND
in
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Ca
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Al
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Rod u
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Carnicer
Berenguer
Carrer
rre
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SA
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Auriga Merc
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Wall
Paseo Arqueológico
Wall gardens
Cathedral
Pia Almoina
Jewish Quarter (Call)
Arab Baths
Church of Sant Pere
de Galligants
Church of Sant Nicolau
Convent of Sant Domènec
Santa Caterina Hospital
Parc de la Devesa
Ca
Llib
a
Clar
Ca
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Portal
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For
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Car
Ram
Ciutadans
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Ferrerie
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Mercade
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ar
rs
Abeurado
I el
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Plaça Teatre
Peremon
r
del Vi Municipal
Ce
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Plaça
Pont de
Bell-Lloc
Pedra
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Centre Cultural Ca
Creu
pu
La Mercè
tx
in
s
ou
rN
da
rre Avingu cesc
n
Ca
t Fra
n
Sa
Tourist Information Office
Parking
Police
22
Sac
Argente
ta
11
er
r
rre ròb
Ca ol G
of
ist
9
10
11
12
nts
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
me
20 de Juny
año 2005
Ony
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Susanna OPerrill
Miquel Blay
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View of the city
7
6
Fr
rre
N C
Leaving this quarter on the
left-hand side, we will find the
twelfth century Arab baths, or
Baños Árabes (7), and further
on, the Benedictine monastery
of Sant Pere de Galligants (8),
declared a historical-artistic
u
Ri
Ca
2
Pas
Do
er
In the old part, there are still
remains of the ancient city
wall (1), which winds its
way along from Paseo
Arqueológico (2) to Jardines
de la Muralla (3). The
prominent feature in this area
is the cathedral (4), a majestic
building characterised by a
mixture of styles, the Gothic
nave, the widest in mediaeval
European architecture, being
of particular interest.
Inside is the Tresor de la
8
atolic
de
Sa
i
P. Re
ld
Ca
Near the cathedral stand the
interesting diocesan art
museum, Museu d'Art
de Girona, and the
handsome Gothic building,
Pia Almoina (5). Walking on
along Calle Força, the visitor
will reach the Call, or the
Jewish Quarter (6), inhabited
by a large Hebrew community
during the Middle Ages.
12
GIRONA
Putjad
a
u
Pa
9
ca
Bar
rtí
Ma
ns
Jaume Po
ll
Situated in the Ter valley, at
the confluence of the Rivers
Güell, Galligants and Onyar,
Girona is known as the city of
the four rivers. The River
Onyar runs right through it,
with the old part of the city
on the right bank and the
modern town on the left.
Pont
Pedret
lle
Ca
l
e
Áng
nt
Palafruge
Girona
Jardins
John Lennon
Muralla
l
Sa
nie
nta
Da
Rosa
s
Llu
Sant
Plaça
nt
r
cia
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rr
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C
Sant Pere
ig
all
Jardins
s
G
t
n
Galliga
Doctor Figueres
Bellaire
Riu
Plaça
To
rre
Creus
Samso Jurats Passeig Reina Joana Baixada
Gironella
Torr
e
Sant
P. de la Barc
a
Jardins
Cristófol
d’Alemanys
i
t
r
be
ca
Plaça Sant Feliu
Ro
Plaça
Sant Feliu
C
ar
Catedral
re
Plaça
Pont de
r
Palau de
Lledoners
Sant Feliu
Justicia
er
s
Plaça Sant
Pa
ss
Domenec
Museu
ei
g
Plaça Josep
Jo Pont d´en d´Historia
sé Gómez
Es
Ferrater i Mora Universitat
Ba
c
Ca
lle
Piaola
na
st
er
le
Plaça Jaume
Església
ja
ie
s
s Plaça
Vicens Vives
Sant Martí
Sacosta
Corteu Veu Ca
Pont de
Pe rrera
ral s
Sant Agustí
Pas
a
ta
Diputació
Plaça
seig
Peralt
as
AVINGUDA
Independència
Gral.
urn ort
o
RAMÓN FOLCH
F C ial
tí
r
a
Re
tM
San
C
ar
ó
re
Besad
Llebre
r
Plaça
Minali
Arxiu
N
Sant Josep Historic
Pont
or
d
de Ferro
Cargol Provincial Socors
S
Artillers
a
Plaça Jordi
Ajuntament nt
de Sant Jordi
Palamós
Carrer
Jardins
del Pedret
Catedral, where the famous
Tapiz de la Creación (tapestry
of the creation) is kept.
Made during the eleventh
and twelfth centuries, it is
the major work in Catalan
Romanesque tapestry-making.
Portal
de França
building with a neoclassical
facade and a number of
modernist constructions.
Before leaving the city, it is
worthwhile going to Parc de
la Devesa (12), where the local
people like to go in their
leisure time. With a surface
area of over 40 hectares, it is
the largest banana plantation
in Catalonia.
Jewish Quarter
monument. Opposite is
the Romanesque Church of
Sant Nicolau (9).
Having bid farewell to Girona,
the visitor is recommended to
take the C-150 road to the
town of Banyoles. Here, the
main attraction for the tourist
is the lake, or estany, of great
geological interest. Set in a
fine landscape, the lake is the
subject of many a legend.
It is possible to walk right
round the lake by following
the pretty paths and strolling
through the delightful parks.
Boat trips are also available
for those wishing to see the
area from a different angle.
There are lots more sights to
see in the old quarter, a
constant reflection of the
wealth of its historic past.
The visitor might wish to go
and admire, for instance,
any of the several convents,
such as Sant Domènec (10),
El Carme or Sant Josep.
In the modern part of Girona,
points of interest include
Hospital de Santa Caterina (11),
a seventeenth century baroque
When setting off on his trip
along the northern coast, the
first town the visitor will find is
Portbou. Travelling southwards
along the N-260 road, the
town of Colera, of great
seafaring tradition, is reached.
Two of the most tempting
beaches are the ones at Colera
and Garbes, separated by
Punta dels Canons.
Trips round
the autonomous
community
Girona
COSTA BRAVA
From Portbou to Blanes, the
Costa Brava is Catalonia's
northernmost section of
shoreline. It is characterised by
quaint seafaring towns,
charming coves lapped by
crystal-clear waters and a
string of striking rocky cliffs
battered at will by the
Mediterranean Sea. It earned
its name of brava (wild) on
account of its rugged relief,
formed by a number of
mountain chains falling
abruptly down to the sea.
Next comes the town of
Llançà, with its popular
pleasure harbour, and the
seafaring village of El Port de
la Selva, a fine instance of
the rapport between sea and
mountain so frequent in this
area, surveyed by the old
Benedictine monastery of
San Pere de Rodes, one
of the chief monuments in
Catalan Romanesque art.
