Itinerary - Barcelona & Catalonia: Cooking, Wine & Catalan Traditions

Welcome to Catalunya (Catalonia)! After settling into the beautiful Hotel Núria, we'll gather at our hotel's private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Here, in our own peaceful garden by the pool, we'll enjoy local vermouth, artisan cocktails, and share an aperitivo as we get to know each other.

This is your introduction to both your fellow travelers and to Manye and Marta, our dear friends who will guide us through the fascinating world of Catalan culture all week long. As the Mediterranean breeze carries the scent of the sea, we'll outline the incredible experiences awaiting us.

As evening arrives, we'll venture into Tarragona's historic quarter - the ancient upper town perched above the sea. After a short orientation walk through streets that have witnessed over two thousand years of history, we'll settle in at a local restaurant for our first dinner together. This is where your Catalan culinary adventure truly begins, with traditional dishes that tell the story of this remarkable region.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

Today we journey into the heart of the countryside to experience something truly special - a traditional Catalan grape harvest at Manye's family vineyards. Our destination is Vilabella, a tiny village of just 700 inhabitants where Manye's family has lived for over 250 years. Everyone here knows each other, and today, you become part of this close-knit community.

We'll begin at Manye's cellar, gathering our gear before heading into the vineyards. Under the Mediterranean sun, we'll harvest white Moscatell grapes destined to become Mistela - a delicious, sweet fortified wine made from late harvest grapes. With baskets full of sun-kissed grapes, we return to the cellar for the most memorable part: grape stomping!

Shoes off, feet clean, and into the vat we go! As the juice flows and laughter fills the air, we'll add alcohol to the must, creating our very own CDV Mistela. This inaugural batch will be placed in a special barrel, and each year our groups will add to it and taste how it evolves - a living tradition connecting all our Catalunya travelers. Of course, Manye has been perfecting this craft for years, so we'll taste older Mistellas straight from the barrel.

After our hard work, it's time to celebrate with a wonderful family Sunday lunch at Manye's uncle's country home. We'll bring wines from the cellar and share a meal that epitomizes Catalan hospitality - generous portions, endless conversation, and the warmth of family.

Following some relaxation time back at the hotel, we'll experience the Spanish art of bar-hopping! Get ready to walk, drink, and eat as we tapas-crawl through Tarragona - the most famous social tradition in Spain.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

Today we trade the peaceful coastline for the vibrant energy of Barcelona! A beautiful one-hour train ride along the Costa Dorada brings us to Catalunya's capital, where our local friend Carlos - a true barcelonés - will show us his city like few visitors ever experience it.

Barcelona is synonymous with Gaudí and the Sagrada Familia, but Carlos will introduce us to Casa Vicens - Gaudí's first major project and a hidden gem that most tourists completely overlook. This was where the maestro's creativity first burst forth, and you can feel that early spark in every colorful tile and playful detail. Unlike his massive monuments, Casa Vicens maintains an intimate, summer-home charm where you can actually wander peacefully and look closely without fighting crowds.

From there, we'll stroll through Gràcia, one of the few Barcelona neighborhoods where locals still live and maintain a true sense of community. We'll visit different workshops and meet local cooperatives before enjoying a wonderful lunch together at a neighborhood restaurant.

The afternoon brings us to the Born and Barri Gòtic - two of the city's most characteristic corners. Small medieval streets, artisan shops, and that magical mix of old Barcelona and everyday life await. You'll have time here to explore on your own or do some shopping while soaking in the atmosphere.

After a full day in Barcelona's vibrant streets, we'll catch the high-speed train back to Tarragona - just 30 minutes! - for a relaxed dinner at our hotel's bistrot.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

We'll start at a leisurely Spanish pace this morning, then set off to explore the countryside's hidden treasures. Our first stop is the small but marvelous Santuari de Montserrat in Montferri - a modernist church built by Jujol, Gaudí's most talented student. Inspired by the mountains of Montserrat, this architectural gem is an incredible display of color, light, and imagination that seems to grow from the hillside itself.

Just 15 minutes away lies Santes Creus, where we'll stop at Bar del Mig for lunch. This cozy spot is run by Manye's sister Marta, who has become famous throughout the region for making the best entrepans (traditional Catalan sandwiches) in the province! These aren't ordinary sandwiches - they're made with warm bread from Les Pobles, filled with carefully chosen local ingredients, and pressed until golden and crisp. Cyclists and travelers come from miles around just to taste them.

A few steps from the bar stands the magnificent Monastery of Santes Creus, a huge Cistercian complex founded in the 12th century. We'll have a private guided tour through its impressive cloisters, stone corridors, and royal tombs of medieval Catalan kings. It's peaceful, solemn, and absolutely beautiful - the kind of place where you can feel history in every archway.

Full of history and peace, we'll take a beautiful hike through the woods along the Gaià River - a gentle, meditative walk that connects us with nature and the rhythm of the countryside.

Our hike leads to Restaurant Llèpol, where our friend Bet awaits. This dear friend of Manye and Marta started with homemade preserves and takeaway meals using local ingredients (Manye supplied her vegetables!). She became so popular that she opened this small bistrot where people travel long distances just to feel at home. Tonight, Bet opens her kitchen to us for an evening of cooking traditional Catalan dishes passed down through generations.

