15 Jan 2019

2019.- Congress and Events – Cultural Tourism – Wine Tourism and Gastronomy

BUSSINES and CULTURAL TOURISM, GASTRONOMY AND WINE TOURISM WILL BE CRUCIAL SECTORS THIS NEW SEASON.

In Catalonia, its world-class gastronomy, and the works of famous artists such as Gaudí and Dalí all make this region one most popular destinations.

You’ll find so many interesting examples of culture. Unique buildings in Barcelona (known as “the capital of Modernism”) such as the Sagrada Familia Cathedral or the Palau de la Música Catalana Auditorium, the outstanding archaeological site at Tarraco, the monastery of Poblet in Tarragona, the churches of the Boí valley in Lleida… all declared World Heritage sites by the UNESCO. What’s more you can opt to enjoy a whole range of events thanks to the programme of world-class museums like the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres.

Artists who have earned a place among the list of universal creators, such as Miró, Dalí, Tàpies, Pablo Casals and Gaudí, found inspiration in Catalonia for their artistic creation. Catalonia’s cultural heritage is rich and varied, taking in all disciplines and offering visitors monuments, unique traditional festivities and many music, dance, theatre and circus festivals.

Catalonia’s architectural heritage covers thousands of years of history. Its jewels include Iberian settlements, the remains of the first Greek city in the Iberian Peninsula, the Roman legacy, Romanesque churches, Gothic cathedrals and Jewish quarters. With regard to artistic movements, Catalan modernism, which was at its height in the early 20th century with Gaudí as its greatest exponent, offers buildings that are unique in the world, such as La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia and Güell Park.

Catalonia’s museums strive to live up to all this material, and the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC), as well as Gothic and Baroque art, exhibits the largest collection of Romanesque art in the world, a must for culture lovers.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a Mediterranean and cosmopolitan city with Roman remains, medieval quarters and the most beautiful examples of 20th century Modernism and avant-garde. It is no surprise that emblematic constructions by the Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner have been also declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

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PLACES OF CULTURAL INTEREST.- THE CISTERCIAN ROUTE

This route was created on 1989 and it’s one of the most complete in the Catalan cultural offer. The regions: Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà and Urgell are the ones that have Cistercians monasteries, temples that were founded in XII century and they are known because they were the official mausoleum of the kings in Aragon Kingdom for more than 300 years.

In Vimbodí and Poblet (La Concade Barberà) is situated the Poblet Monastery, the biggest of the entire route and the only one that still has a monk community. It was founded in 1150 and it developed his activity without problems until 1853. The confiscation stopped its activities until 1940. This year the monks returned to the monastery and started an important process of restoration and preservation. This active monastery is one of the biggest inEurope and it was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Santes Creus Monastery, situated in Aiguamúrica (Alt Camp), was founded in 1150 and is the only one that reflexes better a way of construction which follows bernardian manners. Nowadays, there’s no monastic live, because a lot of monks were expelled in 1835. So it’s a unique opportunity to enjoy a visit in every single place of this Cistercian place and know all the legends about the monastery.

Vallbona Monastery, situated in Vallbona de les Monges (Urgell) is the only feminine monastery in the route and it has conserved the community for more than 850 years without a break. The first notices of this little monastery date in 1150 but it wasn’t until 1176 when it was full integrate into the Cistercian order

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THE AUTONOMOUS PRODUCTS. The essence of Catalan gastronomy

Catalonia has all the ingredients for the best gastronomy. Cuisine is geography, history and culture. To taste and enjoy a country’s culinary products is to explore all its traditions at once.

High-quality products right on your doorstep

The larder is one of the jewels of Catalan gastronomy. The variety of local products kept there is spectacular, with products from the sea and the mountains: meat, fish, vegetables and more. Everything is of the highest quality. The larder contents vary depending on the season. The markets found throughout the towns and cities of Catalonia are prime examples of this.

Quality trademarks

Thanks to their excellent quality and uniqueness, Catalonia has many products that are awarded the official European label of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Both are awarded to typical products that originate from a region which gives them a specific character and an inimitable flavour.

Products with the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) classification include: the Terres de l’Ebre clementines, Prades potatoes, Valls spring onions, Agramunt turrón, veal from the Pyrenees, artisan bread, Vic sausage, Prat chicken and Girona apples.

CALÇOTS.- The typical product of the winter gastronomy in Catalonia

Between December and April appear, in Tarragona region and especially in Valls, the calçots and the calçotada, a feast in which tradition and gastronomy come together.

The calçots are a sweet and tender variety of onion, with many properties, such as antineoplastic agent, diuretic, digestive, tonic, and even aphrodisiac. Prepared grilled, and served on a tile, together with romesco or salvitxada sauce. The ritual of this popular Catalan feast is to take the calçot for the top end, peel the outer layer, soak it in the sauce and put it directly into the mouth; therefore a bib is often used to avoid staining.

Although the calçots are typical of Tarragona region, more and more restaurants in Catalonia include them in their menus; from typical farmhouses which offers the most traditional calçotades, to innovative restaurants, which reinvent this delicacy.

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Wine Tourism in Catalonia.

Catalonia is a land of wine and cava. One of the great attractions of our destination is the “marriage” of wine and cuisine, for Catalonia boasts eleven wine designations of origin as well as the cava “DO”.

The Catalan Tourist Board works to make this stand-out feature a way by which visitors can discover Catalonia through wine tourism experiences. And this the CTB has created Enoturisme Catalunya (the Wine Tourism Programme),  the new programme from the Government of Catalonia to promote and support the marketing of the wine tourism-related activities Catalonia has to offer.

The most outstanding DO is Cava, Spain´s most famous sparkling wine. Catalonia holds 90% of cava production, in an area comprised between Barcelona and Tarragona; The remaining 10% is shared among other regions. In case you do not have much time to do the full route yourselves, 1 Day Wine tours from Barcelona offers a great opportunity to learn about cava production and visit some of the most important cava and wine producers in the region.

Catalonia is a land steeped in winemaking tradition. Dating back to the 7th century BC, the first vines to grow in this north-eastern corner of Spain were planted in the region of Penedès. Less than an hour’s drive from the modern day metropolis of Barcelona, a tour through Penedès will have you passing through nature preserves, beautiful fishing villages, and a plethora of bodegas all within view of the enigmatic peaks of Montserrat.

Penedès Wine Region

With its proximity to the port of Barcelona, Penedès grew quickly to become a leading exporter of Catalan wine and, to this day, remains the autonomous region’s top producer. The Mediterranean climate, varied landscape, and mixture of soils lend great diversity to the spirits in the area, where you can sample a veritable bouquet of aromas and distinctive flavours. Almost all bottles of Cava hail from this region, so mention of Penedès tends to evoke images of the superb sparkling wine.