Grand Tour de Cataluña - Tramo 1

About the city:Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits,[7] its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

About the city:A renowned university and industrial city with a rich cultural and artistic heritage, the landscape in Terrassa is dominated by the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac.Located 20 minutes from Barcelona and a 25 minutes’ drive to El Prat airport, Terrasa has an excellent communications network providing access from anywhere in Catalonia and Europe.The rich heritage of the city take you through Catalan history. The monumental ensemble of church of San Pedro, nearby Vallparadía Park where important paleontological discoveries are being made, the Tower Palace and the Castle Cartuja Vallparadís shape the city’s medieval heritage. A leap in time takes us to the era of modernism and industrialization, where the textile sector, specializing in the wool industry, spurred the creation of which is today a unique heritage on its own in Catalonia. The old factories and fumes, homes, stores, fireplaces ... allow you to learn about 19th century and early 20th century architecture, art and lifestyle : the Vapor Aymerich, Amat Jover, dating from 1907 (currently mNATEC), the Masia Freixa (1905-1910), Casa Alegre de Sagrera (1911) ...The Jazz Festival,The Modernista Fair, hockey, seasons of dance, music and theater, exhibitions castellers or golf, complete a wide range of activities to enjoy in this dynamic city.

About the city:Monistrol de Montserrat (Catalan pronunciation: [munisˈtɾɔl də munsəˈrat]) is a municipality in the comarca of the Bages in Catalonia, Spain. The municipality includes the southern two-thirds of the massif of Montserrat and the famous Benedictine monastery of the same name. The town, known as Montserrat-Vila, is situated on the eastern flank of the massif above the valley of the Llobregat river: it is connected with the monastery (higher up) and with the railway station in the valley (FGC line R5) by a rack railway (Cremallera de Montserrat). The C-1411 road links the town with Martorell and Manresa. The bridge over the Llobregat river dates from the fourteenth century. The municipality includes a small exclave to the north-west.

About the city:Mura is a municipality in the region of Bages, in the province of Barcelona, autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. Mura is located in the Natural Park of Sant Lloren' del Munt i l'Obac.

About the city:Solsona is a municipality and capital of the comarca of the Solsonès in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the centre of the comarca in the Catalan Central Depression. It is served by the C-55 road to Manresa, and is linked to Berga and Bassella by the C-26. Until a few years ago, Solsona used to be the main road used by people from Barcelona to go to Andorra. The old town is known as the Nucli antic: it preserves a large part of its fortifications. The cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona and the episcopal palace are in a neoclassical style. The latter houses the diocesan and comarcal museum and the Museum of Salt (Museu de la Sal), with crystals and objects made from the salt of nearby Cardona. One of the most important events in the city is Carnaval, a pagan celebration that marks the beginning of the Quaresma. Tens of thousands of people come from all over Catalonia and beyond, to participate in the celebration that lasts one week. Solsona is home to one of the oldest hunters' association of Catalonia, which held its 75th anniversary in 2015. The city also hosts the only big research centre of Catalonia located outside an urban area, the Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), with around 100 people employed.

About the city:Cardona is a municipality of Spain, belonging to the province of Barcelona, in the region of the Bages.The oldest witnesses human occupation in Cardona are correspond to the time of Neolithic human settlements and continued taking place along both Iberian and Roman periods. Since the 798 until the sixteenth century, the castle, the town and the municipality of Cardona played an important role in the history of Catalonia. Cardona castle was recovered and repopulated in 880 by Wilfredo el Velloso. Barcelona granted a new charter, which is considered the birth of the history of Cardona. The visitors can enjoy the wonderful streets of the city which are narrow and with slopes. In addition they will be able to visit the principal , the Fair, where the house of the villa is and it takes place in the traditional Corre de Bou which is also a place to walk alongside with the street Cámaras and the Major street. There are numerous ancient houses in Cardona. Definitively it joins all the requirements that are needed to visit, shaping it in an ideal place for the tourists besides with a very familiar environment.

About the city:It only takes a journey through the history of Manresa to realize that it is an industrial city. In the 14th century, with the arrival of the water channel of La Sequia, the city took advantage of the ensemble of colonial markets to specialize in the production of silk, sailboats and cotton strings.In the late 19th century, Manresa joined the world of vapors, with the construction of the factory Remei, Remedy, predecessor to the superb Factory Nova, owned by the entrepreneur Bertrand Serra. In this industrial area, consisting of a total of 23 buildings, up to 2,500 people worked there and it became a symbol of female labor in the textile sector.The arrival of electricity provided the birth of new industries, such as the flour industry, which left beautiful modernist buildings, such as the Farinera Albareda, which is still active, or the Harinera "La Florinda" current headquarters of the Local Manresa Police.On the other hand, the appearance of the industrial bourgeoisie favored the creation of small workshops, factories and other Modernist buildings in the main streets of the city.However, being a city in constant development, many of the buildings which once were the heart of industrial Manresa, today are being used to house different business such as the silk factory Balcells now houses the Municipal Conservatory of Music; the former slaughterhouse now is the University library or the Old Deposits, which formerly procured drinking water, and now it is the Technical Museum of Manresa.Other places of interest:- The Manresa Cathedral: it is the main monument of the city. It was designed by Berenguer de Montagut in 1325 and is a typical example of Catalan Gothic. The notable Gothic altarpieces of the interior and the modernist façade were designed by Alexandre Soler i March, advised by Antoni Gaudí.Address: Baixada de la Seu, s/nTel. +34 93 872 15 12Opening times:Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 13: 30h and 16 to 19: 45hSaturdays from 9:30 to 14h and from 16 to 20hSundays and holidays from 9:30 to 14h and from 17 to 20h- The Cave of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit route: In 1522 St. Ignatius did stay at Manresa for a whole year. He stayed in a natural cave on Cardener, where now the Baroque building of the Cave of St. Ignatius stands.Address: Camí de la Cova, s/nTel. +34 93 875 15 79Opening times:From Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 13h and from 16 to 19h (March to October)Or from 15 to 18h (November to February)Sundays and holidays from 10 to 12h.Closed on Mondays- Parc de la Sèquia: La Sèquia is one of the most important engineering works of the Middle Ages. It was built in the 14th century as a result of a drought and diverted the waters of the Llobregat River to Manresa. La Sèquia goes through orchards, forests, crops and monuments like the Castle Balsarenys and the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages. There is a trail you around it where to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The last stop on the trail to La Sèquia is an artificial lake of Parc de l’Agulla, ideal for a stroll and it has magnificent views of Montserrat. C-25 Exit 136Manresa to Santpedor Road, s / nWithin the park there is the:Parc de la Sèquia Visitor Center Tel. +34 93 874 91 30info@juntasequia.comOpening times:Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 14h

