The thriving heart of coastal Catalonia, Barcelona, is a history buff’s paradise in its own right. Venture just beyond the city limits, however, and you’ll be greeted with a kaleidoscope of sociopolitical, cultural, and art history waiting to be unpacked. These five Catalan cities are located two hours or less from Barcelona — each will reveal to you its unique side of the region.
1. Sitges
Sitges is first mentioned in documentation from 991 CE and gets its name from the Old Catalan word for silo — likely due to the crop-storing cavities found among the Roman and Iberian ruins in the area. However, Sitges was inhabited long before this — a Neanderthal jawbone was discovered here in 1954, meaning mankind has lived there for at least 40,000 years. Sitges was built around a central castle, which had existed since the 11th century before being demolished in 1888, having been destroyed and rebuilt during one too many battles to continue serving as the town’s centerpiece.
Today, the town hall stands in the castle’s former place. Sitges has a lengthy history of prosperity due to extensive trade with America — at one point, one in four Catalan traders with America were from Sitges! Some of the most popular historical exports were clothing, wine, and brandy — a testament to Sitges’s current status as a trendy bohemian leisure spot. In fact, by 1936, 75% of Sitges’s working population worked in shoemaking! Sitges was also historically a popular meeting place for political rebels during the dictatorship that followed the Spanish Civil War.
One of Sitges’s most famous residents was modernist painter Santiago Rusiñol. Today, Rusiñol’s home and studio have been given a second life as the Cau Ferrat Museum, one of the city’s most popular attractions.
A great free activity in Sitges is a walk through the historic old town, the entrance to which lies at Plaça del Baluard square, a raised plaza, and a popular viewpoint. A 17th-century church, locally known as La Punta, can be found at the plaza as well. A short walk up the hill, you can find the oldest street in Sitges, Carrer de’n Bosch, lined with original buildings built around 1400 CE. Sitges is accessible in about 40 minutes by car or direct train (R2) from Barcelona Sants.
2. Tarragona
Tarragona has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for over 20 years and is the only such site in Catalonia. In 218 BCE, Tarragona was conquered by Roman forces led by General Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio, who renamed it Tarraco. In 27 BCE, Tarraco became the home of none other than Julius Caesar, who relocated there to lead wars against Asturian and Cantabrian forces as well as to oversee the development of the city’s infrastructure.
Tarraco became a sort of capital for the Hispania Roman Empire — chosen for its coastal, hilltop location, which made it an excellent lookout point with just the right amount of inaccessibility to opposing forces. This history is reflected in Tarragona’s impressive ruins, which rival those of Rome itself. Tarragona has been referred to as “the blueprint for Rome’s success” since its design was considered so sophisticated that it was replicated across the Roman Empire.
An obligatory first stop is the Tarragona’s impressively preserved Roman amphitheater, which once housed up to 12,000 spectators. As you walk through Tarragona’s streets, don’t be surprised if you see tell-tale bits of original Roman city walls — the city is, essentially, modern, but built atop the ancient.
In the heart of the old town, you’ll find another unmissable bit of architecture — the Tarragona Cathedral. In keeping with Tarragona’s theme, this is a modern cathedral built atop an ancient Roman temple, the remains of which can still be seen along the base. Art lovers may wish to visit some of the buildings designed by famed architect Josep Maria Jujol (a close collaborator of even more famed architect Antoni Gaudi), such as The Theatre Metropol and the Mercado Central de Tarragona. Tarragona is also home to Spain’s largest theme park, Port Aventura, and its sister park, Ferrari World. Tarragona is easily accessible in just over one hour by car or direct regional train from Barcelona Sants.
3. Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, located on Spain’s Montserrat Mountain, is, first and foremost, a functioning monastery that will celebrate its 1,000th anniversary in 2025. The mountain held spiritual significance long before the monastery was built — the Romans built a temple here to honor the goddess Venus.
Visitors are welcome year-round, especially during religious holidays when they are treated to elaborate masses and performances by the local boy’s choir. Roughly two million people visit Montserrat each year. When visitors arrive, they are greeted by a small farmer’s market, which offers locally produced cheese and honey.
