Barcelona information about its surroundings

Excursions and day trips, historical monuments, beaches and coast side towns, the mountains and their towns, recommendations to discover the province of Barcelona.

Montserrat

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Montserrat is a mountain with singular and mysterious forms that rises abruptly until more than 1,200 ms above sea level and is located to the northeast of Barcelona. In 1987 it was declared Nature Reserve. On this mountain a benedictine monastery was built, dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. The monastery offers works of art of great artistic and historical interest, the most important is the statue of the Virgin, the Moreneta, the black Virgin of Montserrat. The natural surroundings, the unique geological formation and the sanctuary and monastery attract every year thousands of pilgrims and tourists. You can go by train, car or bus. By train, starting from Pl. Espanya station in Barcelona on the FGC Llobregat-Anoia line, you can take any R5 service train to Manresa if coming from the Barcelona direction. Get off at Monistrol de Montserrat station for the rack railway to Montserrat via the new station of Monistrol-Vila. This spectacular rack railway leads you up to the monastery. A visit to Montserrat is a very special and unforgettable experience.

Sitges

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Sitges is an old fisher town with a special attraction about 35 km to the south of Barcelona. Sitges has 11 sandy beaches and harbours, which offer a wide range of nautical activities: sailing schools, boat and cruiser rental, charters, canoes, scuba diving. There are plenty of restaurants as well as in the old part of Sitges as in the harbours and beach areas. Sitges is famous for its excellente gastronomy of the Mediterranean kitchen. Specialties are fish and rice, as well as the famous Xató. Sitges offers several major cultural events as the Sitges International Film Festival, the International Theatre Festival, the spectacular Carnival, the International Vintage Car Rally Barcelona-Sitges and the famous "Fiesta Mayor". Sitges has as great nightlife and is famous for being the center of the gay life at the Catalan coast. From Barcelona to Sitges there is approximately every 15 minutes a train (the RENFE) and it needs 30 minutes to get there. The C-32 autopista (former A-16) connects Sitges with Barcelona in 30 minutes by car and another possibility by car is a local highway the C-31 (also well-known by Highway of the Coast of Garraf), that crosses zigzagging along the coast of the Garraf with impressive views over the sea.

Alt Penedès

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The Alt Penedès is an inner region of Catalonia located between Barcelona and Tarragona. The landscape of the region Alt Penedès is dominated by vineyards. The Alt Penedes is known for its aromatic white wines with a fresh aroma and also for the production of rosé and red wine with a full body and a rich flavour. But the Alt Penedès is especially famous for its cavas (two of the main producers are Freixenet and Cordoníu), or sparkling wines, from the town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, which have a magnificent quality, appreciated very much in Spain and also abroad. There are a lot more of interesting places in this region with a rich cultural and architectural heritage. The region is well connected to Barcelona by road and rail and it's easy to visit the wine cellars and enjoy the particular gastronomy. For more information: DO Penedès.

Montseny

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The Montseny Natural Park is about 40 kilometers northeast of Barcelona and is a protected natural space. In 1978, the Unesco included El Montseny in the world network of biosphere reserves in the MAB Programme (Man and Biosphere). El Turó of l'Home - Les Agudes are with 1,706 and 1,703 ms respectively the peak altitudes of the park. The Park offers a great scenic and biological richness and because of differences in altitude and climate, the area contains communities ranging from typically Mediterranean to sub alpine. The Montseny has public services for hikers with campgrounds and organized routes and there still remain a dozen of small mountain temples of the Middle Ages. Along the roads crossing the park are parking areas with facilities for a rest. The mountain restaurants are one of the most attractive things. There is a hotel and rural houses offer for a longer visit to the park. RENFE offers trains to the villages: d'Aiguafreda, Breda, the Figaró, Garriga, Riells. Buses: Sagalés Tel. 938 650 400 or Barcelona Bus Tel. 902 130 014. The park is a wonderful oasis that offers quiet and pure nature after the noisy city. For more information: Parc del Montseny.