Close at hand is the peninsula
Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes
www.costabrava.org
Arab baths
Church of Sant Pere Galligants
24
25
año 2005
of Cap de Creus, recently
declared a nature park.
Reaching into the sea over a
distance of about 10 km, the
peninsula is typical of the
scenery on this shoreline.
for a far-stretching beach,
rounded off with the towns of
Roses and Empúries. Roses is
noted for its old fortress and
sixteenth century citadel,
where curious remains of the
Greek colony of Rhode may
still be seen. From here,
we take the C-260 road
inland to the town of
Figueres where, amongst
other things, we can visit
the Dalí Theatre-Museum,
containing the artist's tomb.
Continuing our coastal trip
southwards, we arrive in one of
the Costa Brava's most symbolic
villages: Cadaqués. Not for
nothing did its indescribable
beauty attract countless
intellectuals and artists, such as
Pablo Picasso, who produced
exceptional Cubist paintings at
the start of the century, and
Salvador Dalí who, years later,
from his home in Portlligat just
one km away, would turn the
village into an international
enclave for artists.
Just four kilometres inland,
as we carry on along the C-260
road, looms the castle,
Castelló d'Empúries,
with its rich artistic heritage.
Proof of this is the exquisite
fourteenth century Basílica
de Santa Maria. Returning
to the shoreline, we shall
see the Empuriabrava
Marina.
We then move on to the gulf,
Golfo de Roses which,
forming a 15 km curve, makes
Cadaqués
Approaching the end of the
Golfo de Roses stands L'Escala,
which will lead us to the ruins
of the Greek colony of
Empúries, Catalonia's most
frequently visited
archaeological site.
reserve because of the
biological value of the
surrounding waters, where
over a thousand marine
species dwell.
Now in the southern part of
the Costa Brava, we might
stop off at the village of Pals,
proud of its sightseeing area,
which has been declared a
historical-artistic ensemble.
Moving towards the coast, we
reach Begur, overlooked by
the remains of an austere
castle built on the rocks. With
pleasing instances of popular
architecture and houses built
by the indianos (Spanish
emigrants who returned to
Spain after having made a
fortune in Latin America),
Taking the road to Torroella
de Montgrí, with its thirteenth
century castle, L'Estartit, a
picturesque fishing port,
complete with pleasure
harbour, awaits us. There are
boat trips from the port to the
islets known as Islas Medes, a
small archipelago which was
once a hideout for pirates.
Situated less than one mile
from the coast, the seven
Medes islets form a protected
area considered as a nature
26
27
the town and its surrounding
area have received official
classification as a beauty spot.
Moving along the shoreline
on the same road, we enter
Platja d'Aro, one of the area's
most popular places as it so
well-equipped in terms of
shops and leisure activities.
A few kilometres to the south
is the luxury S'Agaró
residential estate, an example
of selective tourism at its best.
Not far away lies our next
destination: Sant Feliu de
Guíxols, with a modern tourist
area and some of the most
comprehensive sports facilities
to be found on this coastline.
Little more than seven km
further along the inland
road is Palafrugell, with its
archipelago known as Islas
Formigues, ideal for scuba
divers. On the sea front at
Palafrugell, there are
attractive tourist and
residential areas situated in
the old fishermen's districts
like Tamariu and Llafranc,
not forgetting Calella de
Palafrugell, renowned for
its sessions of habaneras
(Afro-Cuban songs), at which
the popular cremat (flambéed
rum with coffee) is drunk.
The southernmost part of the
Costa Brava is formed by
La Selva (the forest), with
a landscape of exuberant
vegetation which more than
justifies its name. Tossa de
Mar, the first coastal town
in this area, has a walled
enclosure, Vila Vella, together
with its Vila Nova, spreading
Travelling south along the
C-255 road, we reach Palamós,
with its famous fishing port
and excellent facilities for
lovers of nautical sports.
Hermitage of Santa Cristina. Lloret de Mar
along the beach. Following
the coastal road, Lloret
de Mar is reached, now the
main tourist resort on
the Costa Brava due to its
accommodation capacity.
Apart from being of great
artistic interest, Lloret de Mar
has interesting buildings like
the early sixteenth century
Church of Sant Romá, the
Santa Cristina Hermitage
and the Monument to
the Seafaring Woman.
THE EASTERN PYRENEES
AND VALLEYS
The last town in the southern
part of the Costa Brava is
Blanes, where it is worth
going to see the remains of
the castle, Castillo de San
Joan, and the sightseeing
area with its Gothic buildings
dating back to the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries.
The visitor might also take a
stroll round the two botanical
gardens: Mar i Murtra and
Pinya Rosa.
The traveller is advised to
start his tour of the Eastern
Pyrenees at the municipal
district of Puigcerdà, the
area's commercial centre
and hub of communications.
Here stands the fifteenth
century Convent of Sant
Domènec, complete with
its Gothic murals.
The Pyrenees, Catalonia's
northern mountain range,
afford views of spots nestling
amid an astonishingly
beautiful landscape.
Snow-clad mountains, green
valleys and crystalline rivers
go to make up an idyllic
setting in which the tourist
may enjoy the pleasure of
travelling to the full.
Monastery of Santa María de Ripoll
And so our trip along the
Costa Brava draws to an end.
Fishing villages, historical
ruins, tiny coves and beautiful
landscapes invaded by the
waters of an often raging sea;
in a word, an exceptional
geographical area so
well-prepared for tourism
that it satisfies even the most
demanding holidaymaker.
www.costabrava.org
28
29
año 2005
The N-152 road, passing
through Collada de Toses, will
take us to Vall de Ribes, the
Pyrenean valley where Ribes
de Fresser is situated. It is
necessary to go through this
town to reach Vall de Núria, a
stunning spot surrounded by
an imposing ring of mountains
through which the river of the
same name flows, forming a
gorge flanked by the chasms of
Totlomón and Roc del Dui.
As if this were not enough, the
glacial valleys of Fontalba and
Fontcalda give the whole scene
an attractive finishing touch.
Returning to Ribes de Fresser,
we take the N-152 road to
Ripoll, where it is a must to
visit the Romanesque
monastery of Santa Maria
de Ripoll. Founded towards
the ninth century, the
monastery features an
extraordinary portico showing
interesting sculptural relief
with scenes from the Bible.
From here, the C-151 road
takes us to Sant Joan de
les Abadesses, situated in a
typical Pyrenean valley bathed
by the River Ter. Here there is
an outstanding Benedictine
monastery founded in the
ninth century, an excellent
example of Catalan
Romanesque. The same
road continues to Camprodon,
where the twelfth century
Monastery of Sant Pere
may still be admired.
