Noya Dreams

What to do

Hikes:

The Castellot, at the top of the rocky mountain that can be seen from Cal Noia, at an altitude of 465 metres above sea level, holds the remains of the old castle dated 977. Its privileged position offers exceptional panoramic views of the Penedès region. There are several paths up to the Castellot, reached by a trail that starts behind the masia (ask the owners). The trail leads to a dirt track with signposts marking the way to the summit.

Another of the old fortifications that can be visited on foot is the Can Pascol Tower, which is part of the Cal Noia estate and stands on top of a cliff in the middle of the forest. To reach the path, take the same trail as for the Castellot (ask the owners) and, once you reach the dirt track, turn right. This path is also signposted.

Wine tourism

Many of the roughly 300 wineries in the Penedès open their doors with a variety of wine tourism offers, for all tastes and budgets. Discovering the Penedès through a glass and around a table is the best way to understand the territory and, above all, the passion for winegrowing that makes it possible. Discover the wide range of wineries and activities, such as visiting wine bars, going on wine tastings, or enjoying bike rides and picnics among the vineyards, at www.penedesturisme.cat.

If you want an exclusive visit to a traditional family winery, we recommend the LUDENS winery, located in the Masia Grabuach, in the municipality of Font-rubí. The house, dating from 1794, was renovated in the early 20th century by the famous Modernista architect Puig i Cadafalch. LUDENS produces a high-quality cava made by combining traditional production methods with knowledge of the most advanced techniques. You will find more information at www.cavaludens.cat.

Museums and monuments

15 km away you will find the Olèrdola archaeological and monumental site. It is an ancient settlement on the mountain of Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, whose origins go back thousands of years. In the Olèrdola site, located in a natural park and declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest, you can visit the Iberian settlement, the Roman fortification and a medieval town, with pre-Romanesque and Romanesque churches and medieval tombs carved into the rock. More information at www.macolerdola.cat.

12 km away you can visit the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, with its beautiful old town, and admire its fantastic Gothic and Modernista buildings, such as the Basilica of Santa Maria, the Palau Reial, the Palau Baltà or the Casa Miró.

Also in Vilafranca del Penedès, you can visit the Vinseum, or Wine Museum, where you will discover the history of a territory shaped since ancient times by the cultivation of the vine and the production of wine. For more information visit www.vinseum.cat.

8 km away you can visit the monumental complex of the Castle of Sant Martí Sarroca, dated to the 10th century, with its imposing castle built on top of the rock and the 12th-century Romanesque church. More information at www.santmartisarroca.cat

Human towers

One of the most impressive activities, and one you should not miss, is the "castellers", a historic Catalan tradition of building very tall human towers that bring to life the saying "unity is strength". The "Castells" have been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and you can see them mainly in Vilafranca del Penedès, 12 km from Cal Noia. The castellers perform mainly in summer, the high point of the casteller calendar being the festival of Sant Fèlix on 30 August. From March until the end of October you can enjoy the rehearsals of each "colla". You can check the schedule of performances and rehearsals at www.turismevilafranca.com

Beaches

From Cal Noia you can visit several of the most beautiful beaches of the Baix Penedès and the Garraf. Within a maximum distance of 30 km, you can visit the town of Sitges, a beautiful town between the sea and the mountains, of great tourist and architectural interest, full of life and fun, with magnificent beaches. Next to Sitges you can find the fishing town of Vilanova i la Geltrú, also with fantastic beaches, and further south other coastal towns with long, beautiful beaches, such as Calafell, Coma-ruga or Torredembarra.

Day trips by car

Barcelona is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities in the world, with an endless cultural and leisure offer. Don't miss some of Gaudí's best works such as the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, Park Güell and Casa Batlló, or other Modernista buildings such as the Hospital de Sant Pau or Casa Vicens. You can also stroll along the popular Rambla and its most emblematic neighbourhoods such as the Gothic Quarter or El Born. You should also visit one of Barcelona's best viewpoints such as the Bunkers del Carmel, try delicious tapas at one of the most recommended restaurants in Barcelona, or take a refreshing dip at Barceloneta beach.

The Cistercian Route is one of the most interesting historical and cultural routes in the Catalan regions. The route lets you get to know three of the most important Cistercian monasteries in Spain, located in neighbouring regions: Santa Maria de Poblet in the Conca de Barberà, Santes Creus in the Alt Camp and Santa Maria de Vallbona in the Urgell. See the information at www.larutadelcister.info

The Montserrat massif, also called the sacred mountain, is a little over 60 kilometres from the centre of Barcelona and is an essential visit, ideal for a day trip. The Montserrat Monastery, an important place of pilgrimage and one of the most important tourist sites in all of Catalonia, is located in the Montserrat massif.

PortAventura World is an amusement park located near Salou, the heart of the Costa Daurada. The complex has two theme parks, a refreshing water park, a golf course, five fabulous four- and five-star hotels, several restaurants and exclusive shops. For more information visit www.portaventuraworld.com.

On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, to the south, stands the historic city of Tarragona, the ancient Tarraco of Roman times and another of the most important cities to see in Catalonia. It has remains of buildings from Roman Hispania such as the Amphitheatre and the Circus, and an important historic centre where the Cathedral stands. You can also enjoy the views from the Balcó del Mediterrani, walk along the walls and reach the old fishermen's quarter of El Serrallo. After trying good tapas or delicious fish and rice dishes in one of its restaurants, you can get in the car and visit the well-preserved Aqueduct. (62 km).

Other activities

Where to eat:

We recommend calling to book, as some of these places are very busy.

Nearby supermarkets

  • ESCLAT, Av Tarragona 132, Vilafranca del Penedès
  • ALDI, carrer de la Riera Gran 1, Vilafranca del Penedès
  • MERCADONA, Av Ronda de Mar s/n, Vilafranca del Penedès

How to get to Cal Noia

Cal Noia is in Castellví de la Marca, in the Alt Penedès, about 60 km from Barcelona and 9 km from the motorway. The best way to get here is with Google Maps, searching for "masia cal noia" in Castellví de la Marca. See the map and address of our rural house.