When we asked our guide Joaquin how to describe Catalonia to you, he surprised us. "Tell them we

are Tuscany, only better." We'll admit he has a point. Spain's easternmost province is a sensory revelation that easily equals the best of Italy. The olive groves, the cypress trees that pierce the horizon like leafy exclamation points, and the perched stone villages all shimmer in the region's incredible light. The aromas of the local markets and the fresh Mediterranean air along the Costa Brava remind you how rich the world really is. And stimulated by walks in rustic countryside or on the cosmopolitan avenues of Barcelona, your sense of taste will be more than satisfied by the vivid flavors of Catalan cuisine. With all due respect to Joaquin, this tour offers so much that Tuscany can't—paths through a park full of extinct volcanoes…a dip in the sea at your private resort…and fascinating Moorish-accented history and architecture that leave no mistake you're in Spain. If you have already enjoyed time in Southern Europe's other favorite regions but don't want to repeat yourself, make this your next destination. We promise you won't be disappointed!