Sitges and Torres Wine Cellars

To start off your half day trip, you will drive to the incomparable setting of the mountain of Montserrat. Rising majestically to 4,051 feet, the peaks of Montserrat can be seen far in the distance. The curving road around the mountain will offer you incredible views out across the valley. Upon arrival, you will join your guide and climb several steps to reach the plaza of the Royal Basilica of Montserrat. Its cliff-side location and Neo-Romanesque architecture is a scenic wonder, but it is perhaps the famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of Virgen Moreneta, the Black Virgin, that draws so many to this mountain location. The Royal Basilica has been one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain for hundreds of years. After an orientation tour of the grounds and description of the basilica, you will be given 3 hours of free time for lunch, and to visit the sites that interest you the most. On most weekdays, the children's choir sings in the monastery at midday. There is a museum, restaurants and shops, as well as the opportunity to view the Black Virgin from a passageway that circles the altar where she is located. You will also be given the opportunity to taste some of the typical liquors of Montserrat.

Afterwards, you will meet your guide again and depart to the Torres Cava Cellars in the heart of Penedes. The guided tour begins with a brief audiovisual presentation of the history of a family business. This is followed by a visit to the old part of the cellars, built in 1922. Visitors will board a small train to the Mas La Plana vineyards and learn the features and installations of Penedes wineries. At the vineyards, the guides will reveal the best kept secrets of the wine-making process since its origins. Here you will see the aging barrels of the best wines of the region, and sample some of the famous Torres wine for yourself.

At the appointed time, you will return to your guide and begin the drive to Sitges, one of the most picturesque villages on the Catalonian coast. With the Garraf Massif as a backdrop, Sitges is one of the favorite destinations for tourists visiting Catalonia. Its micro-climate, with almost 300 days of sun per year, seventeen beaches, an attractive range of cultural opportunities and its exceptional cuisine and shopping options make it the perfect choice for enjoying the Mediterranean coast.

Upon arrival, you will take an orientation drive through the town before setting out to explore the town on your own. The modern resort town is also home to structures from the Middle Ages and the old farmers' and fishermen's town, offering visitors an impressive architectural and cultural heritage. The town has always been a gathering place for artists, cultural energizers and patrons who made it an important center for Modernism and post Art Nouveau. There are several museums in the Old Quarter, and the town's location between the sea and the farmland makes for excellent dining opportunities. At the appointed time, you will meet your transportation and begin the drive back to Barcelona.

Please Note: Your tour departs from and returns to the Placa de Catalunya area. The placa is the city center and the place where the old city (Gothic Quarter and Raval) and the 19th century-built Eixample meet. Some of the city's most important streets and avenues meet in Placa de Catalunya: Passeig de Gracia, La Rambla, Portal de l'Angel and Ronda Universitat.