On the road

Province of Tarragona

Population: 822,300

Capital: Tarragona.

Comarques: Baix Camp, Baix Ebre, Baix Penedès, Montsia, Tarraginès, Alt Camp, Conca de Barbera, Priorat, Ribera d'Ebre, Terra Alta.

Area: 6,283 km2

Specialities: Penedès wines, cava, xató (fish sauce), calçots (fried onions).

Sports clubs: Club Gimnastic de Tarragona (Spain's oldest sports club, founded in 1886). Club Basquèt Tarragona. Costa Dorada Golf Club. Mediterranean Ring (created for the 2018 Mediterranean Games).

Competitions: Ciutat de Tarragona Half Marathon (November), Otso Challenge (Salou), Tour of Catalonia, Tour de France 2026.

Festivals: Coso Blanco (Salou), Tarragona Dixieland Festival (March), Sant Jordi (national holiday on 23 April), Trapezi Festival in Reus (May), Tarraco Viva (Roman-inspired festival, May), Minipop (June), Renaissance Festival in Tortosa (July), Nuits d'Or in Salou (August), Reggus (reggae in Reus, September), Santa Tecla (Tarragona).

Economy: chemicals, petrochemicals, tourism.

Main tourist attractions: beaches of the Costa Daurada, Roman city of Tarraco (UNESCO World Heritage Site), PortAventura Park (Salou), Poblet Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Websites and social media:www.tarragonaturisme.cat

Altafulla (Pop: 5,840)

This town, which is part of Tarragona, is home to a beautiful Renaissance and Baroque hermitage dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua (1727), but above all to the Roman villa of Els Munts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Roman villa of Els Munts

Construction: 2nd century.

Style: Roman villa.

History: the villa was originally built in the 1st century AD, but the remains preserved today were built in the middle of the 2nd century. Sometime after 175 AD a fire ravaged the villa of Els Munts and its inhabitants abandoned it. The owner of the villa was Caius Valerius Avitus, duumvir of the Roman province of Tarraco, as evidenced by a mural painting.

Characteristics: the villa comprises several elements, including baths, gardens and a temple. It included a garden, a semi-underground corridor with a cistern, a peristyle, a cistern known locally as La Tartana, a larger water reservoir, a dining room (triclinium), the mithraeum (a temple dedicated to the god Mithra), and a porticoed corridor. The baths had a reception area with an atrium and an alcove floor paved with stone slabs. There were heated rooms: caldarium, tepidarium and furnaces with hypocaust, and cold rooms (frigidarium). A boiler (praefurnium) heated the hot rooms from below.

Listed as: listed as a Cultural Asset of National Interest (1979), listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Torredembarra (Pop: 18,000)

Torredembarra, on the Costa Daurada, commonly known as La Torre by its inhabitants, has the privilege of having one of the few natural beaches in Catalonia, Els Muntanyans, consisting of semi-mobile dunes and saltwater lagoons: La Paella. The El Roquer cliffs, approximately 2,000 metres long and 25 metres high, are also interesting, as is the lively port and its lighthouse, the last one built in Spain and the tallest of all the lighthouses in Catalonia. In the old town, you can admire the mid-16th-century castle, whose restoration began in 1998. Its importance lies in the fact that it is the only civil building in Catalonia built during the Renaissance. The oldest building in Torredembarra is the town tower, probably dating from the 12th or 13th century and built in the Mudejar style. Of the ramparts that surrounded the town in the 17th century, two of the entrance gates have been preserved.

Born in Torredembarra, Pere Romeu, a friend of the arts, frequented the painters of Montmartre before running the famous cabaret Le Chat Noir in Paris and opening a similar one in Barcelona. A famous drawing shows him riding a tandem bicycle with Catalan painter Ramon Casas.

It is worth noting that in 1987 and 1990, the town organised individual time trials during the Catalan Week, which were won by two specialists, Miguel Indurain and Francis Moreau.

Torredembarra Castle

Construction: 1565.

Style: Renaissance.

History: begun in 1565, the construction of the Icart castle – standing at the top of the municipality – was commissioned by Lord Lluís Icart and took no less than fifteen years. The only civil building in the Catalan Renaissance style to have been preserved in Catalonia, it now houses the town's municipal services.

