Walks and the Merendero near Can Coll, Sierra de Collserola

Spring in the Parc del Laberint in Horta (Barcelona)

 

This park is the oldest in Barcelona , and so far my favorite between all parks I've visited here. Works began in 1791 when marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, owner of the lot, created the design of a neoclassical garden in collaboration with Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. There are huge trees, pools, water canals, a waterfall different terraces with flower beds and of course the labyrinth. You also have the sea view , and the view of Barcelona from an unusual angle. You have to pay to enter the park , but only 2,23 euros, and on Wednesdays and Sundays it is free  but they only let in 750 people a day. With the green metro line you have to take off at Mundet and walk a bit, basically the park is behind the Velodrom of Horta which also deserves a short visit I think. Secretly I can tell you that I like this park better than Park Guell, it is not so crowded and the vegetation is much nicer and mature with real trees, much more romantic.

Camino de Ronda and the beach of Altafulla and La Mora

It is one and a half hour by train to get to Altafulla-Tamarit station. You have to take a Media Distancia Renfe train  (not Cercanias) from the Estacion de Francia or Sants , the return  ticket costs 14 euros. From the station it is 5 minutes to get down to the beach. The coastline is really nice with some small old houses.  To walk to the Playa de Mora on the Camino de Ronda you just have to walk along the beach direction to the Castle. If you walk behind the the Castle  you'll find the first sign for the Camino de Ronda so now you have to follow that and in an hour you'' get to  La Mora. The way is easy and beautiful but be careful with some very slippery rocks.  In La Mora there is nothing else just a huge camping, some holiday apartments by the beach and a couple of restaurants . From there you can continue the walk by the coast and you 'll get to Playa Waikiki or further to Tarragona. These  are wide sandy beaches with some waves usually , crystal clear waters and the amazing pine forest smell thanks for the hills surrounding the area.

On the way back we stop in Figaro. This village lies in the valley , just on the border of the Montseny Natural Park. I totally recommend the "platos combinados" in the first bar on the main street, it was cheap and delicious. Now just follow the river direction to Vic and you get to the beginning of a nice little path on the right of the street. This path is very romantic with blooming trees, small waterfalls on the cute river, friendly dogs, bees, green hills around, playing butterflies, just what i needed! Unfortunately the path is not too long,the walk to the old church at the end and back , can be done in an hour. From Figaro it takes about an hour to get back to Barcelona, there is no timetable or ticket office at the station so you can buy your ticket on the train. There are a couple of other tracks going out of Figaro which can be interesting, i hope i'll have the possibility to discover those as well, later on.

Montseny Natural Park