Catalonia, Valencia, and the Costa Blanca Feature

Visit historic Girona: In the city of Girona, monuments of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic culture are only steps apart.

Explore Valencia: The past 20 years has seen a transformation of the River Turia into a treasure trove of museums, concert halls, parks, and architectural wonders.

Eat well: Foodies argue that the fountainhead of creative gastronomy has moved from France to Spain—and in particular to the great restaurants of the Ampurdà and Costa Brava.

Say hello to Dalí: Surreal doesn't begin to describe the Dalí Museum in Figueres or the wild coast of the artist's home at Cap de Creus.

Observe burning passion: Valencia's Las Fallas, in mid-March, a week of fireworks and solemn processions and a finale of spectacular bonfires, is one of the best festivals in Europe.