A Day Trip to Vic

If you’re looking for a medieval experience like no other, then you should definitely consider taking a day trip from Barcelona to Vic. With its beautiful architecture, this lovely town is the perfect place for the art and culture connoisseurs amongst us. In Vic, you can find a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Modernist architectural styles, most of which can be seen in the Plaça Major, including the pretty clock tower with its Moorish tiles and caged bells above. Known for its numerous churches, beautiful buildings and artistic heritage, the town often goes by the nickname of “Saint’s Town”.

Vic Cathedral

Founded in the 11th century, the Catedral de Vic boasts plenty of incredible work from a range of different artists and architects. A Gothic-style cloister and a grand altarpiece from the 14th century can be found in this beautiful cathedral, as well as a chapel dedicated to Sant Bernat Calbo from the Baroque period. In recent years, Vic Cathedral has become an interesting place to visit to discover the works of Josep M. Sert (1874 – 1945), a Catalan muralist, due to the fact that he designed the mural of the central nave. A visit to the Vic Cathedral gives visitors a true sensation of the medieval period, whilst they discover the wonderful works of artists from different periods of history.

Opening hours

Every day from 10am – 1pm and from 4pm – 7pm.

Entrance Prices
Central nave: Free
Crypt and the cloister: €2 per person (groups of 10+ people: €1 per person).

Episcopal Museum of Vic

This quiet medieval town is a treasury for impressive artistic heritage! If you find that the sights in the Cathedral were simply not enough for you, you should definitely continue exploring the other points of interest that can be found in Vic. Located alongside the Cathedral, the Episcopal Museum of Vic is home to an endless amount of masterpieces, including Romanesque and Gothic paintings and sculptures. Additionally, you can also find plenty of other collections such as metalwork, textiles, wrought iron, glassware and ceramics, offering a complete scope into the history of religious and decorative art in Catalonia.

Opening hours

Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 7pm. (April – September) / Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 1pm and 3pm – 6pm. (October – March)
Saturdays: 10am – 7pm
Sundays and holidays: 10am to 2pm 

Entrance Price

Free.

Roman Temple of Ausa

Dating all the way back from the 1st century after the Roman conquest of Spain, the Roman Temple of Ausa is often seen as one of Vic’s most important historical monuments. In 1882, the Romanesque Moncada castle in Vic’s old town was demolished, revealing the remains of this incredibly well preserved temple. In the past, the old building had served as the residence of the chief magistrate of Vic, as the headquarters of the Cúria Reial (judicial headquarters of the city), as the city granary and even as a prison! There’s so much to discover in this grand temple, so what are you waiting for?

Opening hours 

From Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 am – 1 pm and from 6pm – 8pm
Sundays and public holidays from 6pm – 8pm
Closed on Mondays

Entrance Prices

Free.

El Mercadal

El Mercadal (Market Square) or Plaça Major is one of the best known and most dynamