Igualada: Balloons and Leather Guide
What Igualada is really like: home of the European Balloon Festival, a historic leather-tanning quarter, arcaded market streets and a base for Montserrat near Barcelona.
Vic: Medieval Market Town Guide
What Vic is really like: one of Catalonia’s grandest medieval market squares, a cathedral with Sert murals, a Roman temple and famous cured meats near Barcelona.
Manresa: La Seu and Montserrat Guide
What Manresa is really like: the hilltop La Seu basilica, the cave of Saint Ignatius, medieval bridges over the Cardener and views to Montserrat near Barcelona.
Olot: Volcanoes and Garrotxa Nature
What Olot is really like: capital of the Garrotxa volcanic zone, dozens of dormant volcanoes, the Fageda d’en Jorda beech forest and Modernista streets near the Costa Brava.
Guadix: Cave Houses and Cathedral
What Guadix is really like: Europe’s largest inhabited cave-house district, a grand cathedral, a Moorish alcazaba and dramatic badlands near the Costa Tropical.
Burriana: Beaches and Oranges Guide
What Burriana is really like: the wide Arenal beach, a lively marina, orange-growing heritage and the summer Arenal Sound festival on the Costa del Azahar.
Villarreal: Ceramics and Football Guide
What Villarreal is really like: ceramics heritage, the Yellow Submarine football club, orange groves and a planned old town near the Costa del Azahar.
La Ràpita: Ebro Delta, Bay and Seafood
What La Ràpita is really like: a fishing port on Alfacs bay beside the Ebro Delta, famous for prawns, oysters and delta rice on the Costa Dorada.
Escala: Empuries, Anchovies and Costa Brava
What Escala is really like: the Greek and Roman ruins of Empuries, salted anchovies, quiet coves and a coastal path on the Costa Brava.
Oliva: Beaches, Dunes and Old Town
What Oliva is really like: 10 km of dune-backed beaches, a hilltop old town and windsurfing waters between Gandia and Denia on the Costa de Valencia.