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.

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.

On my first field trip outside of Barcelona after more than a year... where did I decide to go?…read more A Sanatorium! And what a jewel of a building! Designed by the fabulous Domènech i Montaner, this is the epitome of Art Nouveau aka Modernisme. If you're ever out in Reus, you must visit this place. The audio tour is chock-full of interesting information, and basically lasts about 30 minutes. And at only 5 euros, how can you go wrong? I still can't believe this was a sanatorium... If you got the right room, you can get views of the city and the sea... Of course only the men's wing was built in this style... The tiles! The built-in furnishings! Everything about the design and architecture was thoughtful, gorgeous and amazing.

Situated on an impressive and commanding site at the northern end of the Parc de Foix, with superb…read moreviews over the impressive Foix reservoir, the Castle of Castellet dominates the small (and rather well-to-do) settlement that has grown up around it. The castle, heavily restored, is famous for its attractive grouping of square and round towers, and the adjacent (and separate) hillside chapel. Built in the 10th century, it is first referred to in a document dated 977AD, although most of what you see today is the result of a series of mediaeval rebuilding, reflecting its major strategic importance during the period of the reconquest of Catalonia by the Christians from the Moors, when it was owned by the Counts of Barcelona, and through the mediaeval period (when it was a possession of the joint Catalonian and Aragonese Crown) until the 16th century. Thereafter, the castle slowly fell into ruin. Restoration began in the 1920s and 1930s, but what you see now is essentially the result of its acquisition in 1999 by the Albertis Foundation, itself sponsored by the large Spanish infrastructure group of the same name, which acquired the castle as a home for its research work on the environment and transport. The renovation has produced a thoroughly modern corporate presentation inside while respecting the fabric of the original castle. It's not an approach normally adopted in the UK, but it at least ensures a safe future for the building. The most notable features are its oval 10th century tower and walls from the 15th century. The castle itself is only open for guided visits on rather limited hours around lunchtime at week-ends. Inside, there is a small museum of the site's history. There's a small car park next to the castle, with a rather larger car park at the foot of the hill. Slightly closer access can be had by parking close to the village's classy restaurant, although this is reserved for patrons when the restaurant is open. Alternatively, the castle lies on a number of long distance footpaths between Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Vilafranca del Penedès.

Ok my (grown-up) daughter talked me into going here despite the reviews and my reluctance. What…read moregreat fun!! Whoever says this is a place only for kids is mistaken. It is a place for HAMS! And we hammed it up big. Almost every setting works great for silly photos and the ideas they have on the wall as a prompt are helpful. But use your imagination and don't be shy. In the midst of beautiful plazas and culture, this place was a welcome silly diversion.

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.

Great place for pictures on top of a small hill. The architecture in Spain is magical and this…read morecathedral is nothing less than spectacular.

We are cathedral buffs, and we enjoyed the "no rush" style of the self run tour. Usually, with a…read moreguide, we feel rushed and therefore enjoy it less. Overall, an excellent experience.

Whether or not you're a fan of Cubism, everyone knows Picasso--and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona…read moreis an absolute must to understand the origins of this brilliant mind. There a handful of Picasso Museums around the world, but the one in Barcelona is worth a visit as this was not only the first museum dedicated to Picasso's work, but also the only one created while he was alive. The museum is sectioned off by eras of Picasso's life, starting with his early formal training under his father, Jose Ruiz, at age 7 and his earlier works when his family were his muses. I always knew Picasso was talented, but I had no idea just how truly multifaceted he was. Entry is by timed ticket, and can be reserved for free 4 days before your actual visit between certain hours. NOTE: If you need to use the bathroom, hold on to your ticket--you'll need to scan it for re-entry.

How can you not give a lovely museum 5 stars? The building itself is really cool -- a series of…read moreconnected medieval palaces with beautiful courtyards and stone details -- and the exhibits are genuinely interesting. You get to see Picasso's early works and sketches, which give great insight into his evolution as an artist, plus some of his famous Blue Period pieces and later reinterpretations of Velázquez's Las Meninas. I'll admit, I'm more the type who'd rather wander the streets of Barcelona than hang out in a museum, so I'm probably not the best art critic. But still -- it's Picasso! Totally worth a visit. And the best part? Afterward, I grabbed an amazing lunch of tapas and beers just around the corner. Perfect way to cap off the visit. 5 stars all around, lol.

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).