Charming towns beyond Barcelona
Many of you who come to MuchaMasia do so with the intention of visiting Barcelona. It is the most beautiful and the best of the cities in the world. We have no doubts about that. We also love El Prat de Llobregat, and our region. But today we continue with new proposals that may surprise you. Today we discover you charming towns beyond Barcelona. Many of these places can be reached by public transport and you will know some places that do not appear in the guides. We remind you that Muchamasia is the rural hostel urbà del Prat, a few minutes from the center of Barcelona and the airport
Towns with charm: Sitges
Surely you do not need a presentation to know the first charming town that we propose. This is Sitges, one of the most famous destinations in Catalonia. This town is located about 30 kilometers south of El Prat. And you can get there directly by train from Muchamasia. At the station take the R2 south towards Vilanova. Sitges has a beach, a harbor and a lot of charm.
Sitges has several beaches, all with all services and good quality waters. Beyond the beach, you can stroll through its narrow, cobbled streets. Do not forget to visit the famous Calle del Pecado and visit the church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. Sitges lives the party, Carnival, Corpus, or for the festivities. In addition, Sitges is still, today, one of the favorite destinations of LGTBI tourism.
You can also eat delicious rice in the restaurant of our friends in La Zorra or in the sandwich shop of Santo Sandwich.
Sant Cugat del Vallès
Sant Cugat del Vallès is one of the largest cities in Catalonia. It is located just behind the Sierra de Collserola, the green lung of the metropolitan area of Barcelona. To get to Sant Cugat you can do it comfortably in the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat. From Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona, every half hour a train leaves for Sant Cugat. If you go by car, you can also get through the Vallvidrera Tunnel, which crosses Collserola through the mountains. Sant Cugat del Vallès, has grown a lot in recent years, but still maintains its traditional aroma. The historic center revolves around the Monastery of Sant Cugat, one of the jewels of Romanesque art in Catalonia.
And after the monastery, we recommend a walk around Mercantic. A space recovered from the old Market that has now become a village with diverse shops and restaurants. You will love Sant Cugat.
Mura, the secret of the heart of Catalunya
To know this charming town in the center of Catalunya we will have to skirt the mythical mountain of Montserrat. Mura is in the Bages region, the geographical heart of the country. We will have to go to Manresa and from there, a road passes through El Pont de Vilomara and Talamanca. The road narrows until you reach Mura. This medieval town is located within the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i la Serra de l’Obac. If you go on a Sunday, a bus links Mura with Manresa. The route from MuchaMasia is somewhat long but it’s worth it. Train to Sants (any line), and there a new train to Manresa on the R4. In Manresa, only on Sundays, a bus departs to Mura.
In Mura you will return to medieval times. The whole village maintains its charm and its original appearance. Stoned streets and houses with exposed stones. Not only the town is beautiful, so is its surroundings. Being located in a natural park, the walks in the surroundings will take you to various hermitages, waterfalls and natural pools. And by the way, in Mura you eat very well.
Castellet and the Pantà de Foix
El Penedès is a region famous for wine and cava. The vineyards abound in this territory, very close to Barcelona, where you can also eat good calçots. But not everything is vineyard. After visiting the curious village of L’Arboç where you can see a replica of the Giralda (yes, it sounds freaky but it is real) take the road to the Parc del Foix. To get there, you can do it by train. From El Prat to Sants, and there the R4 south to the station of Els Monjos.
Parc del Foix is an ecosystem marked by the course of the Foix River. It is a small river of little flow, but that when arriving at the little village of Castellet i la Gornal it turns into a pretty swamp. The swamp is a refuge for fish and birds, it is also a place protected by its ecological value.
In addition, the swamp is crowned by the village of Castellet. An intimate and cozy place in which you can visit Castellet Castle. A truly beautiful architectural jewel that gives an incomparable setting for our photos.
Alella, cradle of wine
El Maresme is the region that is located on the north coast of Barcelona. Surely you have heard of cities such as Calella, Mataró or Pineda de Mar. The sea is very present in this region, but we suggest you climb the mountainous part of the Maresme to see Alella. You can get to Alella by public transport easily, for example by train to Sants and transfer by another train to El Masnou (line R1) and take a bus to Alella.
Alella is the epicenter of the Denomination of Origin Alellla, an area of white wine and cava production with a lot of prestige. It is a small and very restricted production area, linked to the metropolitan area of Barcelona. The urban center of Alella maintains the essence of its origin. You can visit its cooperative winery in 1916, drink a wine in La Compa or walk through its modernist houses. If you go in September, you can enjoy the harvest parties. And if you want nature, you can choose to go down and take a bath in El Masnou, or climb up the mountain and see the Serralada de Marina.