Tarragona
The Costa Dorada's main city, Tarragona, has almost
doubled in size during the last few decades, with its residential
districts continually expanding around the beautiful medieval core.
Tarragona, originally built on a rocky bluff, can trace its roots
back to 218 BC, when it was founded by the ancient Romans as a
military base. Impressive vestiges of its ancient past still remain
in the form of ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, aqueduct, forum,
and other buildings situated on the Paseo Arqueologico which lead
to some panoramic viewpoints. A wide boulevard called the Rambla
Nova represents the modern main street outside the old city walls.
A popular outing for visitors is to explore the old harbour, known
as El Serrallo, to watch the fishing boats arrive and auction their
catch. As if all this wasn't enough, the city also sports some
excellent beaches on its doorstep, including Playa Llarga, regarded
as one of the biggest and best on the Catalonian coast. Among the
many museums is an archaeological museum devoted to Roman
antiquities; the Diocesan Museum displaying Gothic paintings,
sculptures and tapestries; and a house museum detailing the life
and career of renowned cellist, Pablo Casals.
Tarragona
Provincial Government of Tarragona Tourism
Board
PortAventura Theme Park
This massive theme park attracts holidaymakers from
far afield to its 'Five Worlds' (Far West, Mediterránia, Mexico,
China, and Polynesia). There is now also a children's section with
a Sesame Street theme. Visitors can be at the Great Wall of China
one minute and at the ruins of Mayan Mexico the next, and meet some
cowboys for a taste of the Far West before cooling off by jumping
into the great lake from the summit of the Tutuki Splash Volcano.
Popular attractions include the Sea Odyssey underwater adventure,
the Stampida rollercoaster ride, and the Grand Canyon Rapids water
ride. The Shambhala ride is one of the tallest and fastest ride in
Europe. The park is part of a resort complex which also includes a
water park, four hotels, and a convention centre. Apart from
numerous rides and restaurants, there are many shows and
entertainment options at PortAventura. It takes much more than a
day to experience everything, particularly if you want to visit the
water park as well (combination tickets are available), and many
visitors opt to spend a night or two at the resort. Some of the
snack kiosks and entertainment venues do close outside of the
summer months.
Transport:
Port Aventura has its own Renfe train station. Buses and
coaches serve the park from Barcelona and nearby towns
Opening time:
Daily from 10am to midnight (closes earlier in the
off-season). Open on some weekends during winter and closed from 7
January to end of March
Port Aventura
Provincial Government of Tarragona Tourism
Board
Montblanc
The fortified medieval centre of Montblanc is gloriously well
preserved. The historic old quarter is best explored on foot and
notable sights include the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, the Sant
Miguel Church, the Sant Marcal Church, the Royal Palace, and the
Castla Palace, all dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The
picturesque village celebrates its medieval heritage every year in
April with a two-week festival filled with parades and fireworks,
which commemorates the legend of Saint George killing the dragon.
Montblanc is inland from the port city of Tarragona and very close
to the UNESCO-listed Poblet Monastery, which is one of the most
famous attractions in the Costa Dorada. Poblet was once one of the
most powerful monasteries in Spain and was founded in 1151 by the
Cistercians. The kings of Aragon and Catalonia were buried here.
Many of the beautiful monastic buildings at Poblet have now been
restored and a visit is a must for holidaymakers in the region.
Montblanc and Poblet are only about five miles (8km) apart and can
be jointly explored on an excursion from the coastal resorts.
Montblanc
Till F. Teenck
Reus Airport
Location: Situated in Costa Dorada, between Constantí and Reus,
approximately 6 miles (9km) from the city of Tarragona in
Catalonia.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 from March to
October).
Transfer Between Terminals:
The Reus Airport has an arrivals and a departures terminal. The
terminals are situated within walking distance of each other.
Getting to the city:
Barcelona is 46 miles (75km) to the north and can be reached by
public and private transport. There are public buses opposite the
arrivals terminal and public transport travels into Reus centre,
Barcelona and various locations on the coast of the Costa Dorada,
as well as to Tarragona.
Car Rental:
Airport Taxis:
There are taxis and mini-van taxis available outside the
arrivals terminal, the official Reus Airport taxis are white with a
blue stripe on the door. Airport taxis operate 24 hours a day. The
journey to Reus takes about 10 minutes.
Facilities:
Parking
Apart from the obvious appeal of the turquoise Mediterranean sea
and stretches of golden sand, the Costa Dorada boasts a number of
interesting cultural and historical sightseeing attractions for
holidaymakers. Salou is a very popular resort, as are its
neighbouring resorts of La Pineda and Cambrils, and Sitges is
another great favourite on the Costa Dorada. All of these lovely
beach destinations are conveniently close to Barcelona and the
ancient Roman stronghold of Tarragona. If the myriad attractions of
these coastal cities are not sufficient for day trippers,
excursions should be taken a little way inland to the fortified
medieval village of Montblanc, and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage
Site of Poblet Monastery. Another historic monastery nearby is the
Royal Monastery of Santes Creus, which is also definitely worth a
visit for culture vultures. For less culture and more physical
thrills, holidaymakers can spend the day at PortAventura Theme
Park, a massive, and massively popular, amusement park, very near
La Pineda.
There are good local bus services connecting the main towns and
resorts along the Costa Dorada, and a reliable train service
connecting Salou, Tarragona, Sitges and Barcelona. Car rental is a
good option for those who want to explore the interior.