The C-153 goes as far as the
Coll d'Ares mountain pass on
the border between Spain
and France.
Barcelona
COSTA DE GARRAF AND
COSTA DEL MARESME
Within what is known as the
Costa de Ponent lies the
Costa del Garraf, the scarped
shoreline formed by the Garraf
Mountains and Sierra de
Coma-Roja as they drop into
the sea. On a hill belonging to
this mountain mass stands the
tenth century castle, the origin
of the town of Castelldefels,
now a major summer holiday
resort because of the beaches
of fine sand so characteristic
of the area.
Skiers will be delighted with
the winter resorts of the
Eastern Pyrenees, La Molina,
Masella, Núria and Vallter
2000 being of particular note.
After a hair-raising trip along
the C-245 as it runs past
plunging ravines, the traveller
reaches the town of Sitges,
one of Catalonia's most
popular holiday resorts, with
first-class hotels and splendid
pleasure harbours. While in
the town, the visitor should go
to the old quarter to admire
the Churches of Sant
Bartomeu and Santa Tecla.
Other buildings of interest
include the town hall, of
nineteenth century neo-Gothic
construction, and the palace
known as Palau Maricel,
with touches of mediaeval,
Renaissance and baroque art.
Moreover, Sitges is known
internationally for its fiestas
Vall de Núria
Towards the north, a road
leads to Queralbs, a
charming mountain village of
picturesque stone buildings.
This is where the footpath to
the Shrine of Virgen de Núria
begins. It is also possible to
reach the shrine, situated at
an altitude of 1,956 m, by the
rack railway. On arrival, the
views are breathtaking.
30
31
año 2005
The beach at Castelldefels
River Tordera. The coast is
lined by a chain of seafaring
towns and villages which have
become residential areas as
communications with
Barcelona are so good.
Coarse-sanded beaches
alternate with smaller ones
along a shoreline which is
dotted with pleasant nooks
attracting the tourist with
culinary delights and all the
services he could wish for.
and festivals (the International
Film Festival and the Sitges
International Theatre Festival).
The C-246 road goes to the
third of our recommended
destinations: Vilanova i
la Geltrú, the capital of
the district of Garraf.
This seaward-looking town
boasts a major fishing port
and beaches that are a haven
for lovers of nautical sports.
To the other side of the city of
Barcelona lies the Costa de
Llevant, more commonly
known as the Costa del
Maresme, stretching from
Montgat to the mouth of the
Starting our trip round this
area in the south (the N-II
road, A-19 motorway), we
find first Montgat and then
Alella, renowned for its wines.
Then comes El Masnou, a
residential town endowed
with a fine pleasure harbour
and beach. The N-II and the
A-19 also lead to the town of
Vilassar de Mar, with its lovely
promenade.
Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa
Tecla. Sitges
of the Costa del Maresme
pleasure harbours is situated.
Its most symbolic buildings
include the sixteenth century
Basílica de Santa María
de Mataró, with a
mediaeval/neo-Romanesque
style facade which was added
in the nineteenth century.
The town is also home to the
Torre Llauder archaeological
site, where there are still traces
of a Roman villa from the first
to the third centuries A.D..
thermal spring. Keeping to
the N-II or A-19, one arrives in
Arenys de Mar, whose
monuments and beaches
attract large numbers of
holidaymakers in the summer
months. In the wake of Arenis
de Mar come the towns of
Canet, with superb modernist
buildings, and San Pol de Mar,
where the main feature is the
Hermitage of Sant Pau.
A few kilometres further on,
we find Calella, the true
touristic capital of the
Maresme area, overflowing
with pavement cafés,
restaurants and a lively
nightlife which, together with
the beaches, are an irresistible
temptation for the traveller.
We end our trip along this
coast at Palafolls, where it is
worth visiting the ruins of
the castle built during the
period from the twelfth to
the fifteenth centuries.
More towards the north is
the town of Caldes d'Estrac,
where there is a noted
Church of Santa María. Mataró
The next stop will be Mataró,
a major industrial and
commercial centre where one
32
33
año 2005
of the withdrawal of the sea
in the area no less than
65 million years ago.
Tarragona
COSTA DAURADA
Basílica de
Santa María
and the
architectural
ensemble of Santa
Cova. Once the home
of San Ignacio de Loyola,
Santa Cova is an important
place of worship for Catholics.
THE PROVINCE’S INLAND AREA
From Manresa, taking the
C-1410 road, we reach
Cardona, where the castle's
walled fortress, now a parador
or state hotel, stands on a hill.
The fortified enclosure
contains, among other
interesting features,
the Church of Sant Vicenç
de Cardona, an arresting
eleventh century Romanesque
temple. However, the town's
chief sight was not created by
man but by the mysterious
action of nature and its
evolution: the famous
Montaña de Sal (mountain of
salt) still stands today as proof
The inland area of the
province of Barcelona is
bedecked with towns and
villages of historical interest.
The visitor is strongly
recommended to go to Vic,
taking the N-152 road out of
Barcelona. Situated to the
west of the grand reservoir,
Pantano de Sau, the town
possesses a fine cathedral,
the seat of an archbishopric.
The temple, built towards the
end of the eighteenth century,
is in the neo-classical style and
one of its main points of
interest is the interior murals
by Josep M. Sert. The bishop's
palace stands just next to
the cathedral.
Sau Reservoir
The A-18 road will take the
traveller to Manresa, with its
monumental approach
formed by the cathedral or
34
An essential trip round the
interior of the province of
Barcelona inevitably covers
two towns that are linked by
the common denominator of
winegrowing: Vilafranca del
Penedès and Sant Sadurní
d'Anoia, known respectively
as the wine capital and the
cava capital. (Cava is a Catalan
wine similar to champagne).
Vilafranca del Penedès is the
leading town in the Penedés
region for the production and
export of wine. In addition,
the town is famous for its
traditional market, held every
Saturday, when tradesmen
flock to the centre to set up
their stalls under the arcades
of the main squares. Sant
Sadurniú d'Anoia ranks first in
Spain for the production of
cava, with nearly 130 million
bottles a year. Naturally
enough, one of the sights to
be seen in this town is the
structural ensemble in which
cava is made: Caves Codorniu
has modernist pavilions
designed by Puig i Cadafalc,
while the internationallyfamous Freixenet, established
in 1889, comes from highly
attractive premises which date
back to the twenties, though
they have since been
modernised.
Such is the name given to the
Catalan shoreline inside the
province of Tarragona, lying
between the towns of Cunit
and Les Cases d'Alcanar.
This coastal strip, cleft by the
mouths of the Rivers Gaià,
Francolí and Ebro, may be
described as a sequence of
rounded contours lined with
innumerable beaches trimmed
by calm, shallow waters. True
to its name (the golden coast),
the landscape is flooded in
golden hues of fine sands and
the sun as it glows over the
horizon.
