Visiting Catalonia

Catalonia is a unique area that features stunning, warm Mediterranean coastline and snowy peaks near the Spain-France border. There are many places we can visit in Catalonia. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and it is a cosmopolitan center of Spain with its amazing lifestyle and architecture. Places we should visit in Barcelona include Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, Museu Picasso, Las Ramblas, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, La Boqueria, Old city, Gothic quarter, L’eixample, Port Vell, Parc Zoologic de Barcelona and Tibidabo mountain. The Barcelona aquarium is simply the biggest in Europe and it is a popular main attraction. Nou Camp Stadium is also a popular place to visit and it is the home to one of the best soccer clubs in Europe, FC Barcelona with a capacity of 100,000 people. Sports has an essential role in Barcelona, so it is a good idea to visit Barcelona when the soccer club has a scheduled match. As a cosmopolitan center, Barcelona offers better nightlife than Madrid and other cities in Spain.

Girona is located on the river Onyar and it is popular for its iconic cathedral. It has an abundance of shops, quaint small riverside cafes and numerous winding streets. Its buildings have a hotchpotch of Moroccan and Spanish influence. Historic sites in Girona include old city walls and the 12th century Arab baths. Visitors shouldn’t forget to visit the Saturday market, which allows us to savor the aroma of vegetables, fruits, herbs, olive oils, cheeses and hams. Montserrat is another place to visit in Catlonia with its breathtaking scenery. The city offers us a mix of holiness, culture and nature. Santiago de Compostela is a popular pilgrimage site and the La Moreneta is the statue of black Virgin Mary. We could go to the tiny chapel by using the cable car and the short trip would offer us plenty of spectacular views. Montserrat can be reached easily with trains from Barcelona, which leave every hour. Sant Feliu de Guixols is located at Costa Brava, surrounded with oak-filled woods and pine trees. The Porta Ferrada, gothic church and hermitage of Sant Grau should also be visited.

The Medes Islands is a large marine nature reserve in Catalonia and it is the best way to experience the Mediterranean sea. The Medes Islands is essentially a tiny archipelago with seven islets and a few reefs. Due to its geographical contour, the Medes Islands are known for its rich ecological and biological worth. More than 1300 species have been catalogued in and around the small archipelago. Figueres is located in the heart of Catalonia. The town is famous as the birthplace of Salvador Dali, the iconic surrealist artist. Visitors can go to the Dali Museum or watch the traditional dance of Catalonia, the Sardana. The Sant Ferrant is the must-visit castle, as well as the Toy Museum, Museum de l’Emporda and Sant Pere, a parish church. L’Escala is a popular holiday resort and it is a delightful fishing village with excellent sea food dishes.