5 nights near/in Barcelona before Best of Spain begins in Barcelona

Don't forget that there are several nice old roman walls and other sites to see in the old part of the city of Barcelona itself. A good guidebook will mention them.

Thanks Connie. I will get a RS tourbook soon as part if the tour package. I did buy a lonely Planet book to compare.

The town of Empuries, on the Costa Brava, has some ancient ruins. If I'm remembering correctly, the archaeological site includes a Greek town and a Roman one. There's a museum showcasing finds from the excavations.

Thanks very much.

Hi June

As per your interests noted above, you might want to explore the following:

In Barcelona, the MUHBA* museum in Plaça del Rei, containing ruins of the Roman city: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/X4LaQ
Besalú, medieval fortified town near Barcelona: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/2MR8p
Empúries, Greek colony from 575BC near Girona: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/CTOTc
Tarragona, capital of the western province of Hispania Citerior during the Roman empire: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/IltXs
Miravet, an impressive Knights Templar castle near Tarragona: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/6mYFH

If you happen to visit the area around April, the city of Montblanc celebrates its Medieval Week: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/8EMWY same goes with Tortosa with an explendid Reinassance Festival in mid July: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/v63Kv

For all sorts of medieval buildings, including castles, check this database: http://www.catalunyamedieval.es/

*MUHBA short for Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat (City History Museum)

Great information. Thanks!

June, with a car you may really enjoy a Dali quest - three sites not far from Girona or one of the Costa Brava towns. Castel de Pubol (Dali's castle for Gala), the Dali Musuem in Figueres, and, my favorite, Dali's beach house in Cadaques. All three sites were stunning.
In Girona we stayed at Montjuic Bed & Breakfast and you can read many of the 4 star reviews on Trip Advisor;
and, don't miss touring the Casa Maso when you visit Girona - it's an incredible preservation of a modernists home and furnishing. By the way, on the Costa Brava we stayed in the town, Calella de Parafrugel.