Catalunya apartments - holiday apartments throughout Catalunya

CATALUNYA

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Catalunya's capital, Barcelona, is the place most people start their visit. A zesty seaside city, Barcelona is full of life. Visit the Picasso museum or the Contemporary Art Museum, walk the narrow streets of the gothic quarter, and shop along the stylish avenues of L'Eixample district.

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Near the capital is the sacred mountain of Montserrat, a mountain topped with odd bulbous peaks that's home to the Montserrat Monastery and the Virgin of Montserrat, Catalunya's patroness. The monastery itself makes for an interesting visit, but even better are the trails around it. For a special treat, ride the scenic cable car up the mountain.

Just off Montserrat begins the wine region of Pened?s, where nearly all Spain's cava (sparkling wine) is made. Many wineries and cavas offer tours and tastings.

From Barcelona, it's an easy one-hour drive or train ride north to Girona and La Costa Brava. The rugged coast here is one of Catalunya's most scenic and most popular areas. Visit picture-perfect towns like Cadaqu?s and Tossa de Mar, or head inland to check out the Salvador Dal? museum in Figueres or the medieval core of Girona.

An hour or so south of Barcelona is La Costa Daurada, home to some of the longest and loveliest stretches of beach in Spain. Chill out in the small resorts or head to the provincial capital, Tarragona, for a fascinating visit to the Roman ruins.

Head further inland to explore the rugged Pyrenees. The town of Vielha, near the French border, is known as a ski centre, while areas like the Vall de Nuria are quiet spots for a mountain escape.

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Catalunya's Mediterranean climate means that any season is a good time to visit. Beach weather starts in May and lasts through September, with July and August being the hottest and most-crowded months. Winters are mild along the coasts, and this is a good time to come if you want to avoid crowds. November through March, there is good snow skiing in the Pyrenees mountains near the French border.

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Most direct flights from the UK head to the busy Barcelona airport (flying time from London 2 hours), but low-budget airlines like Easy Jet and Ryan Air often head to the secondary airports of Girona, one hour north of Barcelona, or Reus, one hour south.

Once in the region, train travel is a good option, especially of you're heading for the larger towns and cities. To explore the coastal fishing villages, the interior wine regions or the slate-roofed towns of the Pyrenees, it's almost essential to have your own wheels.

In Barcelona, you can get around by metro or bus. Taxis are abundant and relatively affordable here.

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Sun and sand lovers will want to head straight for the beaches, and they've got plenty to choose from. In southern Catalunya the long, golden beaches of the Costa Daurada are great options for families, while the beaches of resort towns like Sitges offer both sandy shores and a great atmosphere at night. Along La Costa Brava, picturesque resorts like Cadaqu?s are ideal for those who like to stroll by the sea. Nearly all beach resorts, including Barcelona, rent sailboats, windsurfers and jet skis.

Catalunya is excellent walking country, and from the shore to the mountains it's criss-crossed with paths. Serious hikers will want to head to A?guestortes National Park in the Pyrenees, while those who prefer a stroll can meander around the ultra-flat Delta de l'Ebra in the far south. The mountain of Montserrat, just 50 minutes outside Barcelona, is another great walking destination.

Wineries are scattered throughout the Pened?s and Priorat regions. Many wineries accept visitors, and going out for a tour and tasting is a popular activity.

In winter, the Pyrenees make for a good ski destination. Resorts like Baquer?a-Beret, some four hours from Barcelona, offer a wide variety of skiing conditions and fair prices. The mountain towns nearby are loaded with restaurants and excursion outfitters.

MAPS

map of Catalonia