Page 18 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

16  INTRODUCING SP AIN

Barcelona and the
Mediterranean Coast
by Train
• Duration 7 days.
• Airports Arrive in
Barcelona’s El Prat Airport,
depart from Murcia’s San
Javier Airport.
• Transport This tour is
exclusively by train. There
is a choice of services on
this route, from the plush,
expensive Talgos to
inexpensive regional and
local trains. Most journey Charming, balconied stone terraces in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
times are around an hour –
check timetables and prices a whitewashed maze piled up nightlife as well as a lively
on www.renfe.com.
on a promontory and crowned cultural scene. Take in fabulous
• Booking Ahead Barcelona: with a castle. Have a lazy lunch views from the clifftop Castillo
Sagrada Família tickets. by the beach, then ride the rails de Santa Bárbara and wander
back to Valencia (pp254–7) in around the winding streets of
time for an evening tapas bar the Old Town. Tuck into some
Day 1: Barcelona crawl around the charming tapas in the Old Quarter.
Choose a day from the 2 Days in historic quarter.
Barcelona itinerary on pp12–13. Day 6: Murcia
Day 4: Valencia Another relatively short journey
Day 2: Sitges and Tarragona Spend the day sightseeing in brings you to Murcia (p266), the
Take an early train to Sitges Valencia, beginning with a visit handsome capital of the Murcia
(p228) and spend the morning to the cathedral (pp254–5), region. Its centre is dominated
strolling around this enchanting where you can climb the bell by the vast Gothic cathedral,
seaside town. Enjoy a seafood tower for tremendous views. In completed in 1467 and later
lunch, then catch a train to the afternoon, head to the City given a sumptuous Baroque
Tarragona (pp228–9), once of Arts and Sciences (p257) to façade. The 19th-century casino,
capital of an important Roman take in the interactive science a sort of Spanish social club, is
province and still replete with museum or the Oceanografic, also worth a visit for its dazzling
Roman monuments. Tuck into Europe’s biggest aquarium. For and eclectic decoration.
a seafood dinner by the port. dinner, enjoy a genuine paella – Much of the city centre is
invented in Valencia. pedestrianized, and Murcia’s
Day 3: Peníscola and pretty squares are crammed
Valencia Day 5: Alicante (Alacant) with great tapas bars.
In the morning, all aboard to Enjoy the train journey south
Benicarló-Peníscola, the station through the hills to Alicante To extend your trip…
for Peníscola (p251). Take a (pp264–5), a vibrant seaside city Reward yourself with some
taxi to the historic quarter, that offers great shopping and relaxing beach time and
swimming in the warm,
tranquil waters of the
Mar Menor (p266).

Day 7: Cartagena
The culmination of your trip,
the port city of Cartagena
(p267), is an hour’s train journey
from Murcia. One of the oldest
cities in Spain, it preserves a
slew of remarkable Phoenician,
Roman and Moorish monu-
ments, including a spectacular
Roman theatre and a lofty
castle (now home to a history
museum), which enjoys
Tarragona’s Roman amphitheatre, overlooking the Mediterranean fabulous panoramic views.
For practical information on travelling around Spain, see pp626–35

012-017_EW_Spain.indd 16 26/09/17 11:00 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Country itinerary template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm