Barcelona and Surroundings 2

We returned for the second time to Barcelona. This time, however, we also dedicated our visit to two small but interesting towns nearby: Tarragona and Figueres.

Tarragona is a city west of Barcelona, about an hour by train. (€10.50 round trip) The city was founded by the Romans, which attracted us due to its remains of Roman ruins. We start from the beautiful amphitheater located practically above the beach. There are many other remains to visit, such as the Roman Circus and the archaeological walk. The cathedral also deserves a stop, and we were particularly amazed by its resemblance to the city of Alghero in Sardinia. The Catalan influence in the Sardinian city is even clearer now that we have seen Tarragona.

However, the thing we liked the most is the Puente del Diablo. The bridge is actually an old Roman aqueduct connecting two hills, consisting of two arches stacked on top of each other; it is therefore a majestic structure that is also well maintained.

We live in Rome near the Aqueduct Park, so we shouldn't be surprised. Instead, this walk moved us a lot. The aqueduct is also located within a park where you can venture on three trails of varying difficulty. There is a lot of greenery, and the walk we took (the shortest one, about 40 minutes) was very enjoyable.

You need to take bus number 5, which terminates at Prat de la Riba. You get off in front of the park where the bridge is located, and on the way back, wait for the bus at the same stop; it will take you back to the city. The second city we visited is northeast of Barcelona, about two hours by train (€17.70 round trip). Here, it is not the city itself that attracts tourists, but the Salvador Dalí Museum/Theater. It's definitely worth the trip, and having read a guide on Dalí during the train ride, we became even more passionate about this unique artist who was unknown to us until then.

After our visit to the museum, we stopped at a café that caught our attention, called Café Royal, Rambla 28. It's a bar where the manager is collecting signatures to prevent its closure. In fact, the owner of the building wants to close this type of establishment to create one of those typical stores that are now found in all European cities. It would mean closing a place that opened in the early 1900s by the grandmother of the current manager, Mr. Josep Matas, a historic venue with walls covered in colorful tiles, with tables where people can stop to talk, discuss politics, or play cards. A venue that allows local residents to maintain social relationships and engage in entertainment in a public place, which is becoming increasingly rare in almost all large cities. We also signed the petition, strictly with our document details, as Mr. Josep requested. We left with a bit of bitterness because it was a visit to a public place that is increasingly rare to find, given that globalization is erasing the possibility of encountering these original and characteristic spots that add flavor to traveling abroad. Nowadays, places are all standardized, offering the same brands, and traveling around the world no longer presents many surprises.

Notable mentions in Barcelona, where we stayed for a day and a half, are Café de l'Academia, Carrer Lledò 1, Plaça Sant Just, where the quality and freshness of the food are remarkable; the Formatgeria La Seu, Carrer Dagueria 16, where you can sample cheeses and wine for two euros and fifty during the week, while on weekends there is a special menu also featuring cheeses. The owner is an English woman who left her country to become a cheese expert; in the midst of the Gothic Quarter at Carrer d'Aviñyo 39, there is a restaurant where we had a wonderful paella, the best we have ever eaten in Barcelona. The owner is a unique character who claims to resemble Dalí and is known by Italian tourists because his restaurant has been reviewed on the website zingarate.com. The price is very reasonable, and the portions are generous.

I would say you can avoid the famous but unjustly rated Can Ramonet in the Barceloneta area. The paella was definitely not worthy of the name and the price! You cannot miss a visit to the Mercat de la Boqueria, which is fantastic, colorful, stimulating, and appetizing! And then there's the most beautiful church in Barcelona: the Iglesia del Mar. It should definitely be visited, especially if you've read 'The Cathedral of the Sea' by Ildefonso Falcones.

Safe travels! Caterina