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Akaza's Barcelona Blog

Hola! We at Akaza have created this blog for all of our visitors to be able for us to share tips, advice, experiences and stories about Barcelona, apartments, warnings, restaurants, bars, high lights etc. All which can be useful for someone who is planning to visit Barcelona or simply loves the city and cannot get enough information about it. We look forward to share our stories and do feel free to write to us if you want to share something too: info@akaza.net. Smiles and Happiness from Andrea and The Akaza Team
Tags >> vacation
Dec 05
2011

The hidden monastery of Catalunia

Posted by links in vacation , monastery , holiday , catalonia , barcelona , apartment

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The abbey of Sant Miquel del Fai is an antique beautiful Benedict monastery close to the town Riells in the Catalan region of Valles Oriental, 50km away from Barcelona. The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but a community of monks was already settled down in 1006. It was funded by Gombau de Besura, the owner of – among other properties - the Montbui Castle in Caldes, in Catalonia.

Despite being a small monastery, during the centuries it left a mark in the history of Catalunya. Other museums in Barcelona conserve several unique and important historical remnants from the Roman era, deriving from the monks living in the monastery of Sant Miquel del Fai. Indeed, the monastery contains the only Romanesque chapel in Catalonia!

This all can sound avarage to the visitor of Catalonia who might have already seen several monasteries from that antique era. So what is so special in this church?

                                            

The interesting thing is the fact that it was built in a cave, serving a roof by its own! It is the largest troglodyte church in the country. It has a Romanic portal formed by a semicircular arch. It has a small crypt and there is an access to it through the staircase near the entrance. On the floor of the church there are visible gravestones of former abbots. In the side chapels, there are two graves, practically disappeared.

The old priory house has Gothic style and was built in the fifteenth century. For many years, it functioned as a hostel but it managed to retain its original layout.

              

The natural environment of the monastery is also special. It is located in a well preserved natural environment framed by the rocky cliffs of Cingles de Berti, in the pre-costal mountain range of the Cordillera Prelitoral Catalana. The river Tenes has shaped limestone formations, a large waterfall and several caves make up the highlight of the place.

                                                 

The sight is unique! Do not miss it if you visit Catalunya!

You can get there by public transport, with the Bus Saglés from the Estacio del Nord in Barcelona.

You can find more information on the following website: www.santmiqueldelfai.net .

Nov 15
2011

The neighborhood of Barcelona

Posted by links in viajar , vacation , travel , piso , holiday , barcelona , apartment , accomodation

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1.      Montserrat

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain. It is part of theCatalan Pre-Costal Range. The main peaks are Sant Jeroni (1,236 m), Montgrós (1 ,120 m) and Miranda de les Agulles (903 m). The mountain is the namesake for the Carribean island of Montserrat.


2.      Teatru-Museu Dalí

The Dalí Theatre-Museum, the largest surrealistic object in the world, occupies the building of the former Municipal Theatre, a 19th century construction which was destroyed at the end of the Spanish Civil War. On its ruins, Dalí decided to create his museum. The museum is located in Figueres.


3.      Vall de Núria

La Vall de Núria is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona.The floor of the valley lies about 2000 meters above sea level, and is accessible from the south via a rack railway or by foot, and from France to the north by footpaths. There are no roads to access the valley. The place is historically notable for the 1931 drafting of the first Catalan Statue of Autonomy, in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Núria.


4.      Alt Penedés

Alt Penedès is a comarca in Catalonia. The capital is Vilafranca del Penedes. It is situated in the Penedes Depression on the left bank of the Foix River, and on the main axis of communication from Barcelona to Valencia, served by a RENFE railway line (L4) and by the AP-7 autopista as well as by the C-243 and C-244 roads to Vilanova y la Geltru and Igualda respectively.

5.      Begur and its neighbourhood

Begur is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix emporda in Batalonia. Begur has 3,986 inhabitants. It is an important tourist attraction, during the summer, the population can exceed 40,000 people. Despite of its touristic character, the village has an important historical remnants that go back in early history. The castle of Begur is a good example of medieval remains. The castle was constructed in the 16th and 17th century. The town of Begur also includes Esclanyà (with a Roman town centre), Aiguafreda, Sa Riera, Sa Tuna, Aiguablava and Fornells. Some of the most prestigious beaches of the Costa Brava can be found here.


6.      Tarragona

Tarragona is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragones. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of theVegueria of Tarragona. The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 

7.      Girona

Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Guell. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Girones. Lies 99 km (62 mi) on north-east from Barcelona. There is an ancient cathedral, which stood on the site of the present one, was used by the Moors as a mosque, and after their final expulsion was either entirely remodelled or rebuilt. The old fortifications are another popular sight.

8.      Empúries

Empúries formerly known by its Spanish name Ampurias. It was founded in 575 BC by Greek colonists from Phocaea with the name of Ἐμπόριον (Emporion, meaning "market", cf.emporion). It was later occupied by the Romans, but in the early middle age, when its exposed coastal position left it open to marauders, the town was abandoned. The ruins are midway between the Costa Brava town of L'Escala and the tiny village of Sant Martí. There are good car parking facilities and the site may be reached by a traffic-free coastal walk from L'Escala.

9.      Port Aventura

PortAventura is a theme park that attracts around 3 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in Spain. PortAventura Park is also the 6th most visited theme park in Europe. The resort also includes PortAventura Aquatic Park and four hotels.

10.  Costa Daurada and Sitges

La Costa Dorada (Daurada in Catalan). The 20 towns that make up the Costa Dorada cover a marine littoral 216 kilometers long, 786 hectares of spacious beaches with clean fine sand and transparent shallow water. Sitges is one most important tourist resorts on the Catalan Coast. It has managed to preserve its scenic ambience and its artistic and cultural heritage.

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