15 excursions one hour from Barcelona

1Monastery of Montserrat: the mountain with a soul Just 30 kilometers from the city of Barcelona, ​​Montserrat is much more than a mountain range: it is an authentic symbol of Catalan identity. Located in the heart of a massif of surreal shapes, between the regions of Anoia, El Bages and Baix Llobregat, all its rocky monoliths have their own name and it is a real challenge to find them all. The elephant, the monkey, the mummy… they are easy to identify. Other pinnacles cost more to imagine them turned into the friar, the parrot or the sentinel…. This mountain range of impossible silhouettes houses a Benedictine monastery of the same name that contains the Romanesque carving of La Moreneta, patron saint of Catalonia. And in its basilica the Escolanía de Montserrat sings, one of the oldest and most prestigious children's choirs in Europe.

To get there from Barcelona, ​​the best thing to do is go to the town of Monistrol and there take the cable car or rack railway (about 15 minutes) that goes up to the religious complex. The abbey actually consists of the monastic area proper (basilica and monastic dependencies) and the buildings intended to serve visitors. The Montserrat Museum exhibits pieces from all times and the new Audiovisual Space reveals all the mysteries of the sanctuary and the mountain. After visiting the site, it is worth taking one of the marked trails in the surroundings, approaching the Santa Cova or walking the Via Crucis from Plaça Abat Oliba to the Chapel of La Soledad. Or simply, get lost in this mountain of great geological and scenic wealth, declared a natural park in 1987. Artur Debat getty images

2Sant Sadurní d'Anoia: an immersion in the world of cava Another symbol of Catalonia is cava. And to understand and enjoy it, there is nothing like a getaway to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, considered the capital of cava, in the Alt Penedès region, 50 kilometers inland from Barcelona. There are dozens of wineries that make it, and most are open to the public. There are well-known ones, such as the Codorníu cellars, with a modernist building (in the image) and 25 kilometers of underground cellars, or the Recaredo cellars, pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. But there are also other semi-family wineries, with a less commercial but often higher quality cava.It is almost obligatory to sign up for a circuit guided by the Center d'Interpretació del Cava that shows the origins of this drink that rivals French champagne and the history and evolution of vineyards. Then, it is essential to visit a winery and end the day with a tasting. In October the Setmana del Cava is celebrated, with tasting of sparkling wines from more than 50 wineries.

Leaving aside its powerful wine culture, Sant Sadurní has ​​an interesting old town with samples of modernism, such as the Cal Calixtus building, with a spectacular stained glass window; the Santacana Roig stores, by Domènech Boada; or the pink house of Ca la Maria Sàbat, topped by a ceiling rose and with a spectacular balcony. To round off the getaway, cocoa lovers should not miss the Espai Xocolata Simón Coll, which immerses us in a sensory experience while revealing the secrets of making chocolate. Eckhard Supp alamy

3Sitges: culture, beaches and cinema for everyone For years, Sitges has been one of the most demanded LGTBI destinations internationally. But this beach town 40 kilometers south of Barcelona is much more than a mecca for this community. An almost obligatory escape from the Catalan capital, this old fishing village, which is now a city of more than 30,000 inhabitants, has 17 beaches with fine sand and a promenade dotted with terraces and cocktail bars. It also has a charming old town that combines museums and palaces, Indian houses and the occasional church, such as Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, from the 17th century, whose asymmetrical silhouette characterizes the town's profile.Sitges is one of the coastal enclaves that has best known how to combine culture and beach tourism with a heterogeneous offer for audiences of all ages, ranging from quiet terraces or tapas bars to nightclubs outside the town center.

