The Monastery of Poblet and Winding Roads

The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet is a fantastic look into the region's history, with this UNESCO-listed site dating to around the 12th century.
Once the most powerful monastery in Catalonia, visiting here provides you with a look at life as a monk in the Middle Ages, thanks to the careful restorations of the buildings completed by the Cistercian monks who moved here after the Spanish Civil War. There's a beautiful Gothic-style cloister to explore, a fantastic church in the center, and the Royal Pantheon of the Crown of Aragon to discover. 26 monks still live in the monastery today.
Opening Hours (15 June – 14 September) : Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 12:30 & 15:00 – 18:30. Sundays & Holidays: 10:30 – 12:30 & 15:00 – 18:30
Opening Hours (15 September – 14 June) Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 12:30 & 15:00 – 18:00 Sundays & Holidays: 10:30 – 12:30 & 15:00 – 18:00
Tickets can be bought at the entrance.

After your visit to the monastery, it's back into the mountains towards the western part of the region. This fantastic restaurant sits on the edge of the Siurana Dam, serving up a delicious set menu with paella for lunch. There's fabulous seating in a large garden, where you can relax under the shade of the trees while admiring the surrounding mountain peaks.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 13:00 – 15:30

After lunch, follow the winding road up to the top of the nearby mountain where you'll find the small hilltop village of Siurana. This viewpoint enjoys one of the prettiest views in the entire region, with the castle in the foreground, mountain peaks behind, and the Siurana Dam below. It's a vista that will stay with you long after you've returned home.

As the afternoon continues, there's another fantastic monastery to visit, this one located at the eastern border of the Montsant Natural Park. Dating back to the 12th century like the Poblet Monastery, this historic site has been extensively restored, and the cloister, church, and gardens are all stunning.
With the beautiful mountains as the backdrop, the fading afternoon light playing off the Gothic-style architecture is a dreamy sight to see.
Opening Hours (June – 30 September): Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 20:00
Opening Hours (1 March – 31 May & 1 October – 15 December): Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 17:30
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance.

This hidden gem of a restaurant doubles as a vineyard and hotel, offering fantastic food and even better wines from the Priorat region. There's plenty of time before they open (at 8:00 pm) to settle into your room and relax for a while.
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 13:30 – 15:30 & 20:00 – 22:30

For your second night, you'll stay on the western side of the Prades Mountains, where the quiet and beautiful landscapes act as the perfect backdrop for a relaxing evening. Tomorrow, you'll be heading back east across the mountains towards Barcelona again, but there are still more than a few fantastic stops along the way!