Leaving Cunit and the
residential estate of Segur
de Calafell, the visitor is
recommended to take the
C-246 to Calafell, the first stop
on our trip along the Costa
Daurada. A pretty holiday
resort, the town is admired
for its tiny mediaeval streets,
leading to the castle, and its
eleventh century Romanesque
church, housing remains of
frescoes. Nevertheless, the
inhabitants claim that the
greatest attraction is to be
found when the sun goes
down majestically over an
almost perfectly even
landscape.
35
our coastal journey to the
beaches of El Perelló and
L'Ampolla, pausing to admire
the stunning beauty of the
area near Cap Roig.
Keeping to the N-340 as we
leave Delta de l'Ebre behind
us, we arrive in Les Cases
d'Alcanar, where we can visit
the Catalan coastline's
southernmost pleasure
harbour and fishing port.
The southern gateway to
Catalonia, the town is of
particular interest as it is the
location of the Iberian village
of Moleta del Remei, officially
declared a historical-artistic
monument.
Nautical sports centre. Cambrils
west
of the city
of Tarragona.
This seafaring town,
which is like a great
avenue stepping out to meet
the waves, is the Costa
Daurada's leading holiday
resort. Here, one may enjoy a
walk along the popular Paseo
de Les Palmeres, which
unobtrusively runs along the
edge of the famous Llevant
Beach. Not far from Salou is
the theme park, Universal's
Port Aventura, which, ever
since it was opened, has been
one of the main tourist
attractions on the Costa
Daurada.
año 2005
Having visited the Roman
arch known as Arc de Berà,
we take the N-340 road to
Torredembarra, where we
can visit the remarkable
Renaissance castle and saunter
along one of the most popular
beaches on the Costa
Daurada. Close at hand is the
Roman villa of Els Munts,
from the first to the sixth
centuries, which occupies a
privileged position on a hill
overlooking the sea.
Our next destination will
be Altafulla, with the
Renaissance castle of the
Marquis of Tamarit. At this
point, the gentle contours
of the coast undergo a
radical change. The same
road takes us to Salou,
Church of San Martín. Altafulla
36
The N-340 road carries on
to Cambrils, a town with a
well-earned reputation for
good eating and an impressive
port, where there is a strong
fishing tradition. The coastline
from here to Delta de l'Ebre is
an endless sequence of
beaches washed by limpid
waters. This area is home to
major tourist resorts such as
Miami Platja and L'Hospitalet
de L'Infant, and others like
L'Almadrava, in the vicinity of
which the Calafat Circuit,
scene of top motorcycling
competitions, is situated.
There is, however, far more to
the Costa Daurada than its
coastal towns. The visitor must
not fail to visit some of the
inland towns like Reus, taking
the N-340 or the N-420.
Here, there is a superb
sightseeing area, consisting,
for instance, of the buildings
in Plaça de Prim and the
Casa Navàs, a fine example
of modernism.
Still going southward as we
continue our trip along the
Costa Daurada on the N-340,
it is well worth calling at
L'Ametlla de Mar, where the
coastal landscape changes
once more, with beaches of
coarser sand and patches of
vegetation reaching right
down to the edge of the sea.
It is a must to visit the fishing
port. From here, we resume
Tortosa should also be
included on the itinerary.
Situated near the mouth of
the River Ebro, the town
possesses remarkable
architectural works in the
mediaeval, Renaissance,
baroque and modernist styles.
37
the north of the Aigüestortes
National Park and Sant Maurici
Lake, accessible from Espot,
while the other runs to the
south of the park and is
accessible from Boi.
Lleida
THE WESTERN PYRENEES
AND VAL D’ARAN
Tortosa
It is an official historical-artistic
ensemble and some of the
buildings, like the castle,
Castillo de la Suda, now a
state hotel or parador,
are national monuments.
its shores and beaches.
The tourist can just as easily
have a beach holiday as he
can visit the area's fascinating
artistic monuments.
The exquisite beauty of
the coastal landscape is
enhanced by a backcloth
of historical gems which are a
sightseer's delight.
The visitor is also advised to
follow the Ruta del Císter,
or the Route of the Cistercian
Order, which was responsible
for Catalonia's major
monasterial reform.
The Cistercian monks
created an architectural
style characterised by austerity
of form, endowing
Catalonia with three of their
masterpieces: the monasteries
at Poblet (a world heritage
site), Santes Creus and,
in Lleida, Vallbona de
les Monges.
The westernmost part of the
Pyrenean mountain range is
one of the most attractive
places in the province of
Lleida. In this area, deep
valleys lie below towering
peaks, forming an astonishing
landscape spattered with tiny
villages where it is bitterly cold
in winter. For those wishing to
find out more, two itineraries
are recommended: one runs to
Both routes start at the town
of La Seu d'Urgell, with its
twelfth century Romanesque
Cathedral of Santa Maria.
On reaching Sort along the
N-260, we begin the northern
itinerary by taking the C-147
as far as Esterri d'Àneu, a
lovely rural spot. Behind us
lie the valleys, Vall de Cardos
and Vall Ferrera, watched from
Sant Maurici Lake
www.coastadaurada.org
Monastery of Poblet
May these examples suffice to
show that the Costa Daurada
has far more to offer than
38
39
año 2005
on high by the famous Pica
d'Estats, with an altitude
of 3,145 m..
has to be seen to be believed,
heighten the valley's intense
greenness even further with
their houses of granite and
slate. As the winter holiday
resorts of Baqueira Beret and
Super Espot are not far away,
skiers are a common sight in
these places.
With Vall d'Àneu and the town
of Espot to the south, we take
the C-142 to cross Port de la
Bonaigua, stopping to admire
the breathtaking views of the
area. Passing the tourist resort
of Baqueira, the visitor finds
himself in Val d'Aran, where he
may stop off at towns like
Salardú, Arties and the valley's
main town, Vielha. All these
towns, of a prettiness which
Val d'Aran, locked inside
mountains nearly 3,000 m high,
covers a surface area of just
over 600 km2. The only
Pyrenean valley with an
Atlantic climate, its
distinguishing feature is its
language, Aranese, which bears
close similarities to Gascon.
The area's autochthonous
cuisine is influenced by the
valley's climatology, with
wholesome dishes such as the
olla aranesa (a form of stew)
and others made from the
valley's own produce.
however, to turn off at El Pont
de Suert, taking the L-500
to visit Val de Boi. This
exceptionally attractive enclave
conceals one of the most
precious legacies of Catalan
Romanesque: the Churches of
Sant Climent and Santa Maria
de Taüll, among others.