The cultural offer has its first stop at the Cau Ferrat Museum, the spectacular house-workshop of the painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol (1861-1931), with works by the painter himself but also by Ramón Casas, El Greco, Zuloaga or Picasso and a interesting collection of wrought iron, glass and ceramics. The Palau de Maricel (can only be visited on Sundays, with a guide) has spectacular views of the sea, and inside, a collection of works of art, especially from the Noucentisme and Catalan Modernism. Two events with which it is convenient to coincide (or avoid, if what we are looking for is tranquility), are the Pride festivities, in June, and the Sitges International Festival, a pioneer of fantasy, science-fiction and horror cinema, which has been held since more than half a century ago. Those who like to drive,You can get to Sitges from Barcelona by a road full of curves that runs along the Garraf coast, with wonderful views. For many, it is one of the most beautiful roads in Catalonia. christoph efaugere getty images

4Parc del Montseny: an encounter with nature… and with a Catalan Robin Hood The Montseny massif, just 50 kilometers from Las Ramblas, is one of the most traditional getaways for Barcelonans when they want to feel nature up close. The Montseny massif is also one of the most emblematic mountains in Catalonia, covered with forests of beech, oak, pine, cork and holm oaks. In addition to being a natural park, this mosaic of peaks, forests and rivers is a Unesco biosphere reserve, for its rich flora but also for its fauna (wild boars, foxes, genets and numerous birds, amphibians and reptiles). This mountain and its scattered villages invite us to reflect on man's relationship with the natural environment. To know this 'collage'of Mediterranean and Alpine landscapes, you can start in the municipality of Sant Celoni, or in neighboring Campins, and then take a walk until you reach Montseny. A route through the massif has a good climax in the town that gives its name to the park, with the permanent exhibition 'El Parc Natural del Montseny. A dialogue between home and nature, at the Casa de la Cultura. Following this sample you can see another very curious one, 'Les Esquelles d'en Jaume', a collection of more than a thousand 'esquelles' (cowbells) donated by a local shepherd.in the House of Culture. Following this sample you can see another very curious one, 'Les Esquelles d'en Jaume', a collection of more than a thousand 'esquelles' (cowbells) donated by a local shepherd.in the House of Culture. Following this sample you can see another very curious one, 'Les Esquelles d'en Jaume', a collection of more than a thousand 'esquelles' (cowbells) donated by a local shepherd.

Part of its territory is located in the Osona region, where Viladrau (belonging to the province of Girona) is a mandatory stop, with an old town of narrow streets, sheltered under the protection of the church of Sant Martí. The town is known for its water springs, which flow from various sources in the surroundings, and also for being the birthplace of one of the most famous bandits in Catalonia (Joan Sala y Ferrer, from the 17th century, popularly known as Serrallonga), a Robin Hood from Montseny, of which a multitude of legends circulate even today. MELBA PHOTO AGENCY alamy

5A getaway to the Maresme and a wine in Alella The Barcelona region of Maresme, due to its confinement between the Catalan capital and the Costa Brava, goes unnoticed by many visitors. And it is a real shame, because this stretch of coast protected by the Montnegre and Corredor massifs contains such spectacular corners as a town with its own denomination of origin, a flower market, modernist mansions and even a museum full of Picasso drawings. in addition to magnificent beaches.

In the town of Alella, two kilometers from the sea, there are still beautiful farmhouses, some from the 14th century. This town with a long winemaking tradition has its own designation of origin and its wines, which were already made in Roman times, can be tasted at the modernist Celler Cooperatiu Alella Vinícola and at other local wineries such as Bouquet dÀlella, Roura or Alta Alella. After a good wine tasting, you can go towards the coast to the nearby beaches of El Masnou, pass by the yacht club and the marina of this town and go to Premià de Mar to discover some neoclassical buildings, such as Masia Ribas, and other Noucentistas, such as Can Roure, or Can Manent, from the 16th century, the oldest building in the town.

