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Cheers…Alella Wine Region, Barcelona (Spain)

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Wine enthusiasts who travel to Barcelona and want to explore the local wineries in the region would probably be surprised to find out that they don’t have to venture too far away to find one. Located just 20 minutes outside of the city center (15 kms.), Alella is the closest wine region to the city and one of the best kept secrets in the area. With just 9 wineries and a little over 300 hectares of vineyards, the wine appellation (Denominación de Origen DO) Alella is the smallest DO in Spain.

Alella is a coastal town that has a long tradition of winemaking that dates back to Roman times. The town itself overlooks the Mediterranean and is charming, with architectural highlights from the ancient Roman, Baroque and Modernist periods. The combination of terraced landscapes, layers of limestone, and cooling breezes from the sea produce a wide variety of grapes, including the Pansa Blanca grape (also known as Xarel·lo) that goes into most of the white wines produced in the area. Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and rustic red wines are also produced in the region.

Alella was designated a DO in 1956. Since then it has shrunk to about a third of its original size, due to the urban expansion that has taken place in the past decades. There do still remain a number of the original farmhouses (called masies in Catalan) that have been passed down through the generations in the families that continue the winemaking tradition to this day. A number of them are open to the public and welcome visitors to tour their wineries and enjoy tastings.

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Barcelona Day Trips (Spain)

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If you are planning a trip to Barcelona, you should make room in your itinerary to visit some of the historic towns and cities that are located within a 2 hour drive or train ride from the city. The following is a list of some places you can visit and still make it back to Barcelona for dinner:

  • Parc de Collserola – escape the city, go hiking and get closer to nature in the largest metropolitan park in the world (15 min.). For more information, click here.
  • Sitges – lively seaside town south of Barcelona with sandy beaches, a wide promenade with shops, restaurants and bars, and a charming old quarter (40 min.). For more information, click here.
  • Montserrat – mountain top Benedictine monastery famous for the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat (the Black Virgin) (1 hour). For more information, click here.
  • Cardona – picturesque medieval town with a hilltop castle with a tower dating from the 12th C. and Church of Sant Vicenç dating from the 11th C. (1 hour). For more information, click here.
  • Girona – historic town founded by Romans with a charming old quarter, 12th C. cathedral and one of Europe’s best preserved Jewish Quarter (1 hour 15 min. drive / 38 min. by high-speed train). For more information, click here.
  • Tarragona – historic city with some of the best preserved Roman ruins, including a 2nd C. amphitheater by the sea and the Tarragona National Archaeological Museum (1 hour 15 min). For more information, click here.
  • Priorat Wine Region – wine producing region south of Barcelona known for its award winning wines; read our 6 part series on the history of this region and info on vineyards to visit (1 hour 30 min.). For more information, click here.
  • Figueres – birthplace of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, with a museum displaying the largest and most diverse collection of his works, and his crypt (1 hour 30 min. drive / 55 min. by high-speed train). For more information, click here.
  • Besalú – enchanting medieval village with an often-photographed 12th C. Roman bridge, 11th C.  Sant Pere Church, and a Jewish Quarter with a restored 12th C. mikveh bathhouse (1 hour 30 min.).
  • Costa Brava – explore the charming towns of Tossa de Mar, Sant Feliu de Guixols, S’Agaró and Empúries (1-2 hours). For more information, click here.
  • Cadaqués – picturesque whitewashed village on the rocky Costa Brava near the French border that has inspired painters, with a historic quarter, art galleries and Dalí House Museum (2 hours 15 min.). For more information, click here.

Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historic sites. For more information on all of our Barcelona tours, click here.

Photo credit: Cintxa (CC BY-SA 3.0) / Photo of Roman Amphitheatre, Tarragona

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.

Next Stop…Cardona, Spain

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ILC-blog-Next-Stop-Cardona-SpainIf you are looking for a day trip outside of Barcelona, then consider a visit to Cardona. Located about 1 hour northwest of Barcelona (56 miles), a visit to this this picturesque town is a nice way to get away from the city and take a step back into medieval times.

Cardona’s history traces back to the 8th C. when construction began on its castle. Perched on a hilltop, the castle remains the centerpiece of this medieval town. Also on the hilltop is the Church of Sant Vicenç, dating from the 11th C. The church contains 3 naves and is a fine example of Romanesque architecture, a style that flourished in the region between the 11th and 13th centuries.

In the center of town you can stroll down the Calle Major, stop at the Plaça Mercat square, and visit the church of Sant Miquel. If you happen to be there on a Sunday, you can enjoy the lovely market where vendors sell a variety of local products. For more information, click here.

Photo credit: © Servicios Editoriales Georama

For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.