Another excellent museum with a mixture of ancient Roman to Medieval Tarragona but mostly focused…read moreon the Roman city. Very well laid out, and the only way to see inside the corridors that you can only glimpse from the outside. If you don't have the patience for the whole museum, make sure you see the mosaics and bigger better preserved statues.

This impressive museum charts the history of Roman 'Tarraco' and contains some of the most…read moreimportant finds from the city. It is a 'must' on any visit to Tarragona. The basement includes a section of the original Roman city wall in situ, and subsequent floors include exhibits depicting civic, commercial and domestic life. Most impressive is the collection of statuary and funeral monuments, and a series of mosaics, including a wonderfully vivid and well preserved one showing some 50 species of marine life from the area. Other finds include items from shipping such as anchors and a large collection of amphorae, and household luxuries, such as glassware and jewellery. A favourite of the school party visiting at the same time as us much to the embarrassment of their teachers was the collection of erotic objects. These include brooches, ritual objects in the shape of penises and a small statue of an infeasibly well-endowed Bacchus, sporting his appendage in front of him like a third leg! Items are described in Spanish and Catalan, and there also are free guide pamphlets on each floor in English, French and German. The museum is also fully accessible with ramps and lifts. There is a small gift shop and audiovisual room used for occasional exhibitions.

I wanted to LOVE this museum, because I love Gaudi's work and was so excited to make the pilgrimage…read moreto his home town. I get that they want to capitalize on Gaudi's fame and there is clearly a growing thirst for more Gaudi, understandably. This place, I thought, was uniquely positioned to tell the story of his early life. They just came up short. The videos were quick/ superficial glimpses that I feel like I could have seen online. The displays lacked anything original-- not so much as a toothpick excavated from his original home or anything from his family. 99% of the architectural models you could have seen in Barcelona at his buildings that are open to public. The audio tour component was different here than the other museum stops in that they 'auto' started when you were in front of something. (Assuming they were working--it didn't work a couple times). All this for €9. Better to put those funds toward a book and wander the streets of Reus with a guide map and look at their beautiful old buildings. This museum would be great IF: they add some original pieces from the family; tell the story in a more organized, chronological order; go deeper & get into the details of his early family-- photos of family, family tree; house where they believe he was born--and if that's gone, where it stood; more examples of the kinds of copper pieces his family created and what their mark/ stamp looked like; examples of the kinds of things he would've studied at architecture school--what was popular at that time; examples of buildings that were standing in his town as he grew up (influences)... All Barcelona gets you so excited about and for more Gaudi, but there is a real opportunity to fill in a lot of gaps. The Gaudi Experience in Barcelona next to the Gothic Cathedral was similarly disappointing.

From the owner: El Gaudí Centre Reus es el homenaje que la ciudad natal de Gaudí dedica a su hijo más universal…read more El único centro de interpretación sobre la vida y la obra de Gaudí. Un nuevo espacio dotado con las infraestructuras más modernas y la última tecnología audiovisual, creado para abrir los sentidos y la mente a nuevas experiencias. Aprenderás a observar, tocar y oír de otra manera. Situado en la Plaça del Mercadal, en pleno centro histórico y comercial de la ciudad, el moderno edificio del Gaudí Centre acoge, además del espacio expositivo de 1.200 m2, la Oficina de Turismo, la tienda y el restaurante.

Gee, I didn't know this was a museum separate from the Cau Ferrat next door since it was all free…read moreunder the same ticket on International Museum Day (review: https://yelp.to/bIxDanekks). I only noticed weeks later when I finally read the brochure. Wasn't that stupid of me? Don't answer that. Anyway, while Museo del Cau Ferrat represents one man's collection of art, this more expansive exhibit represents the collection of not an artist but a wealthy benefactor. It was American magnate and philanthropist Charles Deering. Yes, the guy who founded International Harvester. Apparently, making his fortune in tractors meant he could afford three floors of art that spans ten centuries of art from the 10th to the 20th century. The style varies from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque to Modernism. The mirador was particularly striking with the neoclassical statuary set against the Mediterranean background. RELATED - Exploring Barcelona and Sitges? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/4dTEx5T

Great experience, definitely worth attending once you're done drink and eating lots of tapas. Good…read moreexhibits and even better view of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you're a fan of vintage motorcycles, this place is for you!…read more Located on the main road from Lleida to Andorra, this museum turned out to be one of the gems of our visit to La Seu d'Urgell. The setting is along the El Segre River, where you would LOVE to be on two wheels. The number of vintage bikes in their collection is formidable. They are arranged in neat rows, (mostly) chronologically ordered. The history and explanations are in Spanish, Catalán, and English. There is a downstairs as well, so don't be in a hurry. Although we did not have any food, there is a spacious restaurant with an appealing menu, as well. We spent a very unhurried 90 minutes with the place virtually to ourselves. Enjoy!