Design lovers can also visit the Museu de l'Estampació, which illustrates the history of textile printing in Catalonia. Both in Premià and in almost all the towns on the route, after visiting the center it is worth going down to the beach and, if the weather is good, take a good dip in the sea. To do this, it will be necessary to cross the train track, an authentic architectural barrier between the towns and the sea. For this reason, it is important that, when arriving at each of the municipalities, special attention is paid to the few streets that always in the form of a tunnel circumvent the railway line (and often the National II) and allow reaching the beaches and marinas. of all the Maresme. Proformabooks getty images

6Cemetery and port of Arenys: literary pantheons by the sea Arenys de Mar, in the Maresme region of Barcelona, ​​has one of its most representative places in its cemetery full of modernist pantheons. The poet Salvador Espriu (1913-1985) raised it to a literary myth by turning it into the Cementeri de Sinera (the name of Arenys with inverted letters). The poet's relationship with Arenys de Mar can be understood by visiting the Salvador Espriu Center, which reports on the literary legacy and personality of this distinguished author. After touring the cemetery, you can round off your visit to this coastal town with a fish-based meal in one of the excellent restaurants in the port. Inside the town there are other interesting stops, such as the church of Santa María, with a spectacular baroque altarpiece,and the Museu Marès de la Punta, with a wide collection of lace: both here and in the nearby town of Arenys de Munt there is a long tradition in the art of bobbin weaving. On the outskirts, in addition to the cemetery, you can see the Torre dels Encantats, a circular tower built between the 13th and 14th centuries. KarSol getty images

7Caldes d'Estrac, a thermal day with a lot of art To rest from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, ​​nothing better than a trip to a thermal bath. Catalonia has always enjoyed a long spa tradition. It was the Greeks and Romans who introduced the use of water for therapeutic purposes in this area of ​​the Peninsula, and since then the passion for the practice of hydrotherapy, facilitated by the enormous wealth of mineral-medicinal waters, has been a constant in history. of Catalonia, especially from the end of the 19th century. Caldes d'Estrac, also known as Caldetes, is a coastal town with a spa from the early nineteenth century that retains its charm of yesteryear, and from which mineral-medicinal water emerges at 38.8 degrees.

In addition, the town has another surprising attraction: the Fundació Palau (pictured), a little-known art center that houses works by Picasso and other artists. This is the private collection of Josep Palau i Fabre (1917-2008), a versatile poet and writer who, thanks to his close relationship with Picasso, Lorca, Alberti, Octavio Paz and other celebrities, connected Catalan culture with the main artistic currents 20th century. Its exhibition surprises with works by Gargallo, Nonell, Opisso and other artists, as well as 50 paintings and drawings by Picasso (after the Museu Picasso in Barcelona, ​​this is the second exhibition space in Catalonia with more works by the great painter).

Other spas, in addition to Estrach, where you can enjoy Catalan spas, are Caldes de Montbui, Caldes de Malavella, Caldes de Boí, Vallfogona de Riucorb, Sant Hilari Sacalm, Benifallet, Santa Coloma de Farners and La Garriga.

8Cardona: a mountain of salt and a fabulous castle Cardona, in the Barcelona region of Bages, has elevated the extraction of salt to the category of art. The view of the town is fabulous, with a medieval castle of incredible dimensions, which presides over this town that also marvels with its Muntanya de Sal, a unique natural phenomenon in the world with a diapir about two kilometers deep, of which Salt was extracted until 1990. Today you can take a tour of its interior, 86 meters deep, discovering in the galleries the colors of the different veins of salt. But the saline experience in Cardona does not end here and is completed with the Josep Arnau Salt Museum, which shows handicrafts made in salt by a local artist, or the Artesà de Sal Workshop, where you can buy pieces made in salt.

The castle of Cardona is the most important medieval fortress in Catalonia, built in the 9th century and residence between the 11th and 15th centuries of the Dukes of Cardona, a family that over time became the most important of the entire Crown of Aragon and whose growing power earned them the nickname "uncrowned kings." In 1724 it was one of the last Catalan strongholds that fell to the Bourbon troops of Felipe V. Today, perfectly restored and with spectacular views of the entire central basin of the Cardener River, it preserves the Torre de la Minyona, the Ducal patio, the bastions of defense and the old Palau dels Ducs, today converted into a parador, in addition to the collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, Romanesque, with a central nave dominated by a large presbytery. Prisma by Dukas Presseagentur GmbH alamy

9Vilafranca del Penedès: getaway with cava and castellers The capital of Alto Penedès is known for its cava and castellers. The VINSEUM Museu de les Cultures del Vi de Catalunya illustrates about the culture of wine and cava, with more than 17,000 objects on display, and the three local 'colles castelleres' compete each year to raise the tallest human tower. Villafranca deserves a relaxed visit, as there is much to discover in it. The same square that the museum overlooks is the Basilica of Santa María, a Gothic building with gargoyles in the shape of real and fantastic animals; On Saturdays in summer and autumn you can climb its bell tower to watch the sunset accompanied by a glass of wine.