Characteristics: Torredembarra Castle is square in shape and surrounded by four towers, with a central courtyard lined with arcades leading to the various outbuildings of this former fortified residence.

Listed as: site of national cultural interest.

El Vendrell (Pop: 40,400)

Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, both of which have shaped the appearance of the place and the character of its inhabitants, El Vendrell is the capital of Baix Penedès (Bajo Penedés in Spanish), one of the most unique regions of Catalonia, with a blend of the traditional wine culture of Penedès and the modernity of its tourism and services.

El Vendrell is best known as the birthplace of Pablo Casals (Pau Casals in Catalan), one of the most famous cellists of all time and a committed activist against dictatorships, particularly that of Franco. Every year, the Pablo Casals International Festival is one of the highlights of the classical music calendar in Catalonia. The cellist's former home has been converted into a museum and foundation.

The town has hosted six stage finishes of the Tour of Catalonia between 1940 and 2011, crowning Francesco Moser (1978 TT), Mario Cipollini (1998), Sylvain Chavanel (2008) and Manuel Cardoso (2011).

Pablo Casals (El Vendrell, 1876 - San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1973) was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. A cellist, conductor, composer, humanist and fervent defender of freedom and democracy, his legacy has earned him worldwide renown in the fields of music and peace. At the age of twenty-three, he triumphed in Paris thanks to the great conductor Charles Lamoureux and began a brilliant career as a soloist, which took him to the best auditoriums in the world. In 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War, he moved to New York, where he consolidated his career and became one of the best cellists of the time. In 1919, he returned to Barcelona and founded the Pau Casals Orchestra, which he conducted until 1936. With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and General Franco's victory, he went into exile in Prades, France, in 1939, then to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1957, where he died in 1973 at the age of ninety-six. In November 1979, with the return of democratic institutions to Catalonia, his remains were transferred to the cemetery in his hometown, El Vendrell.

Cunit (Pop: 15,800)

Cunit is the easternmost town in Baix Penedès. Like its neighbour Calafell, this seaside resort is home to Iberian remains, including the Fondo del Roig farm, one of the best preserved in Catalonia. A municipality since the 13th century, Cunit is particularly worth a visit for its beautiful Romanesque church dedicated to Sant Cristofol. Cunit Castle, built in medieval times, was rebuilt in the 20th century and has lost all its charm.

Sant Cristofol Church

Construction: 11th century.

History: the first Romanesque church dates from the 11th century. In 1626, the inhabitants agreed to pay a tithe on their crops in order to enlarge the church. The current church was completed in 1762, retaining part of the old church (the sacristy). In 1864, Sant Cristòfol de Cunit became an independent parish.

Characteristics: only the trefoil choir and the presbytery remain of the Romanesque building. The north-facing apse is completely integrated into the presbytery building, which is attached to the north wall, while the other two retain their double chamfered openings and decorative mouldings, even though they have been raised.

Listed as: site of local cultural interest.

Vilanova I La Geltrú (Pop: 70,000)

This small town, founded in the 14th century from the merger of Vilanova de Cubelles and La Geltrú, has some interesting attractions, particularly its museums. The Railway Museum of Catalonia is located in the old Vilanova i la Geltrú railway station (late 19th century) and has more than fifty vehicles of all kinds: electric, diesel, passenger and even a replica of the first train that travelled to the peninsula in 1848. A stone's throw away, the Victor Balaguer Library Museum, one of the oldest and most original in Catalonia, is also worth a visit, as is the small romantic Can Papiol Museum, with its typical 19th-century Catalan architecture and decoration, perfectly preserved. Vilanova I La Geltru is the birthplace of Sergi Lopez, the first foreign actor to win a César Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his role in Harry, un amigo quetequiere bien.

The town's most famous cyclist is Marc Soler, one of Tadej Pogacar's strongest teammates. Winner of Paris-Nice in 2018, this tireless fighter has also won four stages of the Vuelta. He trained at the cycling school in Vilanova i La Geltru under the tutelage of Isaac Galvez's father, a diminutive sprinter in the 2000s who competed in the Tour de France twice, in 2005 and 2006. A two-time Madison world champion, Galvez died tragically at the end of 2006 at the Six Days of Ghent after a collision with Belgian rider Dimitri de Fauw. De Fauw fell into depression after the accident and committed suicide in 2009.