About the city:The town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia is located in the Alt Penedés region of Catalonia. It can be easily distinguished by the extensive surrounding territory covered in vineyards, given that it is the birthplace of a sparkling wine called cava, and by the captivating landscapes layered with centuries of heritage. The town is situated inland, between Barcelona and Tarragona, but it is still close by the enchanting coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Sant Sadurní is a place of interest recommended for all those who travel through Catalonia and are interested in learning more about the history and culture of this North-Eastern Spanish province. Sant Sadurní d’Anoia has the secret of a centenary tradition: More than eighty local cava elaborators open the door of their cellars to guide you through an illuminated and silent route in the shade. Moreover, its architectural mixture can be seen in the former homes of Lluís Mestres (1909), Cal Rigol (1903), Cal Calixtus (1885), the Agricultural Athenaeum (1908-1909), the Town Hall (1896-1900) and the Santacana Roig Storehouse (1905). All of these buildings shape the historical city centre that has been recently remodelled into a pedestrian precinct and commercial area in order to preserve the town's heritage.

About the city:Vilafranca del Penedès, or simply Vilafranca (Catalan pronunciation: [biləˈfɾaŋkə]), is the capital of the comarca of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia, Spain. The Spanish spelling of the name, Villafranca del Panadés, is no longer in official use since 1982 (Law 12/1982, of October 8). It is situated in the Penedès Depression on the left bank of the Foix River, and on the main axis of communication from Barcelona to Tarragona and Valencia, served by a Rodalies Barcelona line 4 and by the AP-7 autopista as well as by the C-243 towards Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, and C-15 (formerly called C-244) roads to Vilanova i la Geltrú and Igualada respectively.

About the city:Sitges is a Mediterranean coastal town, a seaside resort some 35km southwest of Barcelona. Sitges is a seaside town with great beaches and excellent tourist facilities. Recognized as one of the most charming towns and prestige of the Catalan coast, enjoys a mild and temperate micro climate, which means that visitors can enjoy enviable temperatures every month of the year. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Beaches of Sitges Following the coast of Sitges there are a total of 17 beaches, inside and outside of the town area. Each one of them has its own peculiarities and services. Small, large, quiet, family, naturist and urban beaches that can be reached by foot. Six of these beaches were awarded with the ISO 14001 certificate for the water and sand quality, cleaning services, lifeguarding, first aid and permanent improvement. Different activities can be held from June to September on the beaches of Sitges: first aid workshops for children, aerobics classes, water aerobics, GAP, tai-txi and txi-kung for those people who want physical activity and fitness for seniors. Maricel Museum The Maricel Museum is a museum located in the centre of Sitges. This art collection takes the visitor on an evocative tour of the last two centuries of Catalan painting, from Joaquim Espalter (born in Sitges in 1809) to Pere Pruna. Made up of more than 3 000 items of varying origin, the collection includes Romanesque murals, examples of Gothic painting on wood, Renaissance carvings and altarpices, Modernista or Noucentista sculptures.

About the city:Vilanova i la Geltrú is an authentic Mediterranean experience. Just 30 minutes from Barcelona and 45 minutes from Tarragona, our temperate climate together with 3,5 km of fine sand beaches, our full calendar of lively festivals, our excellent dining options, our wealth of adventure and relaxation opportunities and our well-developed service infrastructure make the town ideal for short city-breaks and long-term holidays.

About the city:El Vendrell, capital of the coastal region of Baix Penedès, forms part of Tarragona's Costa Daurada. The town has significant heritage, outstanding among which is the church of Sant Salvador. The tour of the town can continue at Plaza Nueva, which gathers together beautiful examples of 19th-century architecture. More buildings of interest are the Old Hospital of Santísimo Salvador and the Romanesque hermitage of Sant Salvador. The district's coastline has extensive beaches and housing developments. It is worth visiting the seafaring neighbourhoods of Sant Salvador, where you can see Casa Pau Casals and Coma-Ruga with its lively marina.

About the city:Tarragona is a city and a province in the south of Catalonia. The coastline is identified with the Costa Dorada tourist brand. Tarragona is the second most important Roman site in Spain. The town offers historical sites including churches from several different periods and a well preserved Roman coliseum. Tarragona was included in 2000 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due its archaeological and architectural sights of interest. Highlights of the province's gastronomic attractions are particularly a range of wine-related activities. There are also numerous gastronomic festivals where visitors can enjoy specialties.