Discover the treasure shared by the two cloisters of Girona and Sant Cugat and the sculptural details that make them unique. Some guided tours to learn about the Romanesque and the work of the master Arnau Cadell.

In Girona, you visit the cloister of the Cathedral and in Sant Cugat the Cloister of the Monastery, twinned because they share a father: the teacher Arnau Cadell. He is the first Catalan artist known by name and the surname; he portrayed himself on a capital in the eastern gallery of the cloister of Sant Cugat del Vallès cutting a Corinthian capital, along with an inscription in which he recorded the authorship of the cloister.

A getaway where you will discover the historic city of Girona, more than 2.000 years old. With the help of local hosts, you will discover its medieval part and its architecture, such as the ancient Monastery of San Pere de Galligants, the Imperial Cathedral with its 122 capitals created by Arnau Cadell or the traditional Arab Baths. Also, you will enjoy wonderful views climbing its walls.

In Sant Cugat del Vallès, you will enter its majestic Monastery with its 144 capitals, also works by the master Arnau Cadell. You can relax in the Sierra de Collserola Natural Park following the Sant Jaume path and walk through the magical green spaces of the city.

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The historical importance of La Segarra is reflected in the archaeological and monumental remains that are conserved in many parts of the comarca (local district). Through them, it is possible to embark on a journey through the history of this territory, from prehistoric times through to the Art Nouveau architecture of the twentieth century, via the Roman period and the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles. Cervera, Guissona and Sant Guim de Freixenet are just some of the municipalities in La Segarra in which you can discover the most significant of these elements.

However, it is the large number of castles, towers, strongholds and fortified villages in La Segarra that have led to this comarca often being referred to as the "Land of Castles". In fact, this is where we find the famous Route of the Castles of the River Sió, which runs along the banks of the river that gives it its name. This is a gentle route, and one full of history, which runs through the dry landscapes of La Segarra. It is suitable for all types of family excursions, whether undertaken by car, on foot, or by mountain bike.

Depending on the time of year, a range of different colours dye the landscapes of this comarca. These range from plains bearing cereal crops to areas of medium-height mountains. It is a territory where many typically Mediterranean crops grow, including olives and almonds. This makes the landscape of La Segarra truly unique. When spring arrives, it is difficult to forget the image offered by the spectacular contrast between the almond blossom and the green fields of cereals, all of which encourages us to enjoy nature and the feeling of tranquillity that it exudes.

Located in inland Catalonia, Cervera offers visitors a trip through its history. Walking through the historic centre of the capital of La Segarra, we find buildings and elements that tell us a lot about its splendid past. They present an amalgam of styles that arouse the interest and curiosity. This is an ideal town to let yourself get lost in, while contemplating the 14th century walls, visiting the Baroque-style Paeria (Town Hall), or walking through its emblematic streets. These include the Carrer Major (main street), with its lordly houses, the Carreró de les Bruixes (witches' alley) and the Plaça Major (main square). The latter hosts the main events that are held in the town. The most spectacular of these is the Aquelarre de Cervera (Witches' Sabbat), which is a festival that highlights the town's connection with the witches of the Middle Ages. The Medieval Passió de Cervera is another great event, with more than 500 years of history. It is an enactment of the Passion of Christ which invites visitors to return to medieval times.

Thanks to its neoclassical style, which includes some Baroque elements, and its auditorium, the University of Cervera remains one of the town's most spectacular buildings and is a must-see. The municipal territory also contains a total of 16 churches of different architectural styles. These range from the Romanesque hermitage of Sant Pere Gros and church of Sant Miquel de Tudela, to the neoclassical church of Sant Magí, via the Gothic-style church of Santa Maria.

Barcelona hosts more than 160 festivals throughout the year, showcasing the latest artistic trends in film, dance, literature, design, art… Highlights include the popular, world-renowned festival of electronic music, Sonar, and Primavera Sound, which brings you the best indie sounds. The yearly calendar of music festivals includes many more interesting suggestions, including the Barcelona Obertura Spring Festival, in March, with its concerts by leading performers from Spain and abroad, held at Barcelona’s three concert halls and other iconic venues. In June and July, the city hosts the Jardins de Pedralbes Festival, which features a varied repertoire of open-air concerts. And Barcelona’s summer culturefest, the Grec, brings you theatre, dance, music and street performances. The International Comic Fair is the world’s second most important event dedicated to comics and cartoons, and an absolute must for fans of the genre. And if you like manga, you can visit the Barcelona Manga Fair, ​​which ranks second in Europe. There’s also the Loop Festival, which is dedicated to video art. The 48H Open House Barcelona is the city’s most important date with architecture: more than 200 buildings open their doors over one weekend. The Barcelona-D’A Film Festival showcases the best in contemporary independent world cinema. And if you’re into music, the In-Edit Festival is the go-to event showcasing music documentaries. This is just a selection but there’s so much more to choose from: take your pick and enjoy!

