Grand Tour de Cataluña - Barcelona / Tarragona / Barcelona

About the destination: 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 destination: 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 destination: 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 destination: 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 destination: 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.

About the destination: 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.