Every day, millions of people board a plane, train, bus or car to travel somewhere in the world and enjoy a well-deserved holiday or a getaway to disconnect and get away from the routine of work. Travelling benefits us in every way, improving our quality of life and our social skills, as well as helping us to open our minds and self-discovery. It is also linked to feelings such as joy, happiness, empathy and self-confidence.
Moreover, it not only brings something to those who travel, but also to people who work in the tourism sector and all those complementary businesses that also live, in part, from tourism, such as hotels, shopping, restaurants and entertainment.
Today, Wednesday 27th of September, is World Tourism Day. This date has been commemorated since 1979, when the statutes of the World Tourism Organisation were approved. It also coincides with the end of the peak holiday season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the southern hemisphere. In this publication, we present a series of proposals for you to celebrate this great day.
You can do it with Shuttle2Sun, which offers its shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, so you can travel to any part of Costa Dorada, Costa Brava and Barcelona, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and the AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
Discover Roman Tarragona
If you are a history lover, an essential place to visit is Tarragona, the only World Heritage City in Catalonia, for its majestic archaeological site. Tarragona, formerly known as Tarraco, was the main base of the Roman Empire in Hispania, through which the rest of the peninsula was eventually conquered.
The city grew in importance between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, receiving the title of Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco from Julius Caesar.
Among the Roman elements that you will find during your trip to Tarragona are the walls, of which up to 1,100 metres in length have been preserved; the provincial forum; the temple of worship of the emperor; the circus, where chariot races were held; and the amphitheatre, of which a large part of the northern grandstand and part of the southern grandstand have been preserved. There is also the local forum, with the basilica; the theatre; and the necropolis and the early Christian complex of Francolí, among others.
In the area surrounding the city of Tarragona, you can visit the monumental complex of Centcelles, a Roman villa located in Constantí; the aqueduct, known as Pont del Diable; the Tower of the Scipiones and the Arch of Berà, both on Via Augusta; the Mèdol quarry; and the villa of Els Munts, in Altafulla. And don’t miss the National Archaeological Museum, where you can learn all about the history of Tarraco.
Reus Modernist Route
Another option for discovering another of Catalonia’s cities steeped in history is the Reus Modernist Route, through the 80 listed buildings with this style of architecture. Among the most outstanding are La Casa Navàs by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, located in Mercadal Square; the houses Laguna and Carpa by Pere Casellas i Tarrats, in Monterols Street; Casa Serra by Joan Rubió; and Casa Marco by Pere Domènech i Roura, in Raval de Santa Anna Street.
Other places rich in Modernist architecture are Llovera Street, with four houses in this style; Sant Joan Street, which includes Casa Gasull and Casa Rull, by Domènech i Montaner, and Joan Rubió’s Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary, protected as a cultural asset of local interest.
Reus also includes other heritage elements on the outskirts, such as the Pere Mata Institute, a psychiatric hospital, also the work of Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
You can move to Reus, thanks to Shuttle2Sun, with its shared transfer services and its private transfer services, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
Discover Girona
On the other hand, you can celebrate World Tourism Day by walking the streets of the city of Girona, discovering its history, from Roman times to the Contemporary Age, which have left their mark on the city’s most emblematic buildings.
The city was born in the 1st century BC, when the Romans established the Força Vella, a kind of walled acropolis.
One of Girona’s most representative monuments is its cathedral, in Romanesque and Baroque styles, which has been the setting for films and television series such as Game of Thrones.
Other places you should visit if you go to Girona are the Romanesque complex of Sant Pere de Galligants and Sant Nicolau; the 12th-century Arab Baths; the Jewish quarter, known as the call; and basilica of Sant Feliu, one of the most representative Gothic buildings.
You can also stroll through the mediaeval expansion; the valley of Sant Daniel and the monastery that bears his name; and walk along the city walls. Finally, don’t miss the flat blocks, single-family houses and industrial buildings, in modernist style, and the Casas del Onyar, which you can see from the different bridges that cross the river.
Discover the most beautiful villages on Costa Brava
You can also take advantage of these days to discover the most beautiful towns hidden in Costa Brava, such as Cadaqués, the crown jewel, with its characteristic white houses and cobbled streets; Peratallada, with an exceptional gastronomic offer; Empuriabrava, known as Catalan Venice, for its original boat trips; as well as Pals; Monells; Tamariu; and L’Escala, among many others.
Remember that with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, you can travel to any location on Costa Dorada, Costa Brava and Barcelona, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and the AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