Half way between Barcelona and Tarragona, the unassuming town of Vilanova i la Geltrú houses one of…read moreEurope's foremost railway museums. Centred around an old locomotive shed and turntable, the museum focuses on its collection of over 25 steam locomotives, including the two oldest in Spain, dating from 1854 and 1857. In addition, there are diesel and electric locomotives, maintenance vehicles and carriages including the first Talgo, Spain's unique contribution to articulated trains. It's great for kids (and the kid in you!), as you can get right up close, and even go in some of them. A locomotive is usually in steam on the first Sunday of every month. The locomotives rather overshadow the museum's other collections, although the old signalling panel from Barcelona's Franca station is interesting, and there are activity areas for small children and a decent audiovisual presentation in different languages on the development of railways in Spain. Inevitably, there's a shop selling all sorts of items to tempt transport enthusiasts of all ages It's conveniently located adjacent to the RENFE railway station and a car park.

What a place to find a first class art museum! I was not expecting this, added a couple of hours…read moreto my visit to Montserrat. They have a remarkable collection, well balanced with a rather unbelievable selection of the most famous Dutch Masters and French Impressionists but also abstract, ancient, medieval and Catholic (okay that part isn't as surprising) paintings, sculpture, and sketches. Also, a very good presentation of the history of Montserrat using the very latest in multimedia AV technology. I've been to art museums around the world, all the great ones are in major cities. I've never been to such a wonderful art collection hidden away in a mountain before. Save some time (a couple of hours at least) and energy for this museum.

Home to the iconic Black Madonna, Montserrat is absolutely worth the trip. People from around the…read moreworld come just to see the Black Madonna, and while that alone is incredible, it's the breathtaking views and hundreds of priceless artworks that make this a must-do day trip for me. Whether you're religious or not, the landscape alone will move you. Plus, the museum houses masterpieces from Dalí and Picasso that elevate the experience even further. Words and pictures can't capture the essence of this place--trust me, just book your visit.

This round circular tower features in most of the postcard views of Cambrils and has become…read moresomething of a symbol of the town. It was built in the 17th Century as a watchtower to guard against piracy, and appropriately enough now houses the museum of piracy. This is mildly diverting (entry is only EUR1.20, though, so you can't hold them to much) with a few exhibits - mostly swords - although most of it consists of interpretation panels in Spanish and Catalan. (Excellent English translations are available). However, the main excuse for visiting is the circular viewing platform at the top, which provides excellent and attractive views over the harbour and seafront (and to the rear, rather less exciting views over the tourist shops and restaurants).

This brand new museum (opened in November 2007) is an exercise in contrasts: the exterior is…read morestunningly modern, in a severe and largely windowless minimalist style, executed in bright white stone tiles. On the inside, the exhibition spaces are largely decorated with black marble with subdued lighting, giving pride of place to the exhibits (although this does make some of the walkways rather dark, so watch your step). The museum covers the history of the city and its region from prehistoric times to the 18th century baroque. A recurring theme is invasion, colonisation and conquest: the area was variously under the control of the Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Moors before finally becoming part of Christian Spain in the 12th century, after which it follows the more familiar pattern of Spanish history. The exhibits begin with the origins of humans, although the first real relics are from early prehistoric settlements, and include bones and primitive stone tools. There are rather more remains mostly pottery - from the bronze age and early iron ages, when the area had begun to develop small defended settlements under local tribal leaders. There are some impressive remains from the Roman, Visigothic and Islamic periods, by which time Lleida had become a sizeable settlement. The more extensive (and noteworthy) part of the collection belongs to the mediaeval Christian period, comprising an impressive range of religious art and artefacts from churches in the region. This includes an important collection of items saved from the old Cathedral, and the partial recreation of a chapel from the 17th century, reflecting the emerging baroque style of the Counter-Reformation. The museum offers step-free access throughout, although the dark interior (especially some of the staircases) may not be great if you are partially sighted. There's a small shop selling mostly books and postcards, and lockers in which to leave your bags (EUR1 refundable deposit). Allow a good two hours to do the museum justice. Although all the descriptions are in Catalan only, an English written translation is available (to borrow) for free.