Hi all,
Next summer I'll be in Spain for the eclipse and likely will fly out of BCN. But I may take a few days to go from Valencia to Barcelona.
What are your best recommendations for towns and/or activities along the coast?
I love good food, wine and Roman history. And sunny beaches.
For now, I'm thinking via rail, but I could rent a car if necessary.
Thanks for your ideas!
Tarragona is def. worth a stop.
Thanks, I have been reading a bit about it. Looks good. Also maybe Sitges and Monserrat.
Peniscola is pretty.
Also Salou with the long promenade and palm trees and fountains
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2018/11/day-54-peniscola-and-salou.html
I think we have much of the same interests :-) Here are some fun places I would recommend to check out between Barcelona and Valencia (north to south) close to the coast:
Garraf - laid back beach community just south of Barcelona. Popular with locals and with good seafood restaurants. There is also here a beach house designed by none other than Antoni Gaudí.
Poblet Royal Monastery - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still active 12th-century Cistercian monastery. It was a fortified medieval royal residence and contains the unique hanging tombs of the old Kings of Aragon. (car needed)
Villa Romana dels Munts - a 1st-century Roman villa overlooking the Mediterranean, with preserved mosaics, baths, and frescoes that once belonged to the Roman governor of Hispania. (car suggested)
Tarragona - ancient seaside town with very good Roman ruins, including an amphitheater, intact aqueduct, and Praetorium Tower, was once the capital of Roman Hispania (modern-day Spain). Tarragona's medieval old town is a delight to explore too.
Les Ferreres Aqueduct - Roman Aqueduct you can walk on top of, a few km from Tarragona.
Castillo de Miravet - A large riverside stronghold built by the Knights Templar with commanding views of the countryside. The adjacent medieval village spills down the cliff towards the rivers. A great place to bicycle, kayak, or take a leisurely boat down the Ebro river. (car suggested)
Peñíscola - With its cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, the old town of Peñíscola sits on a big rock that juts out into the sea. The town is dominated by a large Knights Templar castle that looks like something out of the Crusades. Recently, Peñíscola was used as a filming location in the T.V. series Game of Thrones.
Sagunto Castle (Saguntum) - settlement sacked by Hannibal Barca that led to the Second Punic War. Now an eclectic mix of Roman, Moorish, and Christian fortifications. (car suggested)
Great ideas, folks!
Thank you. There are a lot of possibilities to choose from. It’s a year away but I’m already getting excited for the research and planning.
Some of the Cities, towns and villages of Catalonia well worth visiting.
The Parc Astronòmic de les Muntanyes de Prades will be a very good place to see the eclipse, but be warned, hotel bookings in the area are already full by now. It is an astronomical park, offering one of the clearest night skies in Catalonia. It combines scientific research with public activities, including guided stargazing sessions, planetarium shows, and educational workshops about astronomy and nature.
Thank you. We have our accommodations in Valencia for the week of the eclipse booked. But I’ll learn more about this place.
I’m planning for the days following the eclipse. I should look at booking some
sites on the way to BCN.
