sábado, 2 de agosto de 2014

CATALONIA: ROC DE SANT GAIETA

Roc de Sant Gaietà is a picturesque urbanization built between 1964 and 1972. It was designed as a sort of fishing village with buildings decorated using old architectural styles (Gothic, Moorish) or imitating corners typical of several areas of Spain or Europe (Andalusian courtyards, Galician granaries, Sardinian houses  ...).

In the streets of Sant Roc Gaietà you can find wonders of Romanesque, Arabic, Gothic styles and more interesting buildings from other areas of the Spanish geography, which give an air of typical Mediterranean village, such as:


  • Islamic style door called "Porta Mora" with more buildings in Islamic and Moorish around it.
  • Passage of the Arches: This corridor or passage is a replica of the style of the "Emerald Coast" north of the island of Sardinia.
  • Gothic building
  • Patio Andaluz (Andalusian courtyard)
  • Replica of a typical City Hall
  • Replica of the main door of the Cathedral of Avila
  • Facade built in a style of northern Spain
  • Romanesque cloister

Below you can see some pictures of some of these buildings and corners of Roc de Sant Gaietà:


Islamic Door



Porta Mora in Roc de Sant Gaieta
Islamic style door called "Porta Mora" in Roc de Sant Gaietà



Islamic door of Roc de Sant Gaieta
A closer view of the Islamic door of Roc de Sant Gaietà


Gardens beside Roc de Sant Gaieta
Gardens beside the entrance of Roc de Sant Gaietà




Sardinian House



Roc de Sant Gaieta in Costa Daurada
The white arches of Roc de Sant Gaietà are typical of Sardinian houses


Masia Catalana



Masia Catalana in Roc de Sant Gaieta
On the right a typical Masia Catalana (Catalan Farmhouse) in Roc de Sant Gaietà


Gothic Building



Gothic building in Roc de Sant Gaieta
Gothic building in Roc de Sant Gaietà


Andalusian courtyards




Roc de Sant Gaieta in Tarragona
Nice corner with a well in Roc de Sant Gaietà




Andalusian courtyard in Roc de Sant Gaieta
Patio Andaluz (Andalusian courtyard)



Beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà




Beach of Roc de Sant Gaieta
Beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà in Costa Daurada



Beach of Roc de Sant Gaieta
Umbrellas on the beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà


As well as Roc de Sant Gaietà we also visited the following places during the days we spent in Costa Daurada:



Day 1




Day 2


Day 3



In Costa Daurada I visited these places too:


Costa Daurada



In Tarragona, and near Costa Daurada, you can spend the day visiting:




viernes, 1 de agosto de 2014

CATALONIA: CASTLE OF TAMARIT


The Castle of Tamarit was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style. Its walls protected the watchtower, the parish church, the abbey, and the houses of some gentlemen.

This castle is located beside the Gaia river between Tarragona and Altafulla and its function was to defend the coast of pirates and the Ottoman.

With the reconquest against Muslims, defending the attack by sea pirates and the protection of Mediterranean trade were the reasons for building a watchtower, which nowadays it stills remains.

It was in the fourteenth century, when the castle was earmarked for coastal surveillance to prevent attacks by pirates, and later, during the reign of Peter IV of Aragon , Castle and Vila Closa was surrounded by a wall that comes directly on coastal rocks, protecting his flank more exposed to the sea.




Castle of Tamarit
Castle of Tamarit from Tamarit beach was built in Romanesque style


Castle of Tamarit
Castle of Tamarit with its chapel and watchtower from the beach of Tamarit in Tarragona



Castle of Tamarit
Castle and beach of Tamarit in Tarragona


Cala Jovera beside the Castle of Tamarit
Cala Jovera beside the Castle of Tamarit



Cala Jovera and Castle of Tamarit
Castle of Tamarit from Cala Jovera beach in Costa Daurada




Cala Jovera beside the Castle of Tamarit
Cala Jovera on the left and Tamarit beach are the two beaches beside the castle of Tamarit



Cala Jovera beside the Castle of Tamarit
Cala Jovera and Castle of Tamarit in Tarragona



Below you can see the places we visited during the three days we spent in Miami Playa and Hospitalet de l'Infant:


Day 1




Day 2


Day 3





More interesting places you can visit in Costa Daurada are:


Near Costa Daurada you can visit the following medieval villages and places:

Other medieval places you can visit in Catalonia would be:


Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful places in Catalonia.


jueves, 31 de julio de 2014

CATALONIA: MIAMI PLAYA

Below you can see some pictures of the two days we spent in Miami Playa, near Cambrils in Tarragona.


Miami Playa in Catalonia
Long beach in Miami Playa


The first day in the afternoon we were in a long beach located near Hospitalet de l'Infant. The second day we walked along the promenade beside the previous beach until some beautiful small beaches, were we spent that morning.


