In the following we reveal seven routes in which culture, gastronomy, enotourism, sport and adventure come together to transform your visit to the Catalonian seaboard into an unforgettable experience.

Route 1 - From Sant Carles de la Ràpita to L’Ametlla de Mar (98 km)
Our point of departure is tinged with the marine flavour of oysters and mussels, which you can taste at La Caseta del Parrillo farm, part of the Ruta de las Bateas (Route of the Rafts), which involves a boat ride across the Alfacs bay in Sant Carles de la Ràpita. At Amposta, be sure to sign up for a tour of the Ebro Delta Nature Park with MónNatura Delta del Ebro. You can visit their interpretation centre, the salt marshes, the hides for observing estuary birdlife, as well as ride in the traditional punts. The finishing touch is supplied in L’Ametlla de Mar by the team at Tuna Tour, who will take you diving among red tuna, which you will also be able to taste at the end of the excursion.

Route 2 – From Tarragona to Gratallops (73 km)
Tarragona is the first stop on this second route, which includes a tour of the city guided by Icono Serveis, while Tarragona Experience goes a step further by taking you into their Roman kitchen workshop, Domus Apicius. After this heady dose of culture, it’s time to head for the Port Aventura amusement park, where thrills and excitement are guaranteed. How about a day’s fishing in a genuine fishing boat? The experience is yours at Pesca Turismo Cambrils, so make sure you don’t miss out on it! A stopover at Reus is the perfect excuse for visiting the Gaudí Centre, where you can follow the first few steps of one of the most outstanding and unique architects in this land. The itinerary ends in the Priorat region and their magnificent DO wine, which you can taste in such wineries as Clos de l’Obac, located in Gratallops.

Route 3 – From the Prades Mountains to Vilanova i la Geltrú (112 km)
Awaiting you in the Prades Mountains are villages like Farena, Alcover and Capafonts. You can also join some of the activities offered by Brogit Guiatges, including dramatised excursions, homemade cheese and honey tastings or walking with a shepherd. When you feel like a break, we recommend heading for one of the three monumental complexes making up the so-called “Ruta del Cister” (Cistercian Route), notably the Monastery of Poblet, where you can also stay the night. Wine lovers can take the opportunity to visit Pacs del Penedès and indulge in an enotouristic experience at the Torres Winery. We wind up this third itinerary at the town of Vilanova i la Geltrú, where you can observe a splendid sunset from a yacht. What more could you ask for?

Route 4 - From Sitges to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (74 km)
In such an inspiring place as Sitges, one good option is to rely on AGIS to take you on a stroll through artists’ workshops. And, if you’re hankering for something racy, why not drop in on Casa Bacardí and learn how to make cocktails? The town of Santa Coloma de Cervelló is a must for devotees of Gaudian architecture, as there you can visit the Güell Colony and Gaudí’s Crypt. And, needless to say, this trip also includes a jaunt through the Penedès DO region where you can stop off at an organic wine cellar like Albet i Noya, or proceed to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, home to the main cava wineries such as Codorníu.

Route 5 - From Montserrat to Caldes de Montbui (61 km)
One site you simply cannot afford to miss is Montserrat, a major symbol of Catalonia. There you can visit the monastery and the art museum, as well as hike through the amazing nature park. After this immersion in raw nature, you could head for Terrassa, which boasts a number of first-rate museums, notably the Museu de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya, (Science and Technology Museum of Catalonia) Museu Tèxtil (Textile Museum) and Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya (Audiovisual Park of Catalonia). This itinerary winds down in “relaxation mode” at the Termes Victòria spa hotel, or the Broquetas Spa, both located in Caldes de Montbui.

Route 6 - From Montmeló to Palamós (155 km)
Are you a speed freak? Then the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, located in Montmeló, is the place for you, where you can get to drive your dream car. And, if you have any energy to spare for more excitement, at Globus Voltor, in the town of Cardedeu, you can sign up for a hot-air balloon ride, or visit the Can Vila horse-riding school in Sant Esteve de Palautordera and explore the Montseny Nature Park on horseback. This route comes to a close in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, where a walk along the coastal footpath comes highly recommended, and Palamós, where you can take part in a seafood cookery workshop in the Espacio del Pescado.

