Tour de France™'26

The second stage will take off from the city of Tarragona, travelling down the Rambla Nova from the river to the sea, along a major 2,000-metre avenue that crosses the modern-day city. Tarragona’s Rambla has several points of interest to discover, such as the Monument als Castellers sculpture in honour of the traditional human tower builders, and the beautiful modernist style houses. The Rambla ends at the Balcó del Mediterrani, Tarragona’s most iconic viewpoint, where according to local tradition, “touching iron” brings good luck.

At the end of the Rambla, the route passes by two of the best-preserved UNESCO World Heritage Roman monuments in the West: the Tarraco amphitheatre and circus. This will be one of the most picturesque stretches of the Tour, where thousands of years of history will meet the present with the sea as a backdrop. The chariot races that once thundered through this impressive circus now give way to this large group of cyclists that will thrill us again. A picture-postcard location, steeped in history and emotions, that brings the grandeur of ancient Tarraco to life.

The former walled mediaeval centre of Altafulla, called Vila Closa, is a charming area where you can get lost exploring its narrow streets. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Government of Catalonia in 1998. Many of the houses located here were built in the eighteenth century and comprise a site of historical, architectural and tourist interest.

Twelve towns along the Gaià River valley still harbour the remains of mediaeval defence castles, in a region that served as a borderland between Christians and Muslims for almost two centuries. It is also the region with the highest concentration of mediaeval fortresses in Catalonia. It's a great place for a walk to discover the remains of some of these fortresses, like the Montoliu castle in the Riera de Gaià, known as El Castellot.

The Torredembarra lighthouse, which opened on 1 January 2000, is the last one built by Spain in the twentieth century and affords spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea. It is the lighthouse in Catalonia with the tallest tower, rising up 38 metres over the ground and 58 metres above sea level. It is located at La Punta de la Galera and has 48 windows and a spiral staircase with 217 steps.

Walking or cycling up to the Montornès hermitage, in La Pobla de Montornès, allows you to enjoy a typically Mediterranean wooded landscape. The hermitage was built next to the remains of a castle, and it actually replaced the fortress’s former chapel. The area beckons visitors to enjoy rest and contemplation.

The Muntanyans natural protected space occupies 62 hectares in the towns of Torredembarra and Creixell and has a beach, dunes and coastal wetlands that boast incredible biodiversity. You can enjoy it on a wooden walkway, along paths and right on the beach with a route designed to prevent harm to the flora and fauna living there.

This picturesque village, located in Roda de Berà, was built between 1964 and 1972 with the goal of giving it the appearance of a typical fishing village with a clear Mediterranean style. The best way to get to know it is to get lost in its narrow streets, where you can find elements from different architectural styles, an Andalusian courtyard and a Romanesque cloister.

Located in the summer house that Pau Casals had built along the seafront promenade of Sant Salvador beach in El Vendrell, the Pau Casals Museum is one of the leading cultural attractions in the region. It shares the famous cellist’s life and legacy as well as the heritage space that houses it. The Government of Catalonia declared it a Museum of National Interest.

This archaeology site of the Cossetani Iberians, which was founded in the sixth century BC, is a fortification by the sea. While walking through its streets, you can enter the rebuilt houses and see the replicas of objects from the Iberian material culture that they harbour. This citadel is an outdoor archaeology museum where the archaeological reconstruction was made in situ. 

Cunit has a 2.7- kilometre seafront promenade with flat pathways where you can walk or bike by the sea.  Along the way, you can enjoy the landscape, with its long sand beach and seven breakwaters forming semicircular coves, which give this coastal town on the Costa Daurada its own unique personality.

Some of Spain’s oldest locomotives can be found at this museum located in Vilanova i la Geltrú, a charming seaside city known as “Little Havana” in the 19th century. Every day, its port brings in fare such as red prawns, langoustines and purple dye murex, icons of local cuisine along with xató, a special Catalan sauce served with an escarole, tuna and cod salad. The best time to taste this food is during the city’s time-honoured local festivals, such as its Carnival, one of the most famous in Catalonia.

The steps of this church are one of the most frequently photographed sites in Sitges, a historic fishing village with 26 beaches and an old quarter where you can truly take in its commercial activity and seaside spirit. Art lovers will enjoy Cau Ferrat (painter Santiago Rusiñol’s house/workshop) and the Maricel Museum, while party goers won’t want to miss the world-famous carnival.  The busy wineries in the town centre always have a glass of malvasia on hand. This one-of-a-kind wine is made from grapes of the same name. 

The GR 92 is part of the E-10 European path (from the Baltic sea to the Mediterranea), which crosses Catalonia from north to south, staying as close to the sea as possible. Between Sitges and Garraf, this easy and well-marked route runs along paths, tracks and motorways with a 360-metre descent and views of the coastline. You can top it off with a visit to the picturesque town of Garraf. 

For more than a thousand years, it has defended the coast against pirates and attacks, bearing witness to crucial periods in history such as the Spanish Civil War. It features attractions such as an immersive pirate experience and gardens with spectacular views of the city, the sea and the Garraf Natural Park. It’s also the historic heart of the city of Castelldefels, where you can enjoy the beaches, water sports at the Canal Olímpic and the delicious local cuisine.

Lying beneath the surface in the city of Gavà we can find the oldest gallery mines in Europe, used to extract a mysterious green mineral, variscite, which was used by inhabitants of the area 6,000 years ago to make jewellery. Declared a cultural asset of national interest, this unique site is now a modern interpretation centre offering an accessible, enjoyable opportunity to learn more about this rich legacy.

Viladecans is home to a hidden gem of nature, with paths running from the Montbaig mountain to the sea, right by the Remolar-Filipines natural area, as well as unspoilt, family-friendly beaches. The Ca n’Amat museum and Sales chapel are an opportunity to travel back in time, while shopaholics can round off the day at Viladecans The Style Outlets. 

Just 20 minutes from Viladecans is the Güell Crypt, considered Gaudí’s best-kept secret. Here he tested out for the first time the architectural innovations we can now see at the Sagrada Família. A tour of this modernist company town, the largest in Catalonia, takes visitors back in time to the 19th century. The Crypt, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005, includes some of the innovations Gaudí would later apply to his masterpiece, from the original architectural solutions to the ornamental furniture.

The Palau dels Requesens in Molins de Rei, which hosted famous figures such as Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand and Emperor Charles V, is home to Catalonia’s first museum focusing specifically on the Renaissance. Paintings, sculptures and objects from the period take us back to this artistic movement that brought about profound artistic and social transformations. One of the star pieces is Triomf del temps sobre la fama [The Triumph of Age Over Fame], an exceptionally large tapestry commissioned to decorate a room in the Palau de la Generalitat.