Day 1

Beach in Costa Daurada
Palms on a beach in Hospitalet de l'Infant


Miami Playa in Costa Daurada
This wooden bridge links Miami Playa with Hospitalet de l'Infant


Snack bar on a beach in Miami Playa


Umbrellas on a beach of Miami Playa in Catalonia


Miami Playa in Catalonia
Beach in Miami Playa


Day 2


Miami Playa in Tarragona
Promenade of Miami Playa in Tarragona


Miami Playa in Catalonia
Overview of the longest beach in Miami Playa


Miami Playa in Catalonia
Quiet and small beach in Miami Playa


Miami Playa in Tarragona
These small beaches of Miami Playa are similar to some beaches in Costa Brava


Miami Playa in Tarragona
Luckily the beach wasn't crowded and the day was lovely, so we enjoyed a lot these beaches in Miami Playa


Below you can see the places we visited during the three days we spent in Miami Playa and Hospitalet de l'Infant:


Day 1




Day 2


Day 3


Along Costa Daurada you can also visit more interesting places, villages ans towns:

Costa Daurada




More beautiful beaches in Catalonia are:

miércoles, 30 de julio de 2014

CATALONIA: MIAMI PLAYA, TAMARIT AND ROC DE SANT GAIETA



This summer we spent three days in the towns of Hospitalet de L'Infant and Miami Playa in Tarragona. We stayed in a hotel of Hospitalet de l'Infant, but we enjoyed the beaches of Miami Playa.



Taking advantage we have a friend in this area of Catalonia, this time we decided to enjoy the beaches of Costa Daurada, located in the south of Barcelona. Usually we'd rather go to the Costa Brava because of its beautiful beaches and since I had vacationed much as a teenager in Tarragona. Specifically on the beaches of Cunit.


As well as enjoying the beaches of Miami Playa, we visited the Castle of Tamarit and Roc de Sant Gaietà.


Miami Playa in Catalonia

Miami Playa in Catalonia


Below you can see the places we visited during these three days:


Day 1


Day 2



Day 3





Day 1


Hospitalet de l'Infant


Meridia Mar Hotel in Tarragona
Meridià Mar Hotel in Hospitalet de l'Infant in Tarragona



Meridia Mar Hotel in Tarragona
Some rooms of Meridià Mar Hotel in Hospitalet de l'Infant in Costa Daurada


Beach in Hospitalet del Infant in Tarragona
Palms on a beach of Hospitalet de l'Infant in Tarragona



Miami Playa



Miami Playa in Tarragona
Beach of Miami Playa in Costa Daurada


Miami Playa in Catalonia
Umbrellas on a beach of Miami Playa located near Hospitalet de l'Infant in Tarragona


Day 2


Miami Playa




Miami Playa in Catalonia
This beach in Miami Playa is two kilometers long


Miami Playa in Catalonia
In Miami playa there are smaller beaches too, like this one


Miami Playa in Catalonia
The beach I like the most in Miami Playa


Snack Bar in Miami Playa
Snack bar beside one of the beaches of Miami Playa


Castle of Tamarit


Castle of Tamarit in Tarragona
Castle of Tamarit near Altafulla in Tarragona




Castle of Tamarit in Tarragona
Castle of Tamarit from another beach in Tarragona




Cala Jovera and Castle of Tamarit
Cala Jovera and Castle of Tamarit in Costa Daurada


Roc de Sant Gaietà




Roc de Sant Gaieta in Tarragona
This Islamic door is the main entrance to Roc de Sant Gaietà in Tarragona


Medieval tower in Roc de Sant Gaieta
Medieval tower in Roc de Sant Gaietà




Roc de Sant Gaieta in Tarragona
Nice corner of Roc de Sant Gaietà



Roc de Sant Gaieta in Tarragona
Patio andaluz (Andalusian courtyard) in Roc de Sant Gaietà in Tarragona


Along Costa Daurada you can also visit more interesting places, villages ans towns:

Costa Daurada




More beautiful beaches in Catalonia are:

domingo, 20 de julio de 2014

BARCELONA: CERVANTES PARK



In Pedralbes, the Parc de Cervantes greets us as we enter Barcelona from the Avinguda Diagonal. The park contains a beautiful collection of roses set out along an unusual botanical trail featuring varieties in all shapes and colours from every continent of the world. 

Since the year 2001, the park has hosted an international rose show featuring new species which are added to its multicoloured collection, which now includes 245 different varieties and 10,000 rose bushes.

In addition to the rose garden, the Parc de Cervantes offers extensive grassy areas which are ideal for jogging, cycling, gymnastics or just people-watching in the heart of Pedralbes neighbourhood.




Cervantes Park in Barcelona
Overview of Cervantes Park in Barcelona



Cervantes Park in Barcelona
From Cervantes Park in Barcelona you can see Montjuïc



Cervantes Park in Barcelona
I enjoyed a lot the time I spent in Cervantes Park because that evening was lovely


Flowers in Cervantes Park
Flowers in Cervantes Park in Barcelona



Cervantes Park in Barcelona
Quiet place in Cervantes Park in Barcelona






Roses in Cervantes Park
Red roses in Cervantes Park in Barcelona


-Some useful Information:


- Address: Av. Diagonal, 706
- to get there:


  • Metro: L3 stop Zona Universitària
  • Bus: 22, 63, 67, 68 and 78


- Web site: www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins



Below you have some links to more parks and gardens in Barcelona:


Other interesting places to visit in Barcelona are:


- Modernism Route



- Gothic Quarter and Old City



Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Barcelona.