The counts of Barcelona and Urgell established one of the most important strengths of the Marca Hispánica- the buffer zone beyond the former province of Septimania, created by Charlemagne
in 795 as a defensive as a defensive barrier between the UmayyadMoors of Al-Andalus and the Frankish Carolingian Empire in the current center of Barberà de la Conca. It was the in the 11th century. In the last decades of the 20th century it had survived among ruins, until in the nineties the group " Amics del Castell " launched a a campaign to restore it. The poet José Agustín Goytisolo, neighbor of the town, collaborated very especially.
At present in Barberà Castle- which was part of the order of the Templars - there are two buildings that can be visited, the old chapel and the tower. And usually there are concerts, conferences, exhibitions, wine tastings, cinema... It is an excellent excuse to visit this town often hidden from the tourist routes through Tarragona and the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast). Located on a hill of 450 meters, it offers great views of the region. The agricultural cooperative has the honor of being the heir of the first cooperative winery founded in Catalonia in 1894. You can buy tasty white, red and rosé wines of the Conca de Barberà Denomination of Origin (D.O.). In the leisure area La Marinada, on the outskirts of the village, you can eat with your family and let the children play football or basketball in the fields with free access available.
There are few routes in Tarragona so well traced as the Landscapes of Wine Route. To tread on wine land and enjoy the journey with all the senses, you only have to enter the web, download maps, the PDFs and the mp3, and let you guide by Marcel and Pepe, the two friends who have registered their dialogues to share the travel with you. They will take you through the vineyard landscapes of the Montsant, the Terra Alta, the. Conca de Barberà and the Priorat D.O. Denominations of Origin.
It is a great way to know where you put your feet in each moment with a self guided tour suitable for all ages. You can start it wherever you want. When you open the map of each D.O. on the smartphone or the tablet, you will find some indicators to explore the past, present and future of the wine culture of these lands and their people, who have historically lived in vineyards.
Today you are in the mood and the night invites you to go out. The Costa Daurada, (Golden Coast) besides being a family destination, also has options to extend the day and dance until the body is exhausted.
In Cambrils, Siddharta, located on the Paseo Miramar, was born with the aim of transmitting to clients "peace, friendship, love and respect". The atmosphere is perfect to unwind and relax between drinks and lounge and chill out music. The atmosphere is select and includes an extensive menú card of gins and drinks. You will aslo be unable to taste the the wide range of teas.
The Lotus Lounge & Disco Pub in La Pineda (within Vila-seca) is another stylish proposal. It is located within the 5-stars Gran Palas hotel. On the dance floor the decibels go up. The local has become one of the references of the club culture of the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast). 800 square meters of disco with minimalist decoration, with bars inside, outside and in the pool - according to the season of year. If you love exclusive atmospheres and good service, here is your meeting point at night.
Before, if you are looking for a unique restaurant, you can go and have something to eat at La Ferreteria in Reus. It is a beautiful place with wooden furniture that used to house a nails and screws business. In 1998 the warehouse was replaced by a kitchen to be able to serve tapas and montaditos (small sandwiches) that retains the name of the typical products of a hardware store. Rice with cod, deep fried squid, patatas bravas (spicy fried potato dice)... the menu is classic and an authentic guarantee of success.
If you regret having left the summer behind, the Fiestas de Misericordia de Reus festivities will make you enter the fall with in a much better mood.The patron saint of the city motivates the second large feast in Reus, full of proposals for everybody. It is celebrated around Septenber, 25, and the inhabitants of Tarragona and the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast) are involved every year.
Tradition is the axis of the feast. On the eve of the Diada de Misericordia, the Rosario de Antorchas (Torches Rosary) is celebrated, with hundreds of individuals ending up venerating God´s Mother. It is the central act of a celebration that has thousands of shapes and colors. Dance with old clothes in the 'Correfoc', notice how your whole body shakes in meetings of trabucaires shooting their guns into the air and sing at full lung in the concerts of Plaza del Mercadal square and in the stages scattered throughout the city. Reus is unique when dressed up to celebratre a big party
Empezó como una exposición dedicada a los más pequeños, pero se ha convertido también en una auténtica cita a enmarcar en el calendario de los coleccionistas. El Clickània de Montblanc, a la Conca de Barberà, es el festival de los clicks de Playmobil de referencia y se ha hecho más grande en cada edición.
