Costa Dorada

The fortified medieval centre of Montblanc is gloriously well preserved. The historic old quarter is best explored on foot and notable sights include the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, the Sant Miguel Church, the Sant Marcal Church, the Royal Palace, and the Castla Palace, all dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The picturesque village celebrates its medieval heritage every year in April with a two-week festival filled with parades and fireworks, which commemorates the legend of Saint George killing the dragon. Montblanc is inland from the port city of Tarragona and very close to the UNESCO-listed Poblet Monastery, which is one of the most famous attractions in the Costa Dorada. Poblet was once one of the most powerful monasteries in Spain and was founded in 1151 by the Cistercians. The kings of Aragon and Catalonia were buried here. Many of the beautiful monastic buildings at Poblet have now been restored and a visit is a must for holidaymakers in the region. Montblanc and Poblet are only about five miles (8km) apart and can be jointly explored on an excursion from the coastal resorts.

This massive theme park attracts holidaymakers from far afield to its 'Five Worlds' (Far West, Mediterránia, Mexico, China, and Polynesia). There is now also a children's section with a Sesame Street theme. Visitors can be at the Great Wall of China one minute and at the ruins of Mayan Mexico the next, and meet some cowboys for a taste of the Far West before cooling off by jumping into the great lake from the summit of the Tutuki Splash Volcano. Popular attractions include the Sea Odyssey underwater adventure, the Stampida rollercoaster ride, and the Grand Canyon Rapids water ride. The Shambhala ride is one of the tallest and fastest ride in Europe. The park is part of a resort complex which also includes a water park, four hotels, and a convention centre. Apart from numerous rides and restaurants, there are many shows and entertainment options at PortAventura. It takes much more than a day to experience everything, particularly if you want to visit the water park as well (combination tickets are available), and many visitors opt to spend a night or two at the resort. Some of the snack kiosks and entertainment venues do close outside of the summer months.

Website : www.portaventura.co.uk

Telephone : +34 977 779 090

Transport : Port Aventura has its own Renfe train station. Buses and coaches serve the park from Barcelona and nearby towns

Opening times : Daily from 10am to midnight (closes earlier in the off-season). Open on some weekends during winter and closed from 7 January to end of March

Admission : There are numerous ticket options and online specials which change frequently. Check the official website for details.

The Costa Dorada's main city, Tarragona, has almost doubled in size during the last few decades, with its residential districts continually expanding around the beautiful medieval core. Tarragona, originally built on a rocky bluff, can trace its roots back to 218 BC, when it was founded by the ancient Romans as a military base. Impressive vestiges of its ancient past still remain in the form of ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, aqueduct, forum, and other buildings situated on the Paseo Arqueologico which lead to some panoramic viewpoints. A wide boulevard called the Rambla Nova represents the modern main street outside the old city walls. A popular outing for visitors is to explore the old harbour, known as El Serrallo, to watch the fishing boats arrive and auction their catch. As if all this wasn't enough, the city also sports some excellent beaches on its doorstep, including Playa Llarga, regarded as one of the biggest and best on the Catalonian coast. Among the many museums is an archaeological museum devoted to Roman antiquities; the Diocesan Museum displaying Gothic paintings, sculptures and tapestries; and a house museum detailing the life and career of renowned cellist, Pablo Casals.