Small but perfectly formed, this tiny castle in the centre of la Geltrú was rebuilt between the…read more12th-15th centuries on the base of an earlier 11th century fortification, documented in 1080. It was restored in 1919 by the architect Jeroni Martorell and, after a spell as the town's museum, is now used by the Generalitat Government of Catalonia as an archive. The building preserves lovely decorative elements from the gothic and renaissaince periods in its window and door detailings, especially in the small inner courtyard.

Situated on an impressive and commanding site at the northern end of the Parc de Foix, with superb…read moreviews over the impressive Foix reservoir, the Castle of Castellet dominates the small (and rather well-to-do) settlement that has grown up around it. The castle, heavily restored, is famous for its attractive grouping of square and round towers, and the adjacent (and separate) hillside chapel. Built in the 10th century, it is first referred to in a document dated 977AD, although most of what you see today is the result of a series of mediaeval rebuilding, reflecting its major strategic importance during the period of the reconquest of Catalonia by the Christians from the Moors, when it was owned by the Counts of Barcelona, and through the mediaeval period (when it was a possession of the joint Catalonian and Aragonese Crown) until the 16th century. Thereafter, the castle slowly fell into ruin. Restoration began in the 1920s and 1930s, but what you see now is essentially the result of its acquisition in 1999 by the Albertis Foundation, itself sponsored by the large Spanish infrastructure group of the same name, which acquired the castle as a home for its research work on the environment and transport. The renovation has produced a thoroughly modern corporate presentation inside while respecting the fabric of the original castle. It's not an approach normally adopted in the UK, but it at least ensures a safe future for the building. The most notable features are its oval 10th century tower and walls from the 15th century. The castle itself is only open for guided visits on rather limited hours around lunchtime at week-ends. Inside, there is a small museum of the site's history. There's a small car park next to the castle, with a rather larger car park at the foot of the hill. Slightly closer access can be had by parking close to the village's classy restaurant, although this is reserved for patrons when the restaurant is open. Alternatively, the castle lies on a number of long distance footpaths between Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Vilafranca del Penedès.

What a special find... an amphitheater from the 2nd century. It's gorgeous overlooking the…read moreMediterranean Sea.

I toured the Roman Amphitheater during the hottest part of the day and still enjoyed it immensely…read more It was built at the end of the 1st century AD and the start of the 2nd century, AD. It has a long rich..dark history. It was incredible to be able to walk around and experience something from so long ago. I spent about an hour here and learned a lot.

Beautiful monastery, located against the backdrop of the Montserrat mountain where the peaks are…read moreliterally surrounding the monastery. The Cathedral that is at the heart of this monastery is very ornate and gorgeous with classic European craftsmanship from an age gone by clearly visible throughout the cathedral. As beautiful as the monastery is, the elevated views from this location are drop dead gorgeous and worth the trip alone. Unfortunately, on the day we visited, there was a mass going on where they closed viewing of the black Madonna for the day to not be in conflict with the mass which is standard practice. So you need to keep an eye on this if you plan to visit this site. The other negative thing is that the place was slammed with tourist and I felt that the outlying buildings were completely commercialized to sell trinkets to the tourist that visit. I personally am not a fan when places of worship do this, but I do understand that this type of operation probably funds the maintenance and operation of monastery year-round and is probably a necessary evil in this case. All in all, this is one of the main attractions in the Barcelona area and should be included on any itinerary during your visit here. Opportunities to see beauty like this along with it's historical relevance are far few and in between and should be taken advantage of anytime you're given this opportunity.

Quite the journey but makes a great day trip outside of the city. Although it can get very crowded…read moreup there, it's still relaxing and surreal. Book tickets in advance as they sell out, especially the choir which is the highlight of the day. They perform at 1:00pm sharp.

Casa Batllo is one of Gaudi's beautiful architecture designs. I purchased the tickets online and…read morewas instructed to download the app. Within the app there is access to the tickets and the audio tour once you arrive that describes the different sections. The exterior is so beautiful and resembles a sea creature. He was known to get his inspiration from nature and it shows throughout Casa Batllo. The tour took about an hour. We went early in the day to avoid a long wait time. There are some gift shops in different sections throughout the tour and they also had an option to take a photo on the balcony which was available for purchase. Overall it was a nice experience!

You get a discount for purchasing tickets online, which I did, but then I had an issue accessing…read morethem, so they helped me at the box office without an additional charge. It was a bit crowded when I was there midday so it could be hard to get pictures without people, but it wasn't too bad. It is a beautiful building and I think well worth a visit. I did the audio tour which I thought was good.

