Catalonia is one of the most ancient regions of Spain. It is located in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, surrounded by a mountain range on one side, and the warm Mediterranean Sea on the other. The sights of Catalonia are incredibly ancient and beautiful monuments of art and architecture, which are scattered in different cities. Seeing them all in one tour is simply unrealistic. It will take you a long time to get to know this region and enjoy its beauty.
Where are the main attractions of Catalonia?
It is difficult to list the addresses of all the memorable places in this region. Mostly they are scattered around the most famous cities of the region: Barcelona, Reus, Tortosa, Tarragon, Figueres, Lleida and Girona. Let's start our brief review with Barcelona, in the center of which is the Plaza de España. It was rebuilt in 1929, at the slope of Mount Mojuik. Near the same mountain are locatedfountains, also named after her. During the day, they give all residents a cool, and at night they turn into a free light show. In the same city, the famous Sagrada Familia is located at Mallocra, 401. This building is another architectural masterpiece of the genius Antonio Gaudi, which he erected here at the end of the 19th century.
Something about Barcelona
The famous resort city of Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. From time immemorial, chic cathedrals, churches, monasteries and palaces have been built here. Urban planning in the region has never stopped, so on the streets you can find Gothic buildings, and Romanesque, and the most modern. Any excursions here cover a walk along the Rambla. The local sights of Catalonia are enclosed in the houses of former merchants, in museums and small cozy cafes. In addition, this street is landscaped, so it is always fresh and smells good here.
Barcelona in the Middle Ages and in modern times
Now consider the most ancient sights of Catalonia. Spain is a state that was previously ruled by the Romans. Therefore, on the outskirts of Barcelona and other cities in the region, you can find the ruins of ancient buildings. Here there are statues of gods, and the highest columns, and steps that lead to vast squares and pedestals. The Gothic Quarter deserves special attention of the tourist, without which the sights of Catalonia would not be so interesting. It consists entirely of narrow winding streets, on the sides of which houses, churches and museums are located. The center of the quarter is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. This is a living monument of Gothic architecture, known throughout the world. At the end of the 19th century, the architect Antonio Gaudi began to build up the city. Among the masterpieces made by his hand, we meet the chic house of Casa Millo and Casa Batllo, the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and many other buildings in the modern spirit.
Antiquity preserved in small towns
Gothic architecture can be traced in Girona. Here, even the streets were not rebuilt, which are so narrow that a car simply cannot pass through them. The old part of the city is famous for its Cathedral, built specifically for the townspeople in the 14th century. In its beauty and mystery, this architectural monument is not inferior to the Church of St. Philip. Tarragona, in turn, is a city with an even more ancient heritage. Tourists come here to see the sights of Catalonia left by the Romans during the era of their rule. Among them, an aqueduct, an ancient amphitheater, and, most importantly, the Tomb of the Scipios, which is located on the Mediterranean coast, have been preserved.
Catalan geniuses of modern times and their cultural heritage
The seaside town of Figueres is the very place where the surrealist and simply very popular artist Salvador Dali was born. In this place, literally everything is saturated with its spirit, unreality and sophistication. The city has many museums dedicated to his work. This is where Dali's paintings are stored in their originals.and are not for sale. Every tourist can admire them by ordering an excursion. Next to Figueres is another province - Reus, which gave Antonio Gaudi to Spain. Local excursions go to the houses where he lived, to the church where the future architect was baptized. Tourists are also given the opportunity to visit an interactive museum, where an introductory program is held with the basics of his work.
How to properly travel in Catalonia?
As you can see, this incomplete list of famous places in this region already tells us that a tour of the region will take a lot of time. You need to travel around every town and village to see all the sights of Catalonia. It's much easier to do this by car. In the price range from 100 to 1000 euros per day, you can rent a car in Barcelona and drive it all over Catalonia without missing anything.
