MEDD

Carved into precipitous slopes, the cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains is so compelling that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the picturesque mountain villages that for millennia have ingeniously harvested scarce resources and transformed precarious terrain to produce some of the island’s best olives, citrus, wine and more. In Fornalutx the stone buildings and walls frame narrow walkways obscuring views of the hillside setting, until you emerge into a town square where locals sip coffee at patio cafés and mountains loom in the distance.

Making your way along the slopes of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, you will discover more than just incredible views. Join the pilgrims who have been visiting Lluc Sanctuary since the 13th century at this hillside monastery. Peruse the museum’s archaeological discoveries, religious artifacts and fine art, noting the impact of Gaudí on recent renovations, and view the statue of La Moreneta, encrusted with precious stones. After snapping photos, we follow the winding roads to Binissalem, Mallorca’s main wine region.

The magnificent Serra de Tramuntana mountains towering over Sóller are more than just photogenic – they create a microclimate ideal for growing produce. You may have already heard its moniker “Valley of the Oranges,” but Sóller is also responsible for delectable olive oil. Take in the views of this fertile valley as you travel from the coast on the Sóller Tramway.

A natural border between Spain and France, the Pyrenees Mountains loom on the horizon as you explore the spectacular Spanish countryside on an electric bike. While peddling, the bike carries you effortlessly along dirt paths and quiet country lanes as you glide past the Empordà region’s charming villages, family-owned farms, vineyards and open pastures. At the Hotel Peralada, a five-star hotel overlooking a lush golf course and the Pyrenees, enjoy a journey through Empordà as you sample the region’s renowned fresh ingredients, including cheeses, olives, fresh vegetables and fruit.

Experience the rugged beauty of Catalonia’s Costa Brava sailing aboard a “llagut,” a traditional Catalan fishing vessel. The Sant Isidre was built on Mallorca in 1925 and later acquired by the Navy of the Spanish Republic. Abandoned in the 1990s, it has been restored by a master boat builder and is now used for private charters. Relax onboard and enjoy the views on the leisurely sail through the Gulf of Roses and around the peninsula of the Cap de Creus.

The artistic journey of one of the world’s most famous artists, Salvador Dalí, unfolds as you tour the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres and the Gala Dalí Castle in Púbol. Built on the remains of the former Municipal Theatre of Figueres, the Dalí Theatre-Museum is considered to be one of the last great works of Salvador Dalí. On a guided tour of the collection that features a wide array of his work, you will be drawn into Dalí’s unique and captivating world.

You will have spectacular views of nearby mountain ranges and the picturesque bay of Cadaqués from the hilltop location of Martín Faixó, a family-owned vineyard in the north of Spain. Learn about the more than 30 acres of mineral-rich soils that produce the robust flavors of the winery’s garnacha negra, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, picapoll and muscat of Alexandria varietals. A tour of the vineyard and winery gives you an up-close look at how the family produces its celebrated wines.

Touring Girona’s historic city center, it will come as no surprise that this beautifully preserved medieval town was used to film scenes for Game of Thrones. As you wander through a maze of winding, cobblestone alleyways in El Call, heralded as one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in the world, time seems to have stood still. Stand inside the 12th-century Arab Baths, where light floods through the open cupola supported by slim columns over the main pool and walk along the medieval city walls that offer magnificent views of the town and the surrounding countryside.

At Hammam al Ándalus in a beautifully renovated space designed to capture the spirit of ancient Arab baths, you can experience water as a connection to divinity, purity and wisdom as the Spanish Moors did centuries ago. Elegant Moorish design elements and flickering candlelight set the tone as you move between cool, warm and hot baths. Allow yourself to be transported to a different time and place as you sip nourishing teas, inhale the aromatic scents and listen to the soft ambient music.

Your two-day adventure begins in Málaga with a visit to the 14th-century Gibralfaro Castle, perched on a hill offering panoramic views. You will then journey to the magnificent Moorish kingdom of Granada, where your exploration begins in the labyrinthine streets of the district of Albaycin, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site comprising all of medieval Granada. You will walk to the Palace Dar al-Horra, nicknamed the Little Alhambra for elements in common with the grand palace that is your ultimate destination.