Route 7 - From L’Estartit to Girona (149 km)
Our final route starts with a diving excursion led by the Aquàtica crew in the waters around the Medes Isles off the coast of L’Estartit, while the wetlands of the Empordà region are ideal for ecokayaking with the SK Kayak team. On the outskirts of the nearby village of Sant Martí d’Empúries you should make a point of visiting the Greek and Roman ruins, and a heady dose of culture awaits you in the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes – dramatised visit included – the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres, the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Portlligat and the historic centre of Girona, which you can tour on a segway. The final flourish on this route is provided by the Empordà DO wines – you are urged to visit Empordàlia, located in the town of Vilajuïga, where you can taste wines, oil and the region’s typical dishes.

Text by the Agencia Catalana de Turismo

Cabárceno Park: an ideal place to spend the day with the family and feel in touch with nature. This is not your typical zoo but a park where you can see around a hundred animals living in semi-freedom. The more than 20 kms of tracks covering the park take you through fantastic gorges, tranquil lakes and evocative rocky features.

Caves of Altamira: Cantabria’s most famous image and the most important Paleolithic cave discovery. The cave is situated near Santillana del Mar and has been a World Heritage Site since 1985.

Comillas: 20 km from Santander, Comillas is one of the most interesting towns from an architectural point of view and in addition, offers a beautiful beach.

Fabulous beaches : Santander has wonderful urban beaches such as El Sardinero, the Camello, the Playa de Los Peligros or La Magadalena, as well as more isolated spots such as the Usgo, Virgen del Mar or Cuchía beaches. Its golden sands will certainly impress you as will all the beaches along the rest of the Cantabrian coast.

The Magdalena Peninsular

The Magdalena Peninsular is one of the most emblematic locations in Santander thanks to its situation between the city centre and the El Sardinero beach. It is also recognised as a Place of Cultural Interest.

Its two beaches are situated to the south of the Peninsular, La Magdalena and Bikinis. They offer a total of 1,570 metres of fine, golden sand, from where you can make out the islands of La Torre and la Horadada, the spectacular Santander Bay and the beaches of El Puntal and Somo.

Its 25 hectares also include a spectacular public park featuring a mini zoo with penguins, seals, sea lions and ducks.

The Magdalena Palace stands on the summit of the peninsular, built in 1912 by Bringas and Riancho. It was later given as a gift to King Alfonso XIII and used as a summer residence until 1930. Today the Magdalena Palace is the headquarters of the Menendez Pelayo International University and its Royal Stables now provide lodgings for hundreds of foreign students.

Image: lito

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It takes 180 square meters of the south wall of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate-the convent of the Friar Servants of Mary of the Church of San Antonio in Pisa. The art of Keith Haring, the renowned artist from New York, left the imprint in this pisan wall with a work that wants to give out a message of peace and citizen participation.

Tuttomondo is the only mural painting of the artist thought to be a permanent work, unlike his early works he executed quickly with white chalk on the Subway’s commercials. Haring was identified from the beginning with the Street Art, avant-garde art of the 80s that rebelled against the traditional system of exhibition galleries. So was born a way of counterculture related to graffiti and hip hop . His art seeks graphic simplicity that can be understood by everyone at first sight; uses images as graphic symbols.

The large mural was created in 1989, a year before he died, and took a week to be finished. Tuttomondo thereby became the last public work of Keith Haring. Everything came after a casual meeting in New York with a student from Pisa who proposed the idea. Thus the idea of ​​ Tuttomondo was born, a word that sums up the idea that the artist had about interaction with his audience, and in it 30 figures are represented to symbolize peace and harmony in the world . Each figure has a role within its gear, in this way men with dolphin represent man’s relationship with nature, the figures “human scissors” are a symbol of solidarity to defeat the snake symbolizing evil-or the woman with the baby represents motherhood.

Colours are also very important, and that was his election, Haring chose the tones of Pisa’s buildings, to keep harmony with the environment.

Image: Cutiekatie

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If you are desperate to get away from the sweltering heat, take a look at these destinations and get ready to use a blanket at night.