Tourist guide for introverts: 6 places in Catalonia that tourists don't get to

Catalonia is regularly becoming the most visited region of Spain. In the first 3 months of 2023 alone, it welcomed about 4.29 million people. There are many towns and parks where you can hide. Let us tell you about 3 of these places!

Montseny
It takes only an hour to get from Barcelona to the southernmost part of Montseny, which is both a nature park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is difficult to get to it by public transport, so there are not many people here.

The park covers 50,000 hectares and has more than 30 trails for walking inside. Even though the park welcomes 2 million people a year, it doesn't feel like it. Most of the park is forested, and it's cool in the summer. There are many small waterfalls and streams. It is especially beautiful here in the fall! All the trees take on crimson, amber and mustard hues.

Penedès
Penedès is situated in the hills above the coastal towns. It is the main wine-producing region of Catalonia, responsible for the production of cava. Although this makes it popular, tourists usually only visit a couple of key towns. Mostly tourists go to the famous cava producers in San Sadurni d'Anoia and Vilafranca del Penedès.

But if you skip these places and visit lesser-known villages like Castelvi de la Marca, Subirats or Avignone del Penedes, you'll find that it's very quiet. One of the fun things to do is to walk through the countryside through the vineyards, stopping for tastings at independent wineries.

L'Arboç
This town, located southwest of Penedes, is only a 2-hour train ride away. There is an exact replica of the famous Giralda Tower, only half the size.

A short walk and here you are at the reservoir Pantà del Foix, a green lake surrounded by steep hills covered with forest. On the lake's shore is the tiny village of Castellet i la Gornal and a 10th-century castle. It's only crowded at weekends and on holidays, when people from neighboring towns come here.

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Absolutely summer post! A selection of summer terraces. Part One.

Delicious food, beautiful views, air and summer to the full.

🇯🇵 Roka Barcelona
Don't go here in the heat or it will get even hotter because of the grill, the fire and the coals on which the food is cooked. But the smell! The place is only open in the summer and only for dinners. The cuisine here is Japanese, with king crab dumplings, black cod and shrimp with fried chili on the menu.
📍Carrer de la Marina, 21

🐟 fiskebar
The hidden diamond of the city, located just above the Real Club Marítimo de Barcelona. View of the sea and the marina, Scandinavian-style interior and huge windows. The menu is mostly seafood: fish, clams, crab soup with fried avocado and chili oil and langoustine soup.
📍Passeig d'Ithaca 3

🇮🇹 Velissima
Italian restaurant, terrace, club and cocktail bar in one. The atmosphere here is that of an Italian night on the coast, helped by checkered tablecloths and wicker chairs. Try the burrata and homemade pasta with clams.
📍 Passeig Joan de Borbó, 103

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The second part of the guide to introverted places in Catalonia

Ripoll
Ripoll is located high in the foothills of the Pyrenees, at the confluence of the rivers Ter and Fraser. Because of its location it does not attract many tourists, but it has played an important role in the history of Catalonia.

The city was built around the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Ripol of the IX century, which was commissioned by the founder of Catalonia. Legend also says that Count Guifre el Pilos was responsible for the creation of Sañera, the Catalan flag. The story goes that when he was wounded in battle, he dipped his hand in his own blood and smeared it on his golden shield, creating four red stripes of the flag.

Vall de Gerber
Part of the Aiguestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the only national park in Catalonia, right in the corner of Catalonia with France to the north and Aragon to the west, is the Vall de Gerber. This valley was originally created by glaciers many thousands of years ago and is located on the northeastern edge of Aiguestortes. Here you will find several smooth mountain lakes, verdant meadows and unusual climbs on rocky boulders.

Delta del Ebro
Located south of Tarragona, just before the border with Valencia. The coast directly above it, the Costa Dorada, can be busy in the summer, but the delta itself is rarely busy. The delta covers an area of 320 km2, where the river Ebro flows into the sea. It is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and is home to large colonies of pink flamingos.

There are several small villages where you can stay, such as Riomar, Deltebre, L'Eucalyptus and El Poble Nou del Delta. There are hotels in each of them. There are several hiking and biking trails in the nature park, as well as expansive beaches where you're guaranteed to find a place to put your towel down and take a dip.

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