Solsona: Cathedral and Carnival Giants

Solsona Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic building constructed between the 14th and 18th centuries on the site of a Romanesque church. The most striking features include:

• The bell tower: a graceful 13th-century Romanesque tower with Lombard arcading
• The Gothic nave: soaring vaults and large windows flooding the interior with light
• The Baroque facade: added in the 18th century
• The Black Madonna: a 12th-century polychrome wooden statue, patroness of Solsona

The cathedral is free to enter, and you can also visit the cloister and chapter house for 3 EUR.

The medieval old town around the cathedral preserves narrow streets, stone portals and noble houses. Don't miss the Portal del Pont, the main gateway through the medieval walls.

The Diocesan and Regional Museum of Solsona is one of Catalonia's finest art museums, housed in the 18th-century Episcopal Palace. The collection includes:

• Romanesque and Gothic altarpieces: polychrome wood panels from churches across the region
• Medieval sculpture: capitals, portals and stone carvings
• Prehistoric collection: fossils and archaeological finds from local caves
• Baroque religious art: paintings, goldsmith work and vestments

The museum is exceptionally well curated, with multilingual panels. Allow 1.5-2 hours for a thorough visit. Entry is 5 EUR adults, 3 EUR concessions.

Solsona is famous throughout Catalonia for its Carnival, one of the most traditional and vibrant in the country. The festival takes place in February and features:

• The Giants: enormous papier-mache figures up to 4 metres tall, representing historical and mythological characters
• Parades and dances: the giants dance through the streets to traditional music
• The Gegants Vells: "old giants" dating from the 19th century, now displayed in the Carnival Museum
• Satirical processions: floats and costumes mocking current affairs

Even outside Carnival season, you can visit the Carnival and Giants Museum to see these impressive figures up close and learn about the tradition. Entry is 3 EUR.

Morning: Arrive in Solsona around 10am. Start with the Diocesan Museum (opens at 10am) to see the art collection while fresh. Then visit the Cathedral and stroll the old town, stopping at the Portal del Pont and Placa Major.

Lunch: Solsona has excellent restaurants serving Solsones cuisine: mountain stews, grilled meats, wild mushrooms, and coca de recapte (Catalan flatbread). Set menus range from 15-20 EUR.

Afternoon: Visit the Carnival Museum to see the giants, then explore more of the old town or drive 10 minutes to the Miracle Ice Wells, 18th-century ice houses in the forest that supplied ice to the city before refrigeration.

How to get there: From La Tor de Montclar, take the C-26 south to Berga, then the C-16 towards Manresa, exiting at Navarcles and following the C-55 to Solsona. Distance is 55 km, about 45 minutes.

Parking: Free parking at the edge of the old town (Passeig de Manresa). The centre is pedestrianised.

Entrance fees: Cathedral free (cloister 3 EUR), Diocesan Museum 5 EUR, Carnival Museum 3 EUR. Combined ticket available for 7 EUR.

Best season: Year-round for museums and cathedral; February for Carnival (book accommodation well ahead).