Hiking in Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain

Hiking in Montserrat is a great way to stretch your legs. The panoramic views of Catalonia are exquisite. Trails range from brutal to challenging to moderately paved paths. Popular hikes are laid out on maps and it's easy to just follow people along as the trails are bustling. A rack railway or cable car can take you up to the main square and two funiculars are available to take you to trails above or below the abbey.

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Santa Maria de Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain

Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey nestled into the Monserrrat mountains in Ministrol de Monserrat in Catalonia, Spain. A mere train ride away from bustling Barcelona, it is a wonder to behold. Founded early in the 11th century, it has since been rebuilt between the 19th and 20th century and is a working monastery with about seventy to eighty monks. Monserrat means serrated mountains, referring to the jaggedness of the natural formations.

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Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain

The Sagrada Familia is one of Antoni Gaudí's creations, known as the “architect laureate of Catalonia." Construction began in 1883 and over 100 years later, this architectural masterpiece is in its last stages of construction. It will have a total of eighteen towers honoring religious figures, but the devil is in the details

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Turó de les Tres Creus in Barcelona, Spain

From the Turó de les Tres Creus, which is located in Park Güell, you can see a magnificent 360 degree view of Barcelona, stretching from the mountains to the sea. The structure itself is made of stacked stones and three crosses. It's a bit of a trek from Park Güell, but not impossible to walk up the paved pathways. 

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Gothic District in Barcelona, Spain

The Gothic District or Barri Gòtic in Catalan and Barrio Gótico in Spanish has narrow medieval streets that are in stark contrast with some of Barcelona's more modern neighborhoods. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, renovations were made to turn this area into a "Gothic District" with restoration of building facades.

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Walk Along the Thames River in London, England

The River Thames starts in Thames Head, coursing through southern England and most notably London, until it reaches the North Sea. The river itself starts as a "small trickle" from the source, as described by the official site. Stretching two hundred and ten miles, this walk only features a small portion of this river.

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