One of the highlights on our 2-week trip to Spain and Portugal. Gaudi's grand masterpiece in the…read moreresidential Eixample neighborhood is an icon of the city. It boasts bold, wildly creative, unmistakable organic architecture and décor inside and out - from its melting Glory Façade to its skull-like Passion Façade to its rainforest-esque interior. Really spectacular! We came at the end of the day, and the light was flooding through the stained glass window. We also did the Bell tower which has gorgeous panoramic views of the city. You take the elevator up and then down about 300 stairs down a narrow, winding staircase. Note: Buy timed entry reservations in advance, and make sure you book on the official website: www.sagradafamilia.org. I initially got scammed by Feel the City and paid €340, instead of €140. I hate that; the scammer sites are very official looking.

No matter how many photos you've seen, nothing really prepares you for seeing Basílica de la…read moreSagrada Família in person. Gaudí's masterpiece is breathtaking from every angle, and the level of detail on both the exterior and interior is incredible. As sunlight shines through the colorful stained-glass windows, the entire basilica fills with vibrant colors, creating a peaceful and unforgettable atmosphere. We took our time to appreciate all the little details rather than rushing through. The audio guide helped us understand the symbolism behind the design. Booking tickets in advance is highly recommended, especially during the busy season, as entry times often sell out.

Worth a stop. I am a fan of arches. We happened here as walking around the town. I don't know the…read morehistory of the arch nor did I care our tour gave us so much history I was glad you just walk around and explore on my own . Don't know if it was somehow trying to copy the arch in Paris either way it was cool . There's a very interesting part very close by with fountains and parakeets and all kinds of cool stuff so if you come to the arch definitely check out that Park beside the zoo . This was Popular location lots of people ... tourists and street performers. Popular photo spot.

This is one the most recognizable landmarks in Barcelona and it was built as the main entrance to…read morethe 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. One interesting fact about this arc is that unlike many triumphal arches that celebrate military victories, this one was designed as a symbol of progress and welcome. The red-brick architecture stands out beautifully, and the wide pedestrian promenade leading to the arch is lined with palm trees; suitable walkway. The atmosphere around this landmark is very lively. Locals and visitors gather here to walk, cycle, relax, and enjoy street performances, giving the area a lively but laid-back feel. It's also just a short walk from Parc de la Ciutadella, so it's easy to visit both at the same time.

We visited the Poblet Monastery on our way home back to France from Reus. As a UNESCO World…read moreHeritage site, it is worth visiting for both history and architectural fans. The Poblet Monastery is a Cistercian abbey in Catalonia and one of the largest in Spain. You can visit the grounds and the chapel without a ticket, which is what we did because we had our dogs with us and it was too cold and windy to wait outside while we took turns viewing the interior. The grounds and surrounding walls are very impressive. The price of admission is 11 euros per person. We initially thought that was high but then noticed that aside from it still being a working monastery, it also provides hospitality programs for youth which are onsite.

I treasure UNESCO World Heritage sites, this one was one of my favorites though all are…read moreunforgettable (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/518/). Well preserved Cistercian abbey is an expansive 3 enclosures built from the 12th through the 15th centuries. As amazing as it is, it's not over run with tourists, in some rooms and spaces I was all by myself and it was easy to pretend I was a time traveler. Don't miss the great alabaster altarpiece by Damia Forment (1529). You will also find the tombs of Aragon and Catalonia royalty from the 13th and 14th century. An easy day trip from Barcelona, it is not to be missed, it is incredible. Also, it has one of the best gift shops of any tourist site I've been to.

This site is open air and underground ruins of a Roman chariot racing track, circus area and a…read moretower. It was built in the 1st century AD and probably used through the 5th century. There are long underground tunnels with rooms leading off of the tunnels and lots of stairs going up to the tower area. Plan on walking a lot. It is an amazing site that is in great shape for being so old.

Very nice place to visit - be prepared to walk and climb steps! It costs 1.70€ if you are a…read morestudent, double for non-students. You essentially walk in tunnels underground of what used to be a Roman circus (think more chariots rather than ferris wheels) and there is information in English about what you're looking at. It's self guided and you can take as much time as you need. We spent probably an hour or two walking around and reading. The views from climbing the steps (or taking the elevator) of the town are beautiful! You can see the Amphitheatre and the beach from the top of the lookout. If you're in Tarragona, this is a must see site.