As in other towns in this area, in Villafranca del Penedès you can taste good wines and cavas by visiting some of the local wineries, such as Mascaró and Pinord. But perhaps it is better to walk the Camí del Vi, an interpretive trail lasting three hours through the vineyards that shows the cycle of the vineyard, the pruning system, the different types of grapes and the different ways of making wines and you dig.

In addition, Vilafranca - together with the Tarragona town of Valls, 45 kilometers away - is a Castilian town par excellence, with three 'colles castelleres' that compete healthily with each other in the main festival, between August 29 and September 2 . Seeing how they lean on each other to touch the sky leaves anyone speechless. Good gourmets should not leave without trying the 'gall negre' (black rooster), a native bird of the Penedès that can be tasted in local restaurants and that many buy for Christmas at a very particular fair, the Fira del Gall, a market with more than 350 years of history that is celebrated before the holidays. Lucas Vallecillos alamy

10Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l'Obac Natural Park, the hikers' getaway Catalan hikers know this natural park very well, with 19 signposted routes that allow you to discover landscapes where practically bare peaks alternate with leafy mountain slopes. The access road goes up to Coll d'Estenalles, the junction between the two mountain ranges that give the park its name. The routes through this natural setting usually start in Matadepera, which always stands out in all the lists as the Catalan town with the highest quality of life, surrounded by luxury urbanizations. It is located just nine kilometers from the populous city of Terrassa, but at the foot of the spectacular Sant Llorenç del Munt mountain range. About four kilometers from the town, you reach the monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt,a Romanesque building from the 11th century, which constitutes an almost exact copy of the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès, as they were designed by the monks themselves. It is on the top of La Mola, which at 1,095 meters is the highest point in the Serra de l'Obac and the heart of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l'Obac Natural Park.

Throughout the entire natural park there are marked trails that allow, on one or two hour walking excursions, to discover landscapes of great beauty. Then, down the mountain, you can make a stop at Mura, a tiny and picturesque town with steep streets and stone houses where you can breathe a calm air that seems to be from a bygone era. Curiously, in the lowest part of the town is the church of Sant Martí, a beautiful Romanesque building with a sculpted tympanum representing the Adoration of the Magi. And in the surroundings there are many other delicious corners, such as the Font de l'Era, a fountain surrounded by a picnic area, the Font del Rector, next to the Estenalles stream, or the Gorg del Pare, where in spring and autumn, when the water is more abundant, small waterfalls are formed.Marti Garcia getty images

11Sant Miquel del Fai: modernism and gothic between heaven and earth This ancient Benedictine monastery carved out of the rock is not very clear if it is in heaven or on earth. Already the arrival road from Sant Feliu de Codines, perched on a cliff overlooking the Tenes valley, is a fabulous advance. A rustic bridge gives access to the monastery, nestled in the rock and surrounded by a natural environment with spectacular views and waterfalls such as Sant Miquel del Fai (in the image). The monumental and landscape complex of Sant Miquel del Fai is made up of Plaça de l'Abadia and the old Gothic priory building, located on a landing.

But before arriving there is Sant Feliu in Codines, a town surrounded by forests and with a surprisingly mild climate. It has become the residence of many former urbanites fleeing the big city. In fact, during the 20th century it was one of the great summer resorts of the Barcelona bourgeoisie, which built slender modernist houses. There is even a modernist route designed from the City Hall, which passes in front of six houses built between 1899 and 1925, among them Can Xifreda, inspired by a Mozarabic castle and today converted into the Municipal Museum of Can Xifreda. Very close to the town, along the Sant Miquel del Fai road, is Parc Usart, a park with two buildings designed by Gaudí and a viewpoint with wide views of the Tenes valley;it is an ideal starting point for hiking tours in the surrounding forests. And in the Pi Solitari area you can visit the Cim d'Àligues complex, where there are flight exhibitions of birds of prey, such as eagles or hawks, and guided tours of the aviaries of the enclosure. JackF getty images

12Caldes de Montbui: the best Roman baths on the Peninsula The name of this town evokes spas and thermal waters, as there are waters at 74 ° C with recognized therapeutic properties, known as early as the 1st century BC and which can be followed today enjoying in its three spa hotels. At the end of the 19th century the spa experienced a great development. This thermal activity attests to the Font del Lleó, located in the square of the same name (be careful, no one thinks of having a drink to cool off because this water also flows at 74 ° C), in the center of Caldes; the aforementioned Roman baths, from the s. I BC, the best preserved in the entire Iberian Peninsula, formed by a pool surrounded by galleries covered by semicircular vaults; or the El Safareig thermal baths,a public space where you can enjoy a therapeutic bath that takes advantage of the structure of an old laundry room. Also the three spa hotels in Caldes: Termes Victoria, Broquetas and Vila de Caldes.

But if you want to know everything about thermal baths, you should pay a leisurely visit to the Thermalia Museum dedicated to the culture of thermal water, with the exhibition 'L'essència balneària'. Of its four floors, one is dedicated to spas, another to temporary exhibitions and in the other two there is an exhibition with works by the painter and sculptor Manolo Hugué, who arrived in Caldes de Montbui, precisely, attracted by the medicinal properties of its thermal waters. In addition, as a result of the friendship that Hugué maintained with Picasso, there is also a small exhibition of works by the famous painter from Malaga. Xavier Fores - Joana Roncero alamy

13Olèrdola site, a walk through the oldest history Archeology lovers have an appointment at the site next to the town of Olèrdola, in the Alt Penedès region, a hodgepodge of constructions from different periods spanning from the Bronze Age until high medieval times, with cyclopean and medieval walls, a Roman watchtower, remains of a castle, Iberian samples, a cistern and a Mozarabic chapel. It is advisable to wear good shoes and, after the visit, walk around. Inside the enclosure there is an interpretation center that illustrates the passage of man through this strategic enclave. In the image, the Romanesque church of Sant Miquel, in the highest part of the municipality of Olèrdola. Josep Curto alamy

14Colonia Güell: nature and modernism in an industrial colony Time seems to have stopped in Colonia Güell, located near Santa Coloma de Cervelló, in the Baix Llobregat region. This former modernist industrial colony —open to visitors every weekend from 10:00 to 15:00; 8.5 euros per person - it is kept as it was devised by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) in 1890 to house the workers of the Güell textile company, which its owner decided to take out of Barcelona, ​​where labor conflicts were already breaking out. The forms of the modernist crypt designed by the architect of Reus are a precursor to that of the temple of the Sagrada Familia. All the buildings in the complex are modernist and a walk between them allows you to breathe the atmosphere of late 19th century Catalonia. In his day,The colony used the most advanced technology and had pioneering social services to improve the lives of the workers: single-family homes, school, shops, medical services, gardens, and even an athenaeum and a theater. Ivan Vdovin alamy

15Collserola, a mountain range that embraces Barcelona To get out of the hustle and bustle of Barcelona without straying too far from the city, you can climb this mountain range that protects the city and represents its main green lung. It is a true natural treasure to enjoy nature, go hiking, cycling or even horseback riding. With more than 8,000 hectares of surface, it is considered one of the largest Spanish metropolitan parks. Within its limits there are two natural reserves: the Font Groga and the Rierada-Can Balasc.

You can take the funicular to the Tibidabo amusement park, from where you can get fabulous views of the entire city, or go to the other side of the mountain to walk along its many trails. To enjoy the best views, there are viewpoints on each side: from Torre Baró, in Nou Barris, which overlooks the Montseny, and from the Finestrelles pass, in Les Corts, which covers a panoramic view of the city to the Maresme. James Sturcke Alamy