{"id":92054,"date":"2017-12-02T13:28:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-02T12:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/?p=92054"},"modified":"2020-05-08T15:09:33","modified_gmt":"2020-05-08T13:09:33","slug":"medieval-villages-catalonia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/medieval-villages-catalonia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Beautiful Medieval Villages in Catalonia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The northeast region of Spain is known for its incredible history, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and wine, and, of course, its capital city of Barcelona. But a different life exists in the peaceful <strong>rural villages<\/strong> that you can reach easily from Barcelona by train, bus, or car.\u00a0 So if you&#8217;re thinking about taking a day or weekend trip outside the city, why not consider going to one of these <strong>medieval villages<\/strong>\u00a0that still exist in <strong>Catalonia<\/strong>? Located out in the Catalan countryside, here are some of the most beautiful <strong>medieval villages <\/strong>in the region.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>\u00a0Related article:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/weekend-getaway-berga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Weekend Getaway Near Barcelona: Berga<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/medieval-villages-catalonia\/#Besalu\" title=\"Besal\u00fa\">Besal\u00fa<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/medieval-villages-catalonia\/#Cadaques\" title=\"Cadaqu\u00e9s\">Cadaqu\u00e9s<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/medieval-villages-catalonia\/#Guimera\" title=\"Guimer\u00e1\">Guimer\u00e1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/medieval-villages-catalonia\/#Peratallada\" title=\"Peratallada\">Peratallada<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Besalu\"><\/span>Besal\u00fa<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_74444\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-74444\" class=\" wp-image-74444\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/2658863225_affce497e2_z-300x254.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-74444\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Jose Luis Mieza via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Besal\u00fa,\u00a0<\/strong>which derives from the Latin definition of a fort between two rivers, is tucked away in the <strong>La Garrotxa<\/strong> region. Its most notable spot is the 12th-century Romanesque bridge that stands across the <strong>Fluvi\u00e0<\/strong> river and is often photographed for its historic beauty. Other features include <strong>Sant Pere Church<\/strong>\u00a0which was built in 1003, a surviving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/jewish\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">synagogue<\/a> for the remaining Jewish population, and the arcaded streets and squares that take you back in time to 1000 years ago. Behind the <strong>village<\/strong> are some natural herbal gardens where people can learn how to utilize the herbs as a remedy for indigestion called\u00a0<em>rataf\u00eda.<\/em>\u00a0Finally, there&#8217;s the\u00a0<strong>Museu de Miniatures i Microminiatures de Besal\u00fa\u00a0<\/strong>where\u00a05,000 pieces of handmade jewelry are exhibited in a former textile mill right beside the old abbey of <strong>Sant Pere<\/strong>. Every building in\u00a0<strong>Besal\u00fa\u00a0<\/strong>has a historical significance, adding to the <strong>village&#8217;s<\/strong> importance.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cadaques\"><\/span>Cadaqu\u00e9s<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_92086\" style=\"width: 365px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92086\" class=\" wp-image-92086\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/37378379600_e754424916-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"237\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-92086\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by F\u00e8lix Gonz\u00e1lez via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The old fishing <strong>village<\/strong> in <b>Alt Empord\u00e0\u00a0<\/b>has been an influential setting for artists and visitors for its undeniable charm throughout the centuries. The village&#8217;s cobblestone streets going up and down, left and right, winding their way to the fishing port and beach that serves as a popular summer getaway from jam-packed Barcelona. <strong>Cadaqu\u00e9s\u00a0<\/strong>goes as far back as the 9th century and was a consistent target for conquerors of the Mediterranean. The town&#8217;s old town hall,<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>churches,\u00a0lighthouses, and large residences are must-see places. While the summer is the most popular time to visit, it&#8217;s still worth going in the off-peak months for the historical connections, especially with art, as Picasso, Lorca, Pixtot, Miro, and even Walt Disney visited and stayed there in the past. Most notably, Salvador Dal\u00ed lived there most of his life, and his home, known as <strong>Portlligat<\/strong>, is currently a museum for Dal\u00ed fans to visit. Plus, its location,\u00a0the peninsula of\u00a0<strong>Cap de Creus\u00a0<\/strong>is such a prime spot that it&#8217;s considered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/beach-costa-brava\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Costa Brava&#8217;s<\/strong><\/a> jewel.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Guimera\"><\/span>Guimer\u00e1<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_92093\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92093\" class=\" wp-image-92093\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/2444348385_8a8cb20afe-300x212.