The Costa Daurada is the ideal location to base yourself to follow the 'Genius Route' across the Catalonian landscape in 2017. The route connects the towns that inspired four 'geniuses' from the world of culture and arts - El Vendrell (the musician Pau Casals), Reus (Antoni Gaudí), Mont Roig del Camp (the painter Joan Miro) and Horta de Sant Joan (Pablo Picasso).

Explore the landscape of geniuses

Begin your journey in Reus, just 10km from Tarragona, where the architect Antoni Gaudí was born.  Best known as the creator of Catalan Modernism, travellers can discover the history of the artist with a trip to the Gaudí centre, before joining a walking route that visits his home on Calle Sant Vicenç and Sant Pere church where he was christened. Gaudí finished high school in Reus, before leaving to study architecture in Barcelona. A wander through the streets of Reus will also allow visitors to discover other modernism structures influenced by Gaudí including the Pere Mata Institute and the Casa Navás building.

El Vendrell is the next stop on the route - around 40km north of Reus - where you can discover the birthplace of Pau Casals, one of the most renowned Spanish musicians and composer of the UN anthem. Born in 1876, it was in the Church of El Vendrell where Pau Casals first played the organ at the age of nine, and he spent many summers at his house on Sant Salvador beach, which is now home to his museum. Each summer in July and August the Pau Casals International Music Festival takes place and guests can also visit his resting place in the cemetery of El Vendrell.

The artist Joan Miró first came to the Mas Miró estate near Mont-roig del Camp - 20km south of Reus - in 1911, to recover from an illness. He returned every summer for 65 years and cited the location as the inspiration behind the artwork that propelled him to international fame, including his piece 'The Farm'. The beautiful landscapes can be explored on a bike tour, taking in the wonderful La Pixerota beach and the mountain of La Roca, while guests should also visit the Centro Miró to learn more about his relationship with the 'red land' of Mont-roig.

The 'Genius Route' concludes in Horta de Sant Joan, just over an hour's drive from Mont Roig. Pablo Picasso visited the village just twice, but on both occasions it renewed his health and inspired his creativity. The area can be seen in many of his paintings, including the Reservoir at Horta and The Factory at Horta de Ebro. Guests can visit the Centro Picasso museum to see examples of his work, as well as enjoy a walking tour of the places Picasso visited in the historic town. There is also a hiking route to the cave where Picasso stayed at in the nearby Els Ports National Park.

As part of the route, there are also other activities that travellers can experience such as vermouth tasting in Reus, known as the capital of vermouth, a vineyard and wine cellar tour outside El Vendrell with cello accompaniment composed by Pa Casals and a photography course in Mont-roig del Camp.

Getting There

The route can be explored in a leisurely weekend, either independently or by booking an accommodation package from €47pp for one night and €62pp for two nights. Travellers can purchase the 'Targeta Genial' pass that includes access to all the museums and cultural centres along the route, as well as discounts on guided tours, bicycle trips and accommodation. The card costs €11 for adults, while children under 14 are allowed free entry.

Day trip packages are also available for groups with individual locations available from €18pp including a meal or €69pp for the complete route in two days with accomodation. Located just 15 minutes from Reus the towns of Salou, Cambrils and Vila-seca La Pineda in the Costa Daurada are a great base to explore the cultural route. Further details on the 'Genius Route', the available packages and extra activities can be found here www.elpaisatgedelsgenis.cat.

Ryanair flights from London Stansted to Barcelona (Reus) are available from £31.98 (return) (www.ryanair.com)

Jet2 flights from Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Edinburgh, East Midlands or Glasgow to Reus are available from £60 (return) (www.jet2.com)

More information on visiting the Costa Daurada can be found here - www.costadaurada.info.

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Contact

For more information or further enquiries, please contact tim@wearelotus.co.uk or rebecca@wearelotus.co.uk / 0207 953 7470.

About The Federation of Hostelry and Tourism in Tarragona (FEHT)

The FEHT is a federation that represents the whole tourism sector in the province of Tarragona. It is the umbrella organisation for: the Association of Campsites in Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre, the Association of Tourist Apartments in Costa Daurada, the Hotel Business Association of Tarragona, the Association of Hotels in Tarragona, the Association of Hotels in Salou, Cambrils, La Pineda, the Association of Incoming Agencies of Costa Daurada, and PortAventura.

The FEHT, the Tourist Board of Tarragona, Costa Daurada, and Tourism Board of Salou, Cambrils and Vila-seca La Pineda work together to promote tourism in the region as well as its accommodation offers.