The Montserrat Basilica contains a sculpture known as the Black Madonna. It depicts a woman cradling a baby in one arm and holding a small orb, said to represent the universe, in the other. Touching this orb—it has been claimed by many—can create miracles. The Black Madonna is believed to have been carved in Jerusalem during the early days of Christianity and moved to Spain in order to protect it from invading armies. It was then lost for nearly 200 years, allegedly reappearing in a cave called Santa Cova after shepherds were drawn to its location by mysterious lights and singing. Santa Cova is accessible via one of Montserrat’s many hiking trails.
Montserrat also hosts a small museum containing original works by Monet and Picasso and an authentic Egyptian mummy. Visitors can pay 18 euros for access to all of the monastery’s features, including the Basilica, Black Madonna, and museum, or pay for each individually.
Montserrat is accessible by car, though the one-hour drive is a bit challenging. The most popular way to arrive is by R5 train (towards Manresa) to Monistrol Montserrat Station for the funicular or Aeri de Montserrat for the cable car, either of which takes roughly two hours total and costs 26.30 euros inclusive per adult round-trip.
4. Cadaqués
The picturesque seaside town of Cadaqués is brimming with history. The first documented mention of the city was in 814 CE when the crew of a wrecked ship was rescued by Cadaqués villagers. Cadaqués was once a walled city, though only the bastion remains today. The walls were built due to the ever-present threat of Algerian, Turkish, or Genovese pirates.
In 1444 CE, Moorish pirates succeeded in burning down the majority of the town. The town was slowly rebuilt, and by the 17th century, trade had begun with America, leading to a prosperous era for Cadaqués. Visitors can participate in a treasure hunt through the Rutes Cadaques tour company for a hands-on way to learn more about the town’s unique history of piracy.
The town’s main exports were once wine and olive oil, both of which you can sample at one of the many seaside restaurants and bars. The now-peaceful pebbled shore is an excellent place to stroll, sunbathe, or swim during the warmer months.
The town also has a rich history for art lovers. One of Spain’s most famous artists, Salvador Dalí, lived in Cadaqués for most of his adult life, along with his wife and muse Gala Dalí. Today, their home of more than 50 years—designed by Dalí himself and filled with surrealist customizations and furniture—is open to the public as a museum. Visitors can walk through and marvel at Dalí’s bizarre interior design choices, including several massive sculptures of eggs and gardens sculpted into the house’s perimeter, forming a sort of dreamscape. It truly feels like you’re trespassing in Dalí’s home while he’s out for the day — one of his unfinished paintings still sits on an easel in the workshop.
Cadaqués can be reached in just under two hours by car or three hours by first taking a regional train from Barcelona Sants to Llanca or Figueres and then switching to a local bus.
5. Girona
Girona was initially inhabited by the Indeka, which loosely translates to “indigenous.” Like Tarragona, Girona was later settled by Romans, who named it Gerunda. Quintus Sartorius was the leader of Roman Hispania at the time, but had grown rebellious — and a new leader, who would later be known as Pompey the Great, was sent to take his place.
After the fall of Rome, Girona changed hands many times, coming under alternating control of Germanic and then Moorish tribes for several decades before becoming part of the Kingdom of Aragon. Girona had a thriving Jewish Quarter, which still exists today as one of the best-preserved in the world. The city was known throughout Europe as the “Mother of Israel” until the 1492 expulsion of Jews who refused to convert to Christianity. The city’s medieval period has been called the “Golden Age of Girona,” largely thanks to contributions by the local Jewish community.
As in Tarragona, some original Roman walls remain in place. Today, visitors can choose from various well-preserved attractions representative of each of Girona’s controlling entities. The city’s Arab Baths were built in the 12th century, and though they are no longer functional, make for an interesting afternoon tour. Visitors can also choose to stroll upon some of the longest Carolingian walls in Europe, built in the 9th century. Girona’s most famous square, Plaça de la Independència, was built in the Neoclassical style and contains a monument commemorating Spain’s fight against Napoleonic France — and today, it is a great spot to people-watch from a cafe.
Girona was chosen as an important fort for the Romans due to its location just inland from the Costa Brava, the easiest sea entry point from France (then known as Gaul). Today, Costa Brava is a popular vacation spot in the warmer months, known for its gorgeous coastal landscapes, luxurious resorts, and Michelin-starred restaurants. Girona is easily accessible with a one-hour drive or 38-minute direct high-speed train from Barcelona Sants.
