catalonia
Sant Pere de Ribes
Sant Pere de Ribes is a town in the center of the Garraf comarca, near Sitges. It is famous for its vineyards, farmhouses and the remains of the Castell de Ribes, dating back to the 10th century.
Read More
Barcelona’s central libraries
With more than 200 libraries, including about 30 in the city centre, Barcelona has a good network of public institutions that provide access to education and culture. The latter offer several advantages because they are open on Sundays and some close late in the evening (1 am). You can walk around the shelves and reading […]
Read MorePrettiest Towns in Catalonia
If you feel like you need a break from the city, in just an hour or two from Barcelona you can find yourself in a gorgeous natural setting, whether by the coast or inland. The rich history of region can be seen in numerous small towns, with many being well preserved from the medieval period. […]
Read More
Day Trips from Barcelona
Monserrat Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range about 50km north-west of Barcelona. It is most famous for the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. It is also a popular destination for hiking and rock climbing. You can get to Monserrat by train by going to Plaça d’Espanya and […]
Read More
The ‘balcony code’: What do the flags in Catalan buildings mean?
Once you are in Barcelona or in another Catalan city, you would probably notice that in many balconies or windows there are different kinds of flags. You would likely recognise the ‘senyera’, the official Catalan flag with its four red stripes on a yellow background. But there are many other varieties that you may not […]
Read More
Castellfollit de la Roca
With about 1,000 residents, Castellfollit de la Roca is one of the smallest towns in Catalonia. The historic center, perched on top of a cliff ledge between two rivers, dates back to the Middle Ages. The basalt cliff is over 50 meters high and about a kilometre long. It was formed by the erosive action of the […]
Read More
Santa Pau
The medieval village of Santa Pau is situated beside the Baixa Garrotxa Volcanic Nature Reserve in the Girona region of Catalonia. It was the seat of the barony of Santa Pau and a striking 13th century castle marks the center of town. A 16th century Gothic church dedicated to Santa Maria also stands on the main square. Santa Pau […]
Read More