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"325\" height=\"230\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-92093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Jose Luis Mieza Photography via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">West of Barcelona is a <strong>village<\/strong> so small that only 300 people live there. <strong>Guimer\u00e0,\u00a0<\/strong>a designated historic town since 1975, has stood on its own since the 11th century with the surviving castle as its centerpiece and <strong>Santa Maria de Guimer\u00e0<\/strong> church as its place of worship. The medieval architecture and cobblestone streets were built by the Christians reclaiming the land from the Muslims during the entire era of the Crusades. The main surviving tower, known as\u00a0<span lang=\"en\"><strong>Saixeca<\/strong>, was built as part of an entire defensive complex in 1038 and remained intact until the Carlist Wars of the 1830s badly damaged it.\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en\"><strong>The Guimer\u00e0 Museum<\/strong> hosts their entire history based on multiple excavations which feature pieces of demolished\u00a0<\/span><span lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/barcelonas-most-beautiful-churches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">monasteries<\/a>, Iberian ceramics, surviving stones, and homemade doors dating back nearly a thousand years when\u00a0<strong>Guimer\u00e0\u00a0<\/strong>was a thriving <strong>village<\/strong> of Spain&#8217;s conquering days.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Peratallada\"><\/span>Peratallada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_92106\" style=\"width: 334px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-92106\" class=\" wp-image-92106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/4768501165_88dda085de-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"324\" height=\"216\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-92106\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by \u066d\u066d N\u01a1\u0190\u0d23\u00ed \u066d\u066d via Visualhunt<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peratallada is one of Catalonia&#8217;s most preserved <strong>medieval villages<\/strong> just 90 minutes outside of Barcelona. Come out of the countryside and into its historic walls and you will immediately know why its name means &#8216;carved stone,&#8217; as most of the village was built from this material. Walk through the narrow roads and pass the surviving homes into the open squares where small cafes sit for the visitors to enter and take in the surroundings. The <strong>Castle of Peratallada<\/strong> is the main structure in the center along with the 13th-century Romanesque <strong>Sant Esteve Church<\/strong>.\u00a0The castle itself was built in 1065, went derelict, and then was later restored as a luxury hotel in the 1960s. <strong>Peratallada <\/strong>is full of small\u00a0galleries, restaurants, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/modernist-hotels-barcelona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">hotels<\/a> in and around the area, and its close proximity to the <strong>Costa Brava<\/strong> beaches adds value to its historical setting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/altafulla\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A day trip from Barcelona to Altafulla<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barcelona is great, but it is not all about the city here Catalonia. The surviving <strong>medieval villages<\/strong> are valuable gems that tell a story of a different period, long before the Spain we know today. And these are just a few of the most beautiful <strong>medieval<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>villages<\/strong> outside of Barcelona. The list is long, but they are all worth the trip to see.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Looking for an apartment in the city?\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong><em>ShBarcelona<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em>\u00a0can help you find the perfect one.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: none;\"\n    class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-valign-bottom kksr-align-left \"\n    data-id=\"92054\"\n    data-slug=\"\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 150px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-legend\">\n            <strong class=\"kksr-score\">5<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\/<\/span>\n        <strong>5<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">(<\/span>\n        <strong class=\"kksr-count\">1<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\n            vote        <\/span>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">)<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The northeast region of Spain is known for its incredible history, beautiful landscapes, delicious food and wine, and, of course, its capital city of Barcelona. But a different life exists in the peaceful rural villages that you can reach easily from Barcelona by train, bus, or car.\u00a0 So if you&#8217;re thinking about taking a day [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":92108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4348],"tags":[4783,2011,4269,8255],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92054"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92054"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108417,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92054\/revisions\/108417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}