The two routes come to an end
in the town of Bossòst, where
Val d'Aran's most outstanding
Romanesque church, built in
the twelfth century, stands
proud.
The second recommended
itinerary starts at Sort, on the
N-260, passing by the Noguera
Pallaresa River valley, an
excellent place for canoeing
and rafting. We then arrive
in La Pobla de Segur, known
as "the gateway to the
Pyrenees". Further south is
Tremp, the municipal district to
which the Sant Antoni
Reservoir, scene of many
nautical sports, belongs.
The N-260 carries on from
La Pobla de Segur to El Pont
de Suert, the meeting point
of various Pyrenean valleys.
From here, the N-230 continues
up the Pyrenees to take us
into Val d'Aran. It is better,
The Romanesque churches of
Vall de Boi have been declared
a world heritage site by
UNESCO.
As the visitor will see, the
Western Pyrenees provide an
opportunity to see a superb
display of nature and its
wonders, further embellished,
if this be possible, by an artistic
heritage of great value.
www.lleidatur.com
Bossòst
Vielha
40
41
spot with long-distance skiers;
and Port del Comte, which has
become a highly popular,
busy resort as it is within easy
distance of Barcelona.
Leisure and
shows
Sports
During the springtime, the
Pyrenees and Catalonia's
littoral and pre-littoral
mountainous regions blossom
into a myriad of unspeakably
beautiful nooks and crannies
where the visitor may come
into contact with nature in its
purest state. Furthermore,
Catalonia is an ideal place for
hikers, with a network of walks
measuring over 3,000 km.
The extraordinary
geographical diversity of
Catalonia, with a coastal strip
bordering an inland of high
mountains, makes for a wide
range of possibilities for
sports lovers of all kinds.
In winter, Catalonia means
snow and skiing. In the
Pyrenean area, the visitor will
find a good number of resorts
where he can practice
alpine-style skiing, with firstrate slopes and infrastructures.
In Girona, the Pyrenean resorts
are: La Masella, one of the
most tempting because of its
variety of slopes; La Molina,
Spain's pioneer skiing resort;
Vall de Núria, situated in an
unexampled landscape;
and Vallter 2000, Catalonia's
easternmost skiing resort.
As for the Lleida part of the
Pyrenees, the skier may choose
from among the Super Espot
resort, situated on one of
the access routes to Parque
Nacional de Aigüestores y
Lago de Sant Maurici; BoiTaüll, surrounded by a number
of interesting Romanesque
churches; Port Ainé, with a
large services infrastructure;
Baqueira Beret, a favourite
There are about 30 golf
courses in Catalonia, noted for
the quality of the turf and
the wide variety of rounds.
When the summer comes, the
Catalan shoreline overflows
with possibilities for nautical
sports at the many pleasure
harbours situated all along the
coast. Sailing, water-skiing,
scuba diving, aquatic motor
sports... , the visitor takes his
choice and Catalonia provides
the right setting.
Marinas and
theme parks
Marinas:
*Acuatic Paradís
Sitges (Barcelona)
*Isla Fantasía
Vilassar de Dalt (Barcelona)
*Aqua Brava
Cadaqués road. Roses (Girona)
*Aquadiver
Platja d'Aro (Girona)
*Water World. Lloret-Vidreres
road. Lloret de Mar (Girona)
*Marineland. MalgratPalafolls road (Barcelona)
*Aquapark. Salou (Tarragona)
Port Aventura. Tarragona
on Mondays. For fuller
information kindly contact
your nearest Tourist
Information Office.
Theme parks:
*Universal's Port Aventura
AP-7, run-off 35, N-340, km. 2,
Vila-Seca (Tarragona)
Barcelona:
• Barcelona Contemporary
Art Gallery (MACBA)
Plaça dels Àngels, 1
• Catalonia National Art
Gallery (MNAC).
Thyssen-Bornemisza
Collection
Palacio Nacional. Parque de
Montjuïc
• Antoni Tàpies Foundation
Aragón, 55
• Joan Miró Foundation
Montjuïc
*Catalunya en Miniatura
Torrelles de Llobregat
(Barcelona). Officially declared
as being of national touristic
interest, the park features
170 miniature monuments
representing the whole of
Catalonia.
Museums and
art galleries
Golf course
As a general rule, museums
and art galleries are open to
the public from Tuesday to
Saturday in the morning and
afternoon, on Sundays and
Public Holidays during the
morning only, and are closed
42
Girona:
• Catalonia-Empúries
Archaeological
Museum
L'Escala
43
discotheques, cinemas,
theatres, pavement cafés and
so on, not forgetting the
coastal towns, where drinking,
dancing and other night-time
amusements go on till dawn.
Moreover, Catalonia has the
added attraction of three
casinos, one at Castell de
Peralada, another in Lloret and
the Gran Casino de Barcelona.
All in all, there is a wide range
of entertainments which will
test the visitor's endurance if
he wants to combine daytime
tourism with a wild night life.
Dalí Theatre-Museum. Figueres
• Gala-Salvador Dalí
Foundation: Dali TheatreMuseum
Figueres
• Gala-Dalí House
Museum/Castle
Púbol (La Pera)
• Salvador Dalí House/Museum
Portlligat (Cadaqués)
Popular fiestas
One of the key dates on
Catalonia's festive calendar is
April 23, Día de Sant Jordi
(St. George's Day), the
community's patron saint.
On this day, in keeping with a
touching tradition which has
now spread to other countries,
couples exchange books and
roses. The other big event
takes place on September 11
when Catalonia's national
fiesta, La Diada, is held,
consisting of the community's
own symbolic activities:
castellers (human towers are
built in defiance of the law
of gravity) and the sardana,
the traditional Catalan dance.
Lleida:
• Archaeological Museum of
the Institute of Lleida Studies
Plaza Catedral
• Cathedral Museum
Almodí Vell
Tarragona:
• History Museum
Casa Castellarnau
• National Archaeological
Museum
Night life
When the sun goes down,
Catalonia is oblivious of
all care and woe. The main
capital cities are packed with
Other events which should
not be missed include
La Patum de Berga, on the day
44
of Corpus Christi; the dance,
Dansa de la Mort de Verges
(Easter Thursday); the Sitges
carnival; the St. John's Day
bonfires; and the fiestas de
La Mercè, the patron saint
of Barcelona, held in
September. In addition to
these festivities, each town,
village and city district holds
its own Festa Major (main
festive day) in honour of its
patron saint.
anchovies (L'Escala and
Ratafías) and liqueurs
generously flavoured with
herbs and fruits. It could
almost be said that, in
Catalonia, there are as many
varieties of these liqueurs as
there are villages.