Victor Balaguer Library-Museum

Opened: 1884.

Characteristics: founded in 1884 by politician and writer Víctor Balaguer, it is one of the oldest and most unique museums in Catalonia, preserving its original aesthetics and collections so that visitors can experience what a museum was like in the 19th century. It houses works by Catalan painters such as Ramón Martí Alsina, Santiago Rusiñol, Ramon Casas, Isidre Nonell, Joaquim Mir and Xavier Nogués. This collection is complemented by a permanent exhibition of around thirty Spanish and European Baroque paintings on loan from the Prado Museum, including works by El Greco, Ribera, Goya, Rubens and Van Dyck. The ethnographic collections include pieces from the Philippines, Egypt, China and Japan, as well as an exhibition of pre-Columbian art, reflecting the interests of Victor Balaguer, Minister for Overseas Territories in 1874 and 1886.

Special feature: the Egyptian collection is particularly remarkable. It is the oldest in Catalonia and includes the mummy of a child.

Sitges (Pop: 32,400)

In the 19th century, Sitges was a wine-producing town, but the phylloxera epidemic forced it to change its vocation. Some sought their fortune across the Atlantic, particularly in Cuba. Driven out when the island was liberated, los Cubanos returned to their region having made their fortune. Some left their mark on the new continent, such as the Catalan who created Bacardi rum in Cuba. The "Cubans" then built residences that now contribute to the charm of this seaside resort. The same phenomenon can be seen in Cadaqués. At the same time, Sitges became a major artistic centre under the influence of the Luminists, the first painters to benefit from technical developments that allowed them to paint outdoors. The most influential of these painters was undoubtedly Santiago Rusinol, master of the "Sitges school". The Cau Ferrat Museum, opened in 1933, pays tribute to the painters of this period.

In the 1960s, with Spain opening up to tourism, Sitges became the mainland counterpart of Ibiza. The establishment of the Pacha Club, like the one in Ibiza, and the development of a hippie and then gay community contributed to the city's opening up to Europe. With the end of Francoism and Spain's accession to the EU, the town developed as a seaside resort, with a strong boost from the 1992 Summer Olympics. The town's fame then spread beyond Spain's borders and it became known as the Catalan Saint-Tropez.

The city has hosted the Tour of Catalonia and Semana Catalana on several occasions, as well as the Vuelta three times, in 1963, 1966 and 1967. In 1963, Jacques Anquetil, who had held the leader's jersey in the Tour of Spain from almost the start to the finish, was beaten by local boy Miguel Pacheco in a 52 km time trial between Sitges and Barcelona. Miguel Pacheco, 3rd in the Vuelta in 1960 and 1963, competed in the Tour de France five times, finishing 17th in 1963. He died in Barcelona in 2018.

Catalonia International Fantastic Film Festival

Dedicated to fantasy films, the Sitges Festival has been held every year since 1968, usually during the first half of October. Among the award-winning films areLuc Besson's The Last Battle(1983), Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves (1984), David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986), Lars Von Trier's Europa (1991), Rémy Delvaux'sMan Bites Dog(1992) and Christophe Gans'Brotherhood of the Wolf(2001). The 59th edition will take place from 8 to 19 October 2026.

Church of Saint Bartomeu Santa Tecla

Construction: 1660 to 1672.

Style: Baroque.

History and characteristics: this is a Baroque church with three naves and a barrel vault reinforced with ribs. It dates from the 17th century and stands on the site of two other churches, one Romanesque and the other Gothic (dating from 1322), built on the initiative of Bernat de Fonollar, about whom little is known due to the loss of documents prior to the 17th century. Construction began in 1665 and the church was consecrated on 18 July 1672. One of the two bell towers dates from two years later; the bells and the town clock were installed in 1868, after the demolition of the old clock tower on Carrer Major. In the 19th century, other major works were undertaken: between 1854 and 1856, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament was built and, in 1868, the second bell tower, with an octagonal plan, was renovated.

Listed as: site of national cultural interest.

