Catalonia is a
region of Spain which is full of historic sites, beautiful towns and
villages and of course the "must see" city of Barcelona with its
famous Cathedral designed by the Artist Antonio Gaudi. The
countryside of Catalonia with its hills and valleys is ideal
walking country. The temperature is normally mild without
being overbearing like some of the more southerly regions.
Apartrent have
affiliated with
Sherpa Expeditions to give you a preview
of their walking holiday in Catalonia.
Sherpa Expeditions
have been providing specialist walking and cycling holidays since
1973 and have built up a large customer base much of it through word
of mouth recommendation.
The Holiday
Even in winter this varied tour can
be enjoyed under clear skies and in pleasant temperatures. It is
best to avoid high summer, when it can be hot. Mix the culture and
sights of Montserrat and Barcelona with the countryside of the
National Parks. Walk the pinnacles of the Montserrat Massif and the
hills, valleys and gorges around Montseny.
This tour comprises of three days of
walking in the Montseny National Park starting from the Turo de
L’Home (1700m) and traversing the forested Agudes to reach the gorge
and hermitage of St Miguel del Fai. We then transfer by road to the
unusual rock formations of the Montserrat National Park to walk
around these dramatic hills, culminating at Mt San Jeroni. The
mountain was sacred long before the establishment of the Benedictine
Monastery and has long been the abode of hermits, a tradition that
still survives today. But it was the discovery of the Moreneta, the
revered black virgin of Catalonia, that put Montserrat at the heart
of Catalan religious culture.
A cable car will bring
you down the mountain for a short but pleasant train journey to
Barcelona.
There is more
activity on the streets at midnight than at midday in the thriving
Catalan capital. Dining out is a national pastime in the thousands
of restaurants. Enjoy a coffee at one of the pavement cafes in the
Ramblas and you can absorb the atmosphere of buskers and street
theatre. Follow the shoppers to find the Bouqueria food market and a
heady confusion of sights and smells. Marvel at the spectacular
Gaudi Cathedral, the Miro mosaic pavements, the newly restored opera
house or just enjoy the ambience of this lively city.
