Local Information
The city of Manresa is located at the geographical center of Catalunya, at a height of about 230 meters over the sea. Next to the river called Cardener, and very close to its confluence with the Llobregat river Manresa is the center of a powerful urban area called "Pla de Bages", which is formed by Manresa, Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, Sant Fruitós de Bages and Santpedor. Its privileged location at the confluence of two main roads, the "Eix del Llobregat" (which connects France with Barcelona), and the "Eix transversal", (which connects Girona with the western part of Catalunya), gives Manresa a very good communication with the rest of the country.
With about 65.000 inhabitants in an area of more than 41 Km2, Manresa is a nice equilibrium between the comfort of a big city and the more relaxed life style away from the crowds of cities like Barcelona.
Restaurants
Here there is a list of some restaurants in Manresa. You can find an exhaustive list here.- Stacca: Mediterranean cuisine. Address: Plaça Bages, 8 (near the EPSEM).
- Els Noguers: Market cuisine. Address: Eix del Llobregat, Km. 29. It is also one of the recommended hotels for GAGTA participants.
- Pere III: Market cuisine. Address: Muralla de Sant Francesc, 49. It is also one of the recommended hotels for GAGTA participants.
- La bona cafeteria: Market cuisine. Address: Dr. Esteve, 2.
- Restaurant Sakura: Japanese restaurant. Address: Gifré el Pilós, 51.
- Restaurant la Cuina: Catalan cuisine, fish and shellfish. Address: Alfons XII, 18.
- Cherries: Select appetizers. Address: plaça Catalunya, 10.
- La Taverneta: Grill. Address: carrer Major, 27.
Places of interest
The following are some places in Manresa we think it's worth visiting.
Seu de Manresa:
The Seu de Manresa is the main monument here. This gothic church was designed by Berenguer de Montagut, who is behind constructions as important as Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona. The architectonic conception is the main characteristic of catalan gothic: austerity in the decoration, and predominance of the horizontal volumes. The main façade is neogothic, designed by Alexandre Solir i March, advised by Antoni Gaudí. The Seu has also a great interest by the work of art it has at its interior, especially the collection of gothic altarpieces. To visit the Seu, you must ask it by phone at 93 872 15 12.
Localization: Baixada de la seu, s/n.
Montserrat mountain:
In the very middle of Catalunya stands an original and sbelt mountain called Montserrat. This mountain is formed by spectacular conglomerate monoliths that stand on the Bages depression. Montserrat is a rich and pluridimensional place by their religious relevance, by the artistic manifestations you can find there and by their unique natural surrounding area. You can visit the Montserrat museum, the ancient sanctuary, the basilica, and the known image of "la moreneta". Additionally, you can make excursions and enjoy the natural park which the mountain belongs to. You can ask more information by phone 93 877 77 01 or you can go here.
Cova de Sant Ignasi:
The Santa Cova, is formed by a barroque church and a modern building next to it. This sanctuary is a cave in the meridional side of the "puig de Sant Bartomeu", where Sant Ignasi de Loiola used to go at the year 1522 to pray and write the book "Exercicis Espirituals". It is covered by a magnificent decoration by the sculptors Joan and Franesc Grau and Josep Sunyer from Manresa (XVII-XVIII). The church is a typical example of jesuitical architecture, and a relevant monument of the catalan barroque. The main façade was built on the year 1760; at the interior, there are interesting pictures and sculptures. Near the church, there is the residence of the jesuits, a building of neoclassical inspiration dating from the end of the XIX century. To visit the Cova de Sant Ignasi, you should call first at the phone 93 875 15 79.
Localization: At the south-east of the city, at the street "camí de la Cova".
Geology museum:
This museum has three sections: mineralogy, petrology and paleonthology. In the first category, there is a collection of minerals from the Catalan territory, the second section is dedicated to the rocks and their utilities, and the third section includes fossils from the Eocene and Cretaceous. For more information you can go here.
Localization: The Geology museum is placed at the dependencies of the "Centre d'Estudis Geològics Valentí Masachs" at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
Parc cultural de la muntanya de Sal
The visit to the Parc Cultural de la Muntanya de Sal consists of a visit to the old installations of the "Mina Nieves", a mine of salt. It offers the possibility of discovering the saline outcrops of Cardona, and the singular natural and material patrimony that make this place unique. The geology, mineralogy, botanics and history meet in this place in the context of the human explotation of this mineral from the Neolithic until the industrial explotation. For more information go here.
Localitzation: Carretera de la Mina, s/n, 08261 Cardona (Barcelona)
Castell de Cardona:
The Castell de Cardona (Castle of Cardona), built on the year 886 by Gifré el Pilós, is one of the biggest and most relevant castles in Catalunya. With a romanic and gothic style and windows from the XI and XII centuries, its most prominent part is the tower called "Torre de la Minyona", of about 15 meters high, and more than 10 meters of diameter. Inside the fortified area, we highlight the church of Sant Vicenç consecrated the year 1040. During the XV century, the Cardona were the most important family from the crown of Catalunya and Aragó after the royal house. This castle also was one of the latest places that surrendered to the troups of Felip V, the year 1714, after a cruel war that destroyed a great part of the castle's fortification. You can ask for more information by phone 93 869 27 98 or you can go here.
Localization: Cardona (Barcelona)
Sant Benet de Bages:
The monastery of Sant Benet de Bages is one of the most interesting in Catalunya, and a must go to the lovers of the romanic art. Here is a pleasure walking in the peacefulness of their dependencies and gardens. It was founded on the X century, about the year 960, by the Compte Sala, an it was consecrated the year 972. This building consists of the church and the cloister of romanic style, and the "palauet" of gothic construction. You can ask for more information by phone 93 872 22 90 or you can go here.
Localization: Sant Fruitós de Bages (Barcelona)