Girona

Frequent Ryanair connections from around Europe to Girona airport have translated into a lot of visitors to Barcelona passing through this attractive little city on the Ríu Onyar; and as one of Catalonia's star attractions, with its evocative medieval quarter and pretty river it deserves at least a half day if you can pull yourself away from the Big Noise to the south.

The Catedral de Santa Maria

Squeezed between the hills, walls and river, Girona’s medieval quarter, the Barri Vell is as evocative as they come, and crowned by the Catedral de Santa Maria (+34 972 427 189, open April-Oct 10am-8pm, Nov-Mar 10am-6.30pm, adm €7; students and over 65 €5; under 7 free. Adm includes audio guide).

Few churches anywhere enjoy such a pedestal, set atop an 18th-century stair of 90 steps that is nearly as grand (and as convivial for sitting on) as the Spanish Steps in Rome. The massive, nearly square façade, with its asymetrical single tower and rose window, was also added in the 18th century and recently cleaned: all the figures were destroyed by Anarchists during the Civil War and are copies, except for Faith, Hope and Charity.