The districts of Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà and Urgell reveal a landscape of fertile soil that caught the eye of Cistercian monks. In each of these districts they built a monastery: Santes Creus, Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges. The Cistercian Route links the three on a circular path that follows the GR175, which can be covered in several stages by hiking (105 kilometres) or mountain biking (108 kilometres).

Santes Creus was a centre of power and major influence for the Crown of Aragon. Pere the Great and Jaume II, along with his wife Blanca de Anjou, wanted to be buried in Santes Creus, in two Gothic mausoleums by the main altar. On guided tours we can learn about the medieval legends associated with this monastery on the banks of the river Gaià.

Poblet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in a stunning setting, at the foot of the Prades mountains, with Poblet forest and its thermal springs within walking distance. The type of landscape that inspires Mediterranean garden, with an abundance of vineyards, grain fields and olive orchards.

Vallbona de les Monges is the only one of the three monasteries that is surrounded by an urban centre; this was a concession by the Abbess to circumvent the Council of Trent’s ban on women’s monasteries in isolated places. Alongside Poblet, these are the two monasteries that are still inhabited today.

The Castle of Cardona crowns the promontory on which this community is based, whose golden years were during the Middle Ages thanks to the salt trade. Although the precious mineral was being mined as early as the Neolithic period, it was the Cardona Population Charter, which sets out the perpetual right to mine salt, which ultimately allowed wealth to flood its streets. The mines again became very important in the early twentieth century, and were still in operation until 1990. Following their closure, a cultural park was set up to protect the former mining operation. Today, you can discover the Castle of Cardona and the Salt Mountain Cultural Park through two guided tours and two theatrical tours: “The true story of the Minyona Tower” and “Alchemy Project”: the secret of the Liber Salis. On the first, we will discover the most important spaces of the old city castle, including the church of Sant Vicent and the legends that have emerged between its walls. On the visit to the mine we are accompanied by two scientist explorers following in the footsteps of a fifteenth-century alchemist. It’s very exciting to follow in the miners’ footsteps and enter the galleries, 86 metres deep. Interestingly, Cardona was the location for some of the main scenes from Orson Welles’ film Chimes at Midnight.

In 1983, archaeologists Joan Santacana and Joan Sanmartí began excavations of the Ciutadella Ibérica de Calafell, a settlement founded in the early sixth century BC. It is thought to have been the fortified settlement of a warlord of the Cossetans tribe, the Iberians who lived in Camp de Tarragona. Between 1992 and 1994, the village was rebuilt using experimental archaeology techniques and an educational museum approach, following the example of the Ekertop site on the Swedish island of Öland. During the visit, we can climb the towers and walls or enter the houses, silos and workshops to see reproductions of everyday objects and find out what a day was like in the life of an Iberian community. The fortress forms part of the Iberian Route, a cultural tourism project promoted and coordinated by the Archeology Museum of Catalonian.

There was a time when rough and wise hands were in charge of rural constructions, fitting one stone to the next with mastery, studying weights and measurements carefully because no bonding material was used. The dry stone huts were used to protect the peasant farmers from the rain and keep tools and livestock safe and dry. In the middle of the Cistercian Route, in the town of Pla de Santa Maria, we can follow the Route of Capona, featuring excellent examples of this heritage surrounded by cultivated fields, primarily vineyards. This is an almost flat path, just over two kilometres long, that you can walk or cycle. As well as huts, we will see barriers and buildings used to store rainwater. In 2018, UNESCO inscribed the architecture and culture of dry stone on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

The calçot is a variety of sweet, white spring onions traditionally grown in Catalonia. Although the season was originally confined to the winter months, the popularisation of this product has meant that it now can be eaten from November until the arrival of spring, and even well into April. The traditional way to cook calçots is by roasting them in an open fire, prepared with the shoots resulting from pruning the vines. When the outside is blackened, the calçots are wrapped in newspaper for a few minutes to finish cooking and keep them warm. A calçot is eaten with your hands, peeling the outer layer with your fingers and dipping them in romescu sauce. A hearty grilled meat is then usually served. The calçot of Valls is subject to a Protected Geographical Indication. On the last Sunday in January, the Festa de la Calçotada is held in the town. The events revolves around the calçots eating contest, where the current record holder ate more than three hundred units.

Valls is also one of the capitals of the castells, and there are plans to open a Castell Museum of Catalonia. It has been designed by the architect Dani Freixas, winner of the National Architecture Award, and within its nearly 3,000 square metres we will be able to learn, through the most advanced audiovisual technologies, about the complexity of the construction of these human towers that rise up to ten stories in height, and the profound joy the members of the groups experience during the festival days. If you have the opportunity to attend a day in one of the plazas castelleras, it will certainly be one of the most exciting experiences you can enjoy in Catalonia.