Discover Art and Culture

On the occasion of the declaration of 2018, by the European Union, as the European Year of Heritage, the Catalan Tourism Agency (ACT) has decided to proclaim the Year of Cultural Tourism to claim the role of culture as a key factor of differentiation and singularization of this tourist destination.

The general secretary of Empresa, Pau Villòria, and the general director of Tourism, Octavi Bono, presented this week the Year of Cultural Tourism to more than 650 professionals from the world of tourism and culture. The event took place at the National Museum of Art of Catalonia-MNAC in Barcelona, ​​and the Secretary General of Culture, María Dolores Portús, and the director of the Catalan Tourism Agency, Xavier Espasa, were also present.

The objective of this year is to give value to all cultural heritage, both the most internationally recognized as well as the local and what goes unnoticed. Thus, it is recognized that the cultural heritage extends throughout the country and seeks balance between the various territories of Catalonia, to ensure that the economic flows derived from cultural tourism reach everywhere and during all times of the year

Catalonia has a wide array of cultural activities which allow visitors to travel in the footsteps of mankind, from the Neanderthals to present day inhabitants, exploring the Iberian, Greek, or Roman periods and their respective architectural styles, up to the modern day, when architects have become symbols of the new Barcelona seeking a place in the world. To all of this, we must add a series of routes consolidated as tourist attractions like the Catalan portion of the Way of St James, the Cistercian Route, and the various routes related to cultural, industrial, and religious heritage, as well as the Ignatian Way. Furthermore, we cannot forget the infinite opportunities presented by the city of Barcelona or other unique cities like Tarragona, Girona, and Lleida (all connected by high-speed rail) or Reus, Terrassa, Tortosa, Vic, and Vilafranca del Penedès, which are ideal for urban tourism and combine attractions of cultural interest with various leisure activities. Don’t forget to explore the area’s world-renowned gastronomy and wine.

Great offer of Museums in the territory

The more than 300 museums of Catalonia are places of identity, cohesion, and progress. They bring together roots and current reality. They are a good calling card for the country for the millions f tourists who visit it. They provide unique experiences and share an appreciation for remarkable relations, traditions, and collections which provide visitors with knowledge and enjoyment of the pieces they safeguard.

Museums on the map

An hour away from Barcelona, Vic (Paisatges Barcelona) hides a small marvel: the Episcopal Museum, which has outstanding samples of Romanesque sculpture and painting, as well as works ranging from ancient Egypt to the 18th century.

On the Costa Brava, the Girona Art Museum maintains one of the best collections of Romanesque and Gothic art in Catalonia, with important pieces such as the portable altar from the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.

In this LINK there are proposals and suggestions to discover the Culture near Barcelona.