Gavà (Pop: 48,000)

Occupied since ancient times, as evidenced by the presence of an Iberian village nearby on the hill of Calamot, Gavà first prospered thanks to agriculture, particularly the cultivation of asparagus, which is emblematic of the town. It then developed in the shadow of Barcelona thanks to industry and services and the presence of a park popular with Barcelona residents. Nearby, on the heights of the town, are the ruins of Eramprunya Castle, listed as a Site of Cultural Interest.

Gavà is the birthplace of sprinter Angel Edo, winner of two stages of the Giro d'Italia in 1996 and 1998. He competed twice in the Tour de France in 1994 and 1995.

Molins de Rei (Pop: 27,000)

Molins, with 65 pc of its land covered by forest, offers a large number of nature trails that lead to the ruins of Ciuró Castle (listed as a Site of Cultural Interest), the hermitage of Sant Père del Romaní and the Can Santoi house, among others. It also has an important architectural heritage of different styles in the town centre, such as the Palau de Requesens, Ca n'Ametller – with geometric sgraffito – the Molí and the Federació Obrera building, a masterpiece of local modernism.

The most famous festival in Molins is the Fira de la Candelera, created by Queen Isabel II in 1852. Originally an important agricultural and wine exhibition, it has become a popular festival held every year on the first weekend of February.

Sant Pere del Romaní Hermitage

Construction: 11th century.

History: this is a Romanesque hermitage built in the 11th century on the western slope of the Serra de Collserola. The main building dates from the 12th century and has been modified several times. The chapel is built on one of the hills surrounding the Olorda mountain, at an altitude of about 100 metres.

Characteristics: the chapel is a small rectangular building with a single nave and a semicircular apse without arches, with the entrance on the west side. Around the 16th century, a watchtower or signal tower called Torre de Sant Pere Romaní was built on the right side, as well as a farmhouse called Mas Moriscot, which was built around it.

Listed as: in 1949, the chapel and tower were declared a cultural asset of national interest.

Sant Just Desvern (Pop: 20,880)

Walden 7

Construction: 1972 to 1975.

Architect: Ricardo Bofill.

History: Walden 7 is a famous residential complex located in the municipality of Sant Just Desvern near Barcelona. The project was conceived in 1970. The building was designed by Atelier Architecture, an interdisciplinary working group composed of engineers, psychologists, philosophers and architects, led by Ricardo Boffil. Shortly after its construction, it became apparent that the red tiles covering the façades had been poorly laid and were falling onto passers-by. The city council refused to declare the building a ruin and recovered land owned by the developer to finance the cost of repairs, which amounted to around €6 million. The restoration of the building was completed in 1995 and the tiles were replaced with red paint.

Characteristics: Walden 7 has around 446 flats, home to nearly 1,000 people. The building is like a real neighbourhood, extending both horizontally and vertically. In total, the building has 16 floors (including the terrace) with a total floor area of 31,140 m².

Montjuïc Castle Hill

Montjuïc Castle

History: the first stone was laid in 1640. A year later, the fort saw its first battle during the Catalan revolt. The Spanish took several towns but were defeated at the Battle of Montjuïc by the Catalans led by Francesc de Tamarit. In 1694, new bastions and ramparts were built and the fortress became a castle. During the siege of Barcelona (1705), the site was taken by William Southwell's English forces, paving the way for the siege of Barcelona. Engineer Giovanni Antonio Medrano drew up new plans for the fortress in 1730. The old fort was demolished in 1751 by architect Juan Martin Cermeño, creating the current structure. It was completed between 1779 and 1799 and equipped with 120 cannons. During the Napoleonic Wars, the French army captured the castle without firing a single shot, as its troops had been ordered not to fight. Over the last three centuries, Montjuïc Castle has played a decisive role in the history of Barcelona, becoming a symbol of Catalan defeat at the hands of Spain in 1714. At the end of the 19th century, Montjuïc was synonymous with barbarism due to the torture inflicted on prisoners held there. The castle is infamous for its role in the Civil War from 1936 to 1939. Lluís Companys, who was the president of the Generalitat of Catalonia during the Civil War, was executed at the castle in 1940. In June 1963, Francisco Franco inaugurated a Military Armament Museum.

Current use: in 2007, the government transferred the castle to Barcelona City Council. In 2010, the museum was closed to be converted into an International Centre for Peace. The castle now hosts cultural events.

Listed as: site of National Cultural Interest since 1988.