Food and drink
If there is one thing that all
visitors to Catalonia agree
about, it is that here, good
eating is a priority matter.
Using only prime-quality
produce, Catalonian cuisine,
which has been subject to
so many influences, is
sophisticated, flavoursome and
varied. With specialities to
satisfy diners of all tastes,
gastronomy is based on the
natural resources deriving
from the region's twofold
nature: its coast and its
mountains. As a result, fish and
seafood are always fresh and
sausages and meats are of the
best quality. This entirely
Mediterranean cuisine features
delectable cold dishes like
esqueixada (desalted cod
salad), escalivada (roast
aubergines, onions and red
peppers) and xató (curly
endive, cod and anchovies);
and wholesome dishes such
as the appetising escudella
(a hen, veal and ham stock),
served with carn d'olla (meat
used in making the stock);
Shopping and
handicrafts
Catalonia has a longstanding
pottery tradition, especially
in the Ebro Basin, with the
ceramics of Miravet and Verdú,
including, amongst other
articles, a wide variety of
botijos (earthenware pitchers
with spout and handle).
Also of great renown are
household goods from
El Vendrell and ceramics from
La Bisbal.
In almost every town, there is
a weekly market where the
visitor may buy typical local
products such as sweetmeats,
home-made sausages and
popular Catalan handicrafts.
Apart from first-class wines
and cavas, Catalonia produces
superb olive oil, with
appellations d'origine such
as Les Garrigues and Siurana.
Other typical products include
45
broad beans Catalan-style;
and cargols a la llauna (a snail
pottage).
sausage) and fuet. The country
ham should also be savoured.
Another well-known dish is
calçotada, made from calçots
(a variety of spring onion),
which are roasted and dipped
in salvitxada (a variation on
romesco sauce). When it comes
to desserts and sweetmeats,
one is spoilt for choice by
delights such as crema catalana
(a form of custard covered in
caramelised sugar); mel i mató
(cottage cheese with lashings
of honey); panellets (a typical
Easter sweetmeat); pa de
pessic (an exceptionally spongy
cake); carquinyolis (where
almonds are the main
ingredient); and mona de
Pascua (a cake creatively
decorated with chocolate
figures).
There is also a wide choice of
meats and fish: the succulent
rabbit with snails or with
samfaina (lightly fried peppers,
tomatoes, onions and
aubergine); chicken with
lobster; barbecued fish and
seafood; and the typical
suquet de peix (a fish dish
prepared with spicy sauce); not
to mention the endless list of
rice dishes, such as rossejat and
black rice (with squid's ink).
Catalonian dishes are often
accompanied by one of the
many sauces peculiar to
the region's cuisine: fish in
romesco sauce (made from
dried red peppers and
chopped almonds), typical
of Tarragona; and barbecued
meat with all i oli (made with
garlic and oil).
In addition, Catalonia is one
of Spain's great winegrowing
regions, with nine appellations
d'origine: Alella, EmpordàCosta Brava, Conca de Barberà,
Costers del Segre, Penedès,
Priorat, Tarragona, Terra Alta
and Pla de Bages. While he is
in this land of good wines,
the visitor should try, among
others, the young whites;
the crianza whites (those that
have undergone the statutory
period of maturation in oak
barrels); rosés, traditional
red wines, rancios,
or heavily
oxidised
There can be no doubt that
the most popular dishes in
Catalan gastronomy are
butifarra amb mongetes
(typical Catalan sausage with
beans) and pa amb tomàquet
(bread and tomatoes), which
may be served with the finest
of sausages (raw or cured),
typical of the area of Vic.
Sausages include: bull,
butifarra (white or black),
longaniza (local spiced
46
USEFUL
INFORMATION
wines, not to mention the
sweet garnacha wine.
The range, which is so vast
that it suits all tastes, includes
wines made from foreign
grapes like cabernet,
chardonnay and merlot.
By road
The main access roads to
Catalonia are the AP-7,
the Mediterranean motorway,
and the AP-2, the north-east
motorway. Access is also
possible by the N-II
(Madrid-La Jonquera);
from Andorra, by the N-145;
from Aragón by the N-260
or the N-420; and from the
Autonomous Community of
Valencia, by the N-340 or the
N-232: a perfect road network
linking up the towns of
Cataluña.
A description of Catalan
wines would not be complete
without the superb,
world-famous cavas,
top-quality sparkling wines
produced in accordance with
the traditional champagne
method. When in Catalonia,
the traveller should make the
most of his stay by visiting
some of the cellars where this
wine is made, not only for
their unquestionable
architectural interest but also
because he will have the
chance to watch the cava
production process step by
step. Anyone visiting the area
is strongly recommended to go
to the modernist cellars of the
Costa Daurada, where he will
find unusual constructions by
César Martinell, blending art
with a sense of practicality
suited to their use. The best
examples of Martinell's work
are to be found in El Pinell de
Brai, Falset, Gandesa, L'Espluga
de Francolí and Sarral.
Spas
The benefits of Catalonia’s
plentiful medicinal mineral
waters may be enjoyed at any
of the spas, almost idyllic
places not only for the
treatment of ailments but also
for the pure and simple
pleasure of feeling better
within oneself in a setting of
peace and quiet. Situated in
nature’s realms, in gentle
countryside by the sea or amid
the valleys of the Pyrenees,
thermal springs are yet
another good reason for
visiting Catalonia.
Spa Association
% 932 183 699
www.balneario.org
47
Patronato de Turismo de Girona
% 972 208 401
www.costabrava.org
Patronato de Turismo
de Lleida % 902 101 110
www.lleidatour.com
Patronato de Turismo de
la Diputación de Tarragona
% 977 230 312
www.costadaurada.org
International code % 34
Tourist Information TURESPAÑA
www.spain.info
Turisme de Catalunya
% 934 849 900
www.gencat.net
Turisme de Barcelona
% 933 698 700
www.barcelonaturisme.com
TOURIST OFFICES
Barcelona. Call Center
% 932 853 832
Plaça Sant Jaume. Ciutat, 2
Palacio de Congresos. Avenida María Cristina
Centro de Información Turística de Cataluña
Passeig de Gràcia, 107
Barcelona Airport
Terminal A, Terminal B
Plaça Catalunya, 17, subway
Estación de Sants. Plaça Països Catalans
www.barcelonaturisme.com
Girona
Calle Berenguer Carnisser, 3-5
% 972 211 678
Rambla Libertat, 1
% 972 226 575
AP-7 motorway. La Jonquera toolbooth
% 972 554 642
Lleida
Calle Mallor 31 bis
% 902 250 050
Turismo Lleida % 902 101 110
Tarragona
Carrer Mayor, 39 % 977 250 795
Fortuny, 4 % 977 233 415
Reus Airport % 977 772 204
Vila-Seca. Parc de Port Aventura
% 902 202 220 www.portaventura.es
The main towns in Catalonia have their
own tourist offices.