We'll start by making cocas - a sort of Catalan flatbread with various toppings - perfect for opening our appetites. Then comes the hearty main event: fricandó, thin slices of beef slowly cooked in a rich sauce of onions, tomatoes, and white wine, finished with moixernons (dried mushrooms). It's comforting, earthy, and full of flavor. You'll want bread nearby to soak up every bit of sauce! We'll enjoy this great meal that we prepared together.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

We head south today to one of Spain's most unique natural areas - the Delta de l'Ebre, where the mighty Ebro River meets the Mediterranean. This vast wetland is known for its endless rice fields, sand dunes, lagoons, and long wild beaches. It's also renowned for producing some of Spain's finest seafood, especially mussels and oysters.

We'll hop aboard a boat and journey along what look like rows of floating wooden platforms - but they're actually working farms where shellfish grow in the calm, nutrient-rich water where river meets sea. The families running these farms have been doing this for generations, and today they're teaching us their craft.

Get ready to get your hands dirty (or wet!): we'll actually "plant our own oysters" by creating a line where young oysters will grow. These become the official CDV Oysters, and next year's group will taste them - a beautiful continuation of tradition! After our farming efforts, we'll conduct our own "quality control" with a delicious tasting of the Delta's famous ostrones (giant oysters) and mussels, paired with wine that's been aging underwater alongside them. And for our main course, in this land of seafood and rice fields, what else but authentic paella?

Following a relaxing spell by the sea, we'll hop on e-bikes for a fun ride along the rice fields and lagoons. This area is a birdwatcher's paradise, full of herons, flamingos, and countless species enjoying this quiet, open landscape. We'll bike through small fishing villages and discover a side of Catalonia that most travelers never see.

As the sun begins its descent, we'll finish our ride at the perfect spot for our sunset apericena - drinks and light bites as we celebrate this wonderful day together, Mediterranean-style.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

This morning we explore Tarragona's incredible Roman heritage with our friend Carlos. We'll visit the majestic amphitheater perched dramatically above the sea, wander through ancient streets around the forum, and get a real sense of how important this city was during the Roman Empire. Or, if you prefer to skip the history lesson and do some shopping in town, no worries - we'll all meet in the historic center for lunch.

Rest up this afternoon, because tonight will be a late night in the best Catalan tradition!

We're heading to Valls, the birthplace of one of Catalunya's most iconic traditions: castells - human towers. These are the incredible structures you might have seen in photos, where groups of people climb atop each other, layer by layer, forming towers that can reach several stories high. It's a mix of strength, balance, teamwork, and tremendous trust. Watching a group build a castell is both tense and emotional, especially when the youngest climbers - often children - make their way to the very top to complete it.

But we're not just watching! As true CDV travelers, we're going hands-on with Colla Velha, learning firsthand how to build these incredible human pyramids. You'll understand the technique, feel the connection, and maybe even be part of a tower yourself!

After our castell introduction, we'll have dinner just across the street at La Licorera, a unique modern restaurant built within an old 1918 distillery. We'll be surrounded by the original stills and vintage bottles as we enjoy our meal.

But the night isn't over! We return to the training center for the real experience: the ensayos (rehearsals). This behind-the-scenes look at how castells are practiced will give you goosebumps. You'll feel the tension, the excitement, and the camaraderie directly from the castellers themselves. This is the heart of Catalan tradition - not performed for tourists, but lived by locals who've dedicated themselves to this extraordinary art.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

Today we venture into Priorat, one of Spain's most renowned wine regions. Beyond its incredible wines, Priorat is breathtakingly beautiful with rolling hills covered in terraced vineyards that rival Portugal's Douro Valley. At the heart of this wine country sits tiny Porrera, where winemakers keep their cellars in home garages and tend vineyards that have been in their families for generations.

We'll divide into small groups for a unique wine-crawling experience through town. Each group will visit a different small cellar, meet the winemakers, hear their stories, and taste their carefully crafted wines. Then we'll walk around town, run into each other, and switch - a wonderfully social way to explore! These three winemakers are genuinely happy to welcome us into their homes and share their passion. After visiting all the cellars, we'll gather for a wonderful lunch together.

Following some rest time, we return to Vilabella - Manye's beloved hometown - for a very special afternoon. At another tio's home (his fourth uncle!), we'll rejoin the family for a unique Catalan tradition. Manye's father, since retiring, has devoted himself to carpentry, and one of his favorite projects is making toys for his grandchildren. Today, he'll teach us to make our own cagatiós - a hilarious and uniquely Catalan Christmas character made of wood. Wait until you hear how this little wooden figure "brings the presents" - it's both ingenious and absolutely absurd!

This is our last night together, and in true CDV style, we'll celebrate our farewell dinner and party right here with our tios - our "uncles" in every sense of the word. Surrounded by the warmth of Manye's family, with wine flowing and stories shared, we'll toast to the incredible week we've shared and the bonds we've formed.

Accommodation: Hotel Núria, Tarragona

After breakfast, we'll say our goodbyes and provide airport transfers back to Barcelona. As you journey home, you'll carry with you not just memories, but a real connection to Catalunya - its people, its traditions, and its generous spirit.

You came as travelers; you leave as family.

Fins aviat! (See you soon!)