Impressive Catalonia - Self Drive

Impressive Catalonia - Self Drive

Explore the proud region of Catalonia during this magical seven-day self-drive tour starting and ending in Barcelona. Discover ancient Roman ruins, picturesque mountain villages, timeless medieval towns, and fascinating historic cities. Journey through verdant valleys and spectacular landscapes, and experience the raw beauty of the Catalan countryside and coast.

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL BARCELONA – TARRAGONA (100 Km – 1 hr)

Pass By: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Arrive at Barcelona airport and meet with a rent-a-car representative to assist you in picking up the rental car. Then, start your route towards Tarragona for your first night in beautiful Catalonia. Tarragona was one of the Roman capitals of Spain when it was known as Tarraco. Today, the city’s Roman ruins have earned it UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Overnight in Tarragona area.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Sol Costa Daurada or similar 4*

Day 2: TARRAGONA – POBLET – LERIDA (110 Km – 1.5 hrs)

Pass By: Parador de Lleida, Carrer Cavallers, 15, 25002 Lleida, Spain
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before exploring Tarragona. Visit the ruins of the old city walls, which date from the third century, and other significant Roman monuments such as the Forum, the circus and the amphitheatre, located is almost on the shores of the Mediterranean. The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Mary is a magnificent fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Admire the graceful elegance of the Plaça de la Font, where the city hall is located. Leave the city, heading towards Lerida. En route, we recommend a visit to the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet, a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex is surrounded by defensive walls and to stroll around it is like travelling back to the Middle Ages. Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles can be appreciated throughout the monastery, which also served as the pantheon of kings of the once mighty Crown of Aragon.

Overnight in Lerida.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Parador Lerida or similar 4*

Day 3: LERIDA - CARDONA – LLORET DE MAR (280 Km – 3.5 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Evenia Olympic Garden, Carrer Senyora de Rossell, s/n, Av. del Rieral, 55, 57, 17310 Lloret de Mar, Girona, Spain
Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Discover the historic quarter of Lerida, which preserves fascinating picturesque corners. Visit the monumental complex of the old cathedral and king´s castle – La Suda, which offers wonderful views of the city. Afterwards, leave Lerida behind and head towards Cardona, an idyllic located in a valley in central Catalonia. The town is a picturesque site with an important medieval heritage. Visit its most important sites, without missing the impressive walled fortress castle set on a hill. Then, continue to paradisiacal Costa Brava area, spending a lovely evening in Lloret de Mar.

Overnight in Lloret de Mar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Evenia Olympic Garden or similar 4*

Day 4: LLORET DE MAR – PALAMOS – PALAFRUGEL – BEGUR – LLORET DE MAR (140 Km – 2 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Evenia Olympic Garden, Carrer Senyora de Rossell, s/n, Av. del Rieral, 55, 57, 17310 Lloret de Mar, Girona, Spain
Have a tasty breakfast at the hotel before beginning a new adventure in Catalonia. Today we suggest exploring some of the charming villages in Costa Brava passing by impressive cliffs, beaches of golden sand and typical Mediterranean landscapes. First stop is Palamos with its fascinating landscape. Stroll around the streets and enjoy the different views. Continue along the coast towards Palafrugell. The cork industry has determined the village’s evolution and present appearance. It preserves the original layout of the streets and its white houses. The harbour is home to brightly coloured traditional boats, contrasting the white buildings and golden sand of the beach. Continue to the village of Begur, which sits at the foot of an austere castle on a hill. The view from the top is stunning, from where you can contemplate the intense blue of the Mediterranean. In the evening, return to your hotel in Lloret de Mar.

Overnight in Lloret de Mar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category = Evenia Olympic Garden or similar 4*

Day 5: LLORET DE MAR – BARCELONA (80 Km – 1.5 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Evenia Rosselló, Carrer del Rosselló, 191, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before leaving towards the lively city of Barcelona. Perhaps explore Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter. Stroll through narrow cobbled streets and alleys, which open up to picturesque plazas with café terraces and secluded churches. Admire Santa Eulalia Cathedral and the churches of Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Maria del Pi, three outstanding examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, and behold the medieval majesty of the former royal palace at the Plaça del Rei. Visit the Park Güell in the northwestern suburbs of the city, and see what Gaudi’s vision of an ideal ‘garden city’ was. The park remains unfinished but enough was built to captivate the imagination, with a myriad of mosaics made from irregular and broken pieces of tiles. Enjoy the views over Barcelona and the Mediterranean before continuing to the still unfinished Sagrada Familia basilica, with designs that stretched the realms of the imagination and have made it the iconic symbol of the city. The basilica has three fascinating façades, one of which – the surreal Nativity façade – was more or less completed before Gaudi’s passing, and only recently the roof of the nave has been completed.

Overnight in Barcelona.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category =Evenia Roselló or similar 4*

Day 6: BARCELONA – SANT SADURNI D’ANOIA – MONTSERRAT – BARCELONA (190 Km – 3 hrs)

Pass By: Hotel Evenia Rosselló, Carrer del Rosselló, 191, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
Today we recommend indulging in the rich breakfast at your hotel and heading to Sant Sadurni d’Anoia. This prosperous town is the heartland of the cava-producing Alt Penedes region. Don’t miss visiting the bodegas and learning about this world-famous sparkling wine production. Continue to Montserrat, Catalonia’s holiest mountain and home of the Virgin of La Moreneta. Enjoy this spiritual and cultural journey, while admiring the memorable views of the highlands and their staggering rock formations. Montserrat has been a place of pilgrimage since the ninth century when some shepherd boys found a statue of the Virgin Mary in a cave. Since then, the statue has been venerated, people believing it turned black thanks to centuries of smoke from candles. Today, Montserrat is the largest Benedictine monastery in Spain. Wander the courtyards and visit the cloisters before entering the impressive basilica and its museum. Return to Barcelona for overnight.

Overnight in Barcelona .

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Superior Hotel Category =Evenia Roselló or similar 4*

Day 7: DEPART BARCELONA

Pass By: Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Begin your last day in Barcelona with a tasty breakfast. Then, at the appropriate time, head towards the rental company to return the vehicle. The rent-a-car shuttle service will transfer you to the terminal for you to catch your departure flight back home.

Breakfast included.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.