STATE HOTELS/PARADORES
Booking office
Requena, 3. Madrid 28013
% 902 547 979 ) 902 525 432
www.parador.es
Parador de Cardona (Barcelona)
% 938 691 275 ) 938 691 636
Parador de Vic (Barcelona)
Paraje de Bac de Sau
% 938 122 323 ) 938 122 368
Parador de La Seu d’Urgell (Lleida)
Sant Domenec, 6
% 973 352 000 ) 973 352 309
Parador de Artíes (Lleida)
Carretera de Baqueira Beret
% 973 640 801 ) 973 641 001
Parador de Vielha (Lleida)
Carretera de Túnel
% 973 640 100 ) 973 641 100
Parador de Aiguablava (Girona)
Platja d’Aiguablava. Begur
% 972 622 162 ) 972 622 166
Parador de Tortosa (Tarragona)
Castillo de la Zuda
% 977 444 450 ) 977 444 458
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Emergencies % 112
Medical Emergencies % 061
Civil Guard % 062
National Police % 091
Autonomous Community Police
Mossos d’Esquadra
% 933 009 191
Citizen Information % 010
Post Office % 902 197 197
www.correos.es
TRANSPORT
AENA (Spanish Airports and Air Navigation)
% 902 404 704
www.aena.es
By train
ADIF-RENFE
% 902 240 202
Internacional information
% 902 243 402
www.renfe.es
www.adif.es
Highway Information
% 900 123 505 www.dgt.es
By boat
Compañía Trasmediterránea
% 902 454 645
www.trasmediterranea.es
Maritime Station Barcelona % 900 210 938
www.apb.es
SPANISH TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES ABROAD
CANADA. Toronto
Tourist Office of Spain
2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3E2
% 1416/961 31 31
) 1416/961 19 92
www.tourspain.toronto.on.ca
e-mail: [email protected]
London
Spanish Tourist Office
2nd floor, 79 Cavendish Street
London W1A 6XB
%44207/ 4868077
)44207/486 80 34
www.spain.info/uk
e-mail: [email protected]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
JAPAN. Tokyo
Tourist Office of Spain
Daini Toranomon Denki Bldg.6F.
3-1-10 Toranomon. Minato-Ku
TOKYO-105-0001
% 813/34 32 61 42
) 813/34 32 61 44
www.spain.info/jp
e-mail: [email protected]
www.spain.info/us
Los Angeles
Tourist Office of Spain
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960
Beverly Hills, California 90211
% 1323/658 71 95
)1323/658 10 61
e-mail: [email protected]
Chicago
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Dublin
Tourist Office of Spain
Water Tower Place. Suite 915
East
845 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60/611
%1312/642 19 92
)1312/642 98 17
e-mail: [email protected]
Spanish Tourist Office
1, 2, 3 Westmoreland street
Dublin 2
Irlanda
RUSSIA. Moscow
Spanish Tourist Office
Tverskaya - 16/2, 6º
Moscow 125009
7495/935 83 99
)7495/935 83 96
www.tourspain.ru
e-mail: [email protected]
Miami
%
SINGAPORE. Singapore
Spanish Tourist Office
541 Orchard Road
Liat Tower # 09-04
238881 Singapore
% 65/67 37 30 08
) 65/67 37 31 73
e-mail:[email protected]
Tourist Office of Spain
1395 Brickell Avenue
Miami, Florida 33131
% 1305/358 19 92
) 1305/358 82 23
e-mail: [email protected]
New York
Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue 35th floor
New York, New York 10103
% 1212/265 88 22
) 1212/265 88 64
www.okspain.org
e-mail:[email protected]
UNITED KINGDOM.
EMBASSIES IN MADRID
Russia
Canada
Núñez de Balboa, 35 - 3º
Velázquez, 155
% 914 233 250 )914 233 251
% 915 622 264) 915 629 712
Japan
United Kingdom
Serrano, 109
%
Fernando El Santo, 16
915 907 600) 915 901 321
% 913 190 200) 913 081 033
Republic of Ireland
United States of America
Claudio Coello, 73
Serrano, 75
% 915 763 500 ) 914 351 677
915 872 200) 915 872 303
%
TARBES 37 km
FOIX 6 km
CARCASSONE 40 km
Quillan
Arreau
3091
B. de Luchon
Túnel de Bielsa
2575
Canejan
Les
Bossóst
ran
Vall d’A Salardú
Arties
Vielha
Baqueira
3408
Port-Barcares
Tarascon
Estagel
F R A N C I A
BAQUEIRA
-BERET
Pic d’Estats
3145
PERPIGNAN
Millans
Ax-les-Thermes
Pic Carlit
2921
El Serrat
Va Esterri d'Àneu
Port-Vendres
a
l
Vall
de
PARQUE
NACIONAL
DE
AIGÜES
r
l
e
d
r
Benasque
Cerler TORTES Y LAGO DE SANT MAURICI ’À
r
Ordino
Soldeu
ne Cardó all Fe
V
u
Mont-Louis
230
Llívia
Encamp
PARQUE NACIONAL
Castejón
Caldes
de
Boi
Portbou PARQUE NATURAL
Espot
ANDORRA Les Escaldes 2905
Roc de Fraussa
DE ORDESA
La Jonquera
de Sos Vilaller
1450
ESPOT-ESQUÍ Llavorsí
Y MONTE PERDIDO
Colera Punta dels CAP DE CREUS
VALLTER-2000 Prats-de-Mollo
LA VELLA
Puigcerdà
Canons
Taüll BOÍ-TAÜLL
2910
Capmany
Coll d’Ares
Bellver
RESORT
Lles de Cerdanya
Puigmal Queralbs
260 Llançà
El Port de la Selva
Ainsa-Sobrabe
Sort
Peralada
Embalse
PORT-AINÉ
Alp
El Pont
Setcases
2913
Ribes
Sant Pere de Rodes Cadaqués
de Boadella
2492
de Suert
260
260
ibes de Freser
Camprodon
Martinet
R
Roses
e
Figueres
La Seu
