Barcelona information about its surroundings, excursions and day trips
Excursions and day trips, historical monuments, beaches and coast
side towns, the mountains and their towns, recommendations to discover the province of Barcelona
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. For more information:
http://www.cremallerademontserrat.com/
A visit to Montserrat is a very special and unforgettable experience.
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 Antique
Car Rally 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.
The Alt Penedès is an inner
region of Catalonia located between Barcelona and Tarragona.
The landsscape 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:http://www.dopenedes.es/index-sp.htm.
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:
http://www.diba.es/parcsn/parcs/plana.asp?parc=3&m=197&o=2.
Montserrat with the monastery, the church of Sitges and the Montseny Park
® NICESTAY is a registered trademark property
of WeBarcelona, S.L.
Webarcelona, S.L. is a company registered in Registro Mercantil of
Barcelona (Tomo 32812 Folio 219 Hoja B218152).
Data of registration: 14th August 2000
CIF (Fiscal code): B-62326764