Map
7 ideas, picked for these days
Two nights at Terra Dominicata, the winery hotel beside the Escaladei charterhouse, with tastings across the Priorat
In September the Priorat garnacha is harvested around the Escaladei charterhouse, and the winery hotel is in the middle of it. The charterhouse closes on non-holiday Mondays, and the Diada is a holiday: if it falls on a Monday, it opens that day. Book the hotel, meals and tastings first.
Two summer nights in Andorra: Caldea, the Tristaina lakes and the villages of La Massana
September is the last month for this lake getaway, before the first snows, and the 11th is not a holiday in Andorra, so Ordino and La Massana are quiet. Bring your ID card and start Tristaina early.
A weekend in Alquézar: canyoning, walkways and Somontano wine
11 September is a working day in Aragon, and Alquézar empties of the August crowd. September is a good time for canyons, with the summer's warm water: book the guide, the walkways and the winery.
Penedès: cava and a table among the vines
The Diada falls in the middle of the Penedès harvest, and on harvest Sundays and holidays the wineries with tables fill. Book the visit and lunch with days to spare, and go by train, which from Lleida arrives with one change.
Lakes Train, same-day return
The historic lakes train runs on Saturdays again at the end of August, after the summer panoramic one, and in September the reservoirs are full of light. Buy the ticket as soon as you know the day.
Siurana: cliff, ledge and reservoir
In September the kayak on the Siurana reservoir is still open and the Trona ledge loses the summer's hard sun first thing. Book lunch inside the village, which is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Two nights at the Parador de Cardona, inside the castle, with the Salt Mountain and Solsona
Until September Cardona castle closes at 19:00, and the Diada is a holiday in Catalonia: it opens even if it falls on a Monday. The parador's Saturdays sell out early; book as soon as you know the days.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the Diada a holiday in Aragon and Andorra?
No: only in Catalonia. That is why Alquézar and Ordino are quieter that day.
Can you see the grape harvest on the Diada long weekend?
Yes. In September the Priorat and Penedès harvest; book the timed visit.