Embalse
MASELLA
al l d
Sant Joan de
Castello d´Empúries
LA MOLINA V
Sant Pau Castellfollit 1115
Sopeira
de Mediano Campo
Adrall d'Urgell
VALL DE
les Abadesses de Seguries de la Roca
PARQUE NATURAL
Sant Gervás
PARQUE NATURAL Empuriabrava Golfo
Gerri
de
la
Sal
NURIA
Santa
Liestra
Arcusa
1834
Besalú
2647 CADI-MOIXERÓ
AIGUAMOLLS
152
y San Quilez
Empúries de Roses
Boumort
Organyá
PARQUE NATURAL
DE L’EMPORDÁ
Bagá La Pobla
Ripoll
La Pobla 2070
ZONA VOLCÁNICA
230
PORT
L'Escala
Olot
II
Viladamat
de Lillet
DE LA GARROTXA
de
Segur
DEL COMTE
RASOS DE
Embalse
Sant Esteve
AP-7
PEGUERA
Tremp
Coll de Nargó
E
M
P
O
R
D
Á L’Estartit
Les Llosses
Puente
de Grado Graus
d’en Bas
Banyoles
Torroella
1023
Berga
Vilada
Embalse
de Montañana
Torelló
Sant Llorenç
Islas Medes
de Montgrí
Sant Agustí
de Oliana
GIRONA
Embalse de Amer
El Grado
de Morunys
La Bisbal
de Lluçanès
Begur
123 Embalse
Susqueda
Benabarre
L'Espunyola
Oliana
d'Empordà Pals
Manlleu
de Barasona
Tamariu
1677
Barbastro Estadilla
Bassella
Gironella
Olost
Anglès
Prats
Palafrugell
Embalse
Cassà de
Solsona
1108
de Lluçanès
Puig-reig
Santa Coloma
de
Sau
Islas Formigues
Llafranc
Vilanova
la
Selva
Pantà
Fonz
de Farners
Calella de Palafrugell
Vic de Sau
de Rialb
Calonge
A
Artesa
Palamós
Caldes de
Ager
Monzón Tamarite
Ponts
Tona
Platja
d'Aro
Cardona
de Segre
Malavella
Arbúcies Sils
de Litera
Llagostera
R
S’Agarò
Balsareny Moià
Pomar
230
C-17
1694 PARQUE NATURAL
Camarasa
AP-7 Vidreres
San Feliu de Guixols
Súria
MONTSENY
de Cinca Binefar
Centelles
Sallent
E Montseny Hostalric
Torá
II
Alfarrás
Tossa de Mar
PLA D´URGELL
PARQUE NATURAL
Altorrincón
Canyelles
Fonollosa Manresa SAN LLORENÇ
T
Bellcaire
Agramunt Guissona
Sant Celoni Tordera Blanes Lloret de Mar
240
DEL MUNT I L’OBAC
Balaguer
Almenar
d'Urgell
1095
Binaced
C
S
Sant Ramon
La Garriga Malgrat de Mar Palafolls
Monistrol
Calaf
Almacelles
Caldes
Linyola
Granollers Calella
Pineda de Mar
de Montserrat Castellar
Alcolea
Canet
Anglesola
Albalate
del Vallès O de Montbui
PARQUE NATURAL
Bell-lloc
Sant
Pol
de
Mar
DE LA MUNTANYA
C-16
de Cinca
1238
326
Argentona C-32 Arenys de Mar
A-2
Cervera
d'Urgell
C
DE MONTSERRAT
Ontiñena
Terrassa Sabadell
LLEIDA
Caldes d´Estrac
II
La Panadella
Bellpuig Tárrega
Castellolí
Mataró
Ballobar
Vallfogona
Torregrosa
Esparraguera Premià de Mar
Igualada
A A-2
Alcarrás
Mollerusa Belianes
Alella
Vilassar de Mar
de
Riucorp
Capellades R
Zaidín
Juneda
Rubí Ripollet
El Masnou
Les Borges Vallbona de Santa Coloma
Martorell
Montgat
E
Blanques
les Monges
Fraga Soses Castelldans
AP-2
de Queralt
Molins de Rei
Sant Sadurní
Badalona
L
Candasnos Torrente
Vinaixa
el
d'Anoia
Sarral
d
BARCELONA
L
Sant Just
de Cinca
Montblanc
240
a
I
AP-7
Serós
t
Desvern
Embalse de
s
211
L'Espluga de Francolí
D Monestir de
Gavà
Co
Mequinenza
Maials La Granadella Monestir de Poblet
R AP-2 Santes Creus Villafranca Begues
El Prat de Llobregat
Mequinenza
O
del
Penedès
Garraf
Vilarodona
Ulldemolins C Alcover
Castelldefels
340
Valls
Embalse La Bisbal
C-32
Sitges
Prades
de Flix de Falset
1201
El Vendrell
1115 Albarca
Cunit
Vilanova
i
la
Geltrú a f
La Selva del Camp
r
Nonaspe
PARQUE NATURAL
Reus
Segur de Calafell
ar
Fayón Ascó Flix
Calafell
MONTSANT
G
Altafulla
e
Montbrió
Torredembarra
d
Móra
La Pobla
a
Fabara
Falset del Camp
st
la Nova
de Massaluca
Maella
Motorway
Vila-seca TARRAGONA
Co
420
Mont-roig
Gandesa
Batea
Expressway
del Camp Cambrils Salou
A
Móra d'Ebre
D
Calaceite
Tivissa
AP-7
National road
A
El Pinell de Brai
R
Rasquera Vandellòs
L'Hospitalet de l'Infant
Primary basic network road
Prat de Compte
U
Calafat
A
Secondary basic network road
340
Xerta
Tivenys
D
Local road
Arnes
L'Ametlla de Mar
El
Perelló
1182
A
Valderrobres
Railway
Tortosa
T
Cap Roig
Beceite l’Espina
S
High Speed Train (AVE)
N
L'Ampolla PARQUE NATURAL
PARQUE NATURAL
O
ELS PORTS
State hotel
DELTA DE L´EBRE
La Cava
Santa
C
Mas de
National Park
Cap Tortosa
la Pobla Barberans Bàrbara
Amposta
de Benifassà
Nature Park
La Sénia
Sant Carles de la Rápita
Monastery
Ulldecona
Pico Posets
3371
Port de
la Bonaigua
ANDORRA
Val
de
Bo
í
Bielsa
BIESCAS 62 km
NARBONNE 42 km
MORELLA 23 km
ALCAÑIZ 14 km
CASPE 1 km
A
B R A V
e
m
es
ar
M
ZARAGOZA 98 km
O
S
T A
HUESCA 46 km
H U E S C A
ZARAGOZA
MAR MEDITERRÁNEO
TERUEL
CASTELLÓN
Chert/Xert
Sant Mateu
Tirig
Les Cases d'Alcanar
Alcanar
Traiguera
la Jana
Vinaròs
Cálig
340
Benicarló
CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA 60 km
0
10
20
30
40
50 Km.
CARTOGRAFÍA: GCAR, S.L. Cardenal Silíceo, 35
Tel. 914 167 341 - 28002 MADRID - AÑO 2005
[email protected]
Ski resort
Spa
Airport