EditorsThe Costa Daurada in the Tarragona province in Catalonia has a stunning landscape featuring endless fine sand beaches, mountains, atmospheric towns, farmlands and vineyards and olive groves. It is also the ideal base to follow the ‘Genius Route’ across the Catalonian landscape in 2017.
The route connects the towns that inspired four ‘geniuses’ – El Vendrell (the musician Pau Casals), Reus (Antoni Gaudí), Mont Roig del Camp (the painter Joan Miro) and Horta de Sant Joan (Pablo Picasso). Surreal, uplifting and inventive – following the footsteps of these geniuses is an exciting, alternative way to explore the myriad charms of Catalonia.
Reus. Photo: Cedric valluche via Flickr
Reus – the birthplace of architect Antoni Gaudí
If you’ve seen Gaudi’s Park Güell and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, you’ve probably already fallen in love with his spell-binding, free flowing work inspired by nature.
To follow in the footsteps of the modernist architect, start your journey in Reus, 10km from Tarragona, where Antoni Gaudí was born. To discover more about the creator of Catalan Modernism, make a trip to the Gaudí centre. Join a walking route that takes in his home on Calle Sant Vicenç and Sant Pere church where he was christened.
Gaudí finished high school in Reus, before leaving to study architecture in Barcelona. Also see other modernism structures influenced by Gaudí like the Pere Mata Institute and the Casa Navás building. While here, why not try a bit of vermouth tasting? After all, Reus is known as the capital of vermouth!
Reus
El Vendrell – the birthplace of musician and composer Pau Casals
Your next destination is El Vendrell, about 40km north of Reus. Renowned Spanish musician and composer of the UN anthem, Pau Casals was born here in 1876. The Church of El Vendrell is where he first played the organ at the age of nine. Many happy summers were spent at his house on Sant Salvador beach, which is now home to his museum. Head to El Vendrell in the summer for the Pau Casals International Music Festival and you can also visit his resting place in the El Vendrell cemetery.
There’s also a vineyard and wine cellar tour that you can take outside El Vendrell with cello accompaniment composed by Pa Casals.
Photo: Teresa Grau Ros via Flickr
Mont-roig del Camp – the village that inspired Joan Miró
You can’t forget Joan Miró’s Surrealist fantasy works once you’ve set eyes on them. Abstract, free-flowing, poetic, eccentric unfettered by any reins to the imagination – pure genius.
He first came to the Mas Miró estate near Mont-roig del Camp, 20km south of Reus, in 1911, to recover from an illness and came back every summer for 65 years. Mont-Roig has inspired many of his artworks that propelled him to international fame, including ‘The Farm’.
Get on a bike tour to take in La Pixerota beach and the mountain of La Roca. Visit the Centro Miró to better delve into his relationship with the ‘red land’ of Mont-roig.
Photo: Ferran Llorens via Flickr
Horta de Sant Joan – seen in Picasso’s paintings
Picasso was probably the most influential figure of the 20th century in the art world. The ‘Genius Route’ ends in the village of Horta de Sant Joan, a little over an hour’s drive from Mont Roig. The Cubist pioneer Pablo Picasso visited here just twice, and both times, it reinvigorated his health and creativity. The area can be seen in many of his paintings, including the Reservoir at Horta and The Factory at Horta de Ebro.
Head for the Centro Picasso museum to see examples of his work, take a walking tour of the places Picasso visited in the historic town. There is also a hiking route to the cave where Picasso stayed at in the nearby Els Ports National Park.
Photo: Angela Llop via Flickr
Good to know:
The ‘Targeta Genial’ pass includes access to all the museums and cultural centres along the route, discounts on guided tours, bicycle trips and accommodation costs €11 for adults, while children under 14 are given free entry.
ALSO SEE: Love the coast? Check out our list of beach beaches around the world
ALSO SEE: 5 Ways Fuerteventura is the adventure destination of the Canary Islands