Aquí hay ni más ni menos que 500 m2 con dioramas temáticos, que son maquetas con figuras, edificios, vehículos, animales… donde los protagonistas absolutos son los clicks. Escenas dedicadas al Antiguo Egipto, al Far West, a la época medieval, a los piratas… Los clicks nunca cambiarán la expresión de la cara, pero a ti seguro que te dejan con la boca abierta.
The cuisine of the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast) is nurtured by the sea and the products of the land. It has very tasty dishes and wines with denomination of origin. The wild boar 'civet', the 'xató', the noodles 'rossejat' and of course the 'calçots' are dishes that speak of the identity of these lands and the way of living of its inhabitants.
If you sit in front of one of these traditional dishes, you can already say that you have tried the work, the culture and the vital attitude of these regions. You will find them in the cities and towns of all the geography of Tarragona according to the time of the year. In addition, the wines of the different Tarragona DO will complete the meal. And do not forget one of the most appreciated local products, nuts.
If you are looking for a first class gastronomic experience, you have dozens of excellent restoration professionals who will make you enjoy yourself while you eat. Cambrils also has two of the best chefs of this country. They are only separated by a few hundred meters and both have been recognized with a Michelin star. Can Bosch and El Rincón de Diego, each with its gastronomic offer, are the best tribute to the palate, which you can not miss if you visit the Costa Daurada (Golden Coast).
In this TripIdea we propose in a just a single day to climb to the highest point of Tarragona and go down to the deepest place of the city. First you will see everything from the perspective offered by the bell tower of the cathedral and then you will discover the entrails of a hidden city underground that very little have been lucky to visit.
and enjoy the show! As you look at it with the eyes of visitors, the parents of children who climb to the top of the human 'castells' spend an endless momento of anxiety. When the person in charge of the group gives the signal, the "acotxador" – the penultimate to climb to the human tower- and the "enxaneta " – the child that crowns the construction - have to be sharpen their wits to crown the "castell", climbing
among legs and arms. When they reach the top, maybe 7 or 8 meters from the ground, the parents have eaten their nails and do not want to look any longer.
Living the Tarragona Human Towers Contest from the stands, close to the protagonists, but with a privileged view, is a real luxury. In 2010 the 'castells' were designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind and for the pride of the lands of Tarragona and Costa Daurada (Golden Coast),the origin of this tradition is in the city of Valls.
The Contest is ceklebrated avery two years and brings together the best 'colles castelleres' of the season of all Catalonia. It is the contest of reference of the calendar in which the towers are scored and one colla – group – becomes the winner. The Castellers of Vilafranca, Colla Vella de Valls, Colla Jove de Taragona and the Minyons of Terrassa have competed in the last editions, which have always ended with the victory of Vilafranca. And every year there are new castells and more challenges are overcome.
Have you ever climbed a train that does not lift two feet off the ground? In the Misericordia Railway Park in Reus this is possible! The stationmaster hurries you up. The ticket-taker marks your tickets. The machine engineer reviews all the wagons to check that everyone is well seated. There are parents who have to bend their legs so much that their knees almost touch their face. On the miniature train both children and adults are welcome. The convoy is about to start and you hear the whistle: Beeeeep! We started the trip!
A group of railroads nerds of Reus premiered this circuit in 2003 with 300 track meters very near the Misericordia Sanctuary. Since then the passengers, especially the smallest, have not stopped enjoying this short train journey. It's a 3 minute stroll through the park, but who says it can not be repeated? The initiative of the Asociación de Amigos del Ferrocarril de Reus is a good excuse to approach the garden area of this Railway Park, and with a bit of luck you will also enjoy the myriad of train models and railway machinery that are exhibited.
Take a deep breath, close your eyes and feel the bubbles running down your spine. You are submerged in the water up to the chin, lying down, with your mind gone blank, and now the bubbling tickles you in the cervical, in the soles of the feet, in the calf muscles ... And in the buttocks you notice a stream of water that makes you move the muscles at a a free and relaxing rhythm that you can not control. You are in Aquum, the spa and wellness center of La Pineda, in Vila-Seca, but you would say that you are in paradise.
Losing the world of sight is very easy when you are in the Martinique waterbed. Or in the middle of a Japanese Kunisaki 360º shower. Life is too short to not live it slowly. The spectacular facilities of this wellness club offer inexhaustible options for the clock to slow down, and devote hours to the most absolute pleasure. Have you ever breathed under an oxygen therapy scuba? Have you tried the therapeutic effects of wine baths? And no, do not worry, children will not get bored. At the children's spa, suitable for 5 to 11 year olds, they will be more than entertaining.
