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At 104-m (340-ft) long, Tarragona’s cathedral is the largest in the region. Its architecture is a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque, and it is crowned by a huge octagonal bell tower.

Catalonia’s answer to champagne is its home-grown cava , of which Freixenet and Codorníu are the most famous brands.

At the foot of the Columbus statue (La Rambla), this long-time café is a choice spot to soak up the rays, knock back a beer and people-watch.

Right by the beach, with a terrace on which to relax, this is a restaurant that becomes a club after dinner. Guest DJs feature every week.

Housed in the 18th-century Casa de la Caritat, the CCCB is a focal point for the city’s thriving contemporary arts scene. It hosts innovative art exhibitions, lectures, film screenings and more, including multimedia and technology fairs during the popular Festival del Sónar (Top 10 Music, Theatre & Art Festivals). A medieval courtyard is dazzlingly offset by a massive, angled glass wall, which has been cunningly designed to reflect the city’s skyline. Nearby, Foment de les Arts DecorativesGalleries & Design Shops is an umbrella organization of art and design groups, founded in 1903 and housed in the restored, Gothic-style, 16th-century Convent dels Àngels. Here you’ll find exhibits, lectures and debates, and a smashing café-restaurant. See Museu d'Art Contemporani & Centre de Cultura Contemporània .

Founded in 1761, this is Barcelona’s oldest shop. Today you’ll find it crammed with every kind of candle imaginable.

Just a few steps from Rambla de Catalunya, with some of the best tapas in town and a variety of domestic and imported beers.

For coffee with a bite, try a cigaló (carajillo), which has a shot of alcohol, usually conyac (cognac), whisky or rom (rum).

If you’re smitten with Barcelona, try an aparthotel for a longer stay. The Citadines aparthotel on La Rambla has well-appointed studios and small apartments with amenities, such as a kitchen (with oven and microwave), iron and a CD stereo. The rooftop solarium, equipped with beach chairs and showers, is just the spot to unwind.