Constructed by the Romans in 200 BC, Tárraco is a living museum. Whether walking around the amphitheater where gladiators used to the fight or visiting the old city wall and aqueducts, it's easy to step back into time in this Unesco World Heritage city. Don't miss the Tárraco Viva festival in May when performances and reenactments bring the stories of Roman Tárraco to life.

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Poblet Monastery has the distinction, recognized by Unesco, of being Europe's largest inhabited Cistercian complex. Of the three monasteries established by the Cistercian order in Catalonia during the 12th century, it is the only one where monks still reside. Join a guided tour to walk through the monastery's Gothic-style cloisters and visit the place where kings and queens from the medieval Kingdom of Aragon were laid to rest.

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The Landscape of Geniuses Route traces the lives of four famous artists through Tarragona. Beginning in Reus, hometown of architect Antoni Gaudí, it continues to El Vendrell, birthplace of composer Pau Casals, and on to Mont-roig del Camp, where the coastal landscapes inspired Joan Miró's surrealist paintings. It concludes in Horta de Sant Joan, a hilltop village that appears in several of Pablo Picasso's cubist works.

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One of Europe's largest wetlands and a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Ebre Delta Nature Park features blue lagoons and rice fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Home to some 50,000-100,000 birds spanning 300 species, it's a birder's paradise. Biking is a popular way to travel around the park and see wildlife up close.

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Designed by Salvador Dalí, the Dalí Theater Museum is a work of art in and of itself. Opened in 1974 on the site of the former Figueres Theater, it houses one of the broadest collections of the painter's work in addition to that of artists he admired such as El Greco and Marcel Duchamp. Dalí also created works expressly for the museum including Rainy Cadillac, Monument to Francesc Pujols, the Mae West Room and the Wind Palace Room.

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Set atop a peak in the Rodes mountain range, Sant Pere de Rodes is an impressive example of Romanesque architecture. Built in the 10th century, it was the spiritual capital of northern Catalonia from the 11th through 14th centuries. Notable features include its towers, featuring sweeping views of the Cap de Creus peninsula, and its portalada, a large entranceway depicting the life of Christ in white marble.

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Greek and Roman histories collide in Empúries. Here, the remains of the Greek city Emporion, the only Greek ruins remaining on the Iberian Peninsula, coincide with those of the Roman city Emporiae, offering a unique window into Catalonia's ancient urban history. Attractions range from a Greek banqueting hall to Roman public baths. Be sure to visit the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia-Empúries, which houses a rare sculpture of the Greek god Asclepius found at the site.

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One of the most defining features of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is its Romanesque portal known as the "Stone Bible." Added to the original entrance in the 12th century, it features relief carvings of scenes from the Bible together with vegetal and geometric motifs. The portal's size, triumphal arch shape and rich iconography are unique and have made it a Unesco World Heritage contender.

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A popular day trip from Barcelona city, the Montserrat mountain range is a sight to behold. Visitors can take a cable car or railway up to the Benedictine monastery nestled above the clouds, admire architecture ranging from medieval to Art Nouveau, walk over a Gothic bridge or explore the area's breathtaking scenery on paths running through Montserrat Mountain Nature Park.

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An ancient fishing village, Sitges enjoys 320 days of sun a year and miles of pristine beaches. Natural beauty aside, it is a center of Art Nouveau and hosts one of the world's foremost film festivals each October. Don't miss the Cau Ferrat Museum, originally the home and studio of modernist painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol, in the old quarter.

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Designed by Antoni Gaudí as a model village for textile workers, La Colònia Güell exemplifies Catalan modernism. After walking through the village, stop into the church known as Gaudí's Crypt. One of seven Gaudí buildings recognized by Unesco, it features fluid lines, mosaics, stained glass windows and seashells.

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A visit to Vic isn't complete without a stroll through one of its markets. Taking place every day of the week, they pulse with a lively energy. Be sure to try one of the city's famous cold meats and visit Plaça Major, market or no market, to explore its Gothic arcades and cafes. Vic is also home to the world's largest collection of murals by Josep Maria Sert, an impressive number of which are on display in the Vic Cathedral.

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Plaça del Rei, a large square in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, feels straight out of the Middle Ages. Step inside the Great Hall of the Palau Reial Major, where Catalan counts lived from the 13th to 15th centuries, head underground to discover the remains of the Roman city Barcino, or wander through the quarter's historic, narrow alleyways.

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Casa Vicens is the first house designed by Antoni Gaudí and is regarded as one of the first masterpieces of Modernism. Commissioned as a summer house, it features white and green tiles on the outside and nature motifs throughout. Today, it is a museum and features a permanent exhibition on 19th-century Barcelona.

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Built in 1929 for the World Exhibition, the National Art Museum of Catalonia is Barcelona's largest and most iconic museum, housing thousands of years of Catalan art. Ranging from the 10th to 20th centuries, its collection is divided into four sections: Romanesque, Gothic Art, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Modern Art. A highlight of the museum is a series of 21 mural sections rescued from Romanesque churches throughout Catalonia.

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Open seven days a week, the 19th-century steel-skeleton Sant Antoni Market is one of Barcelona's most recognized landmarks. Selling everything from vintage books, coins and stamps to delicious snacks, it spans an entire city block and is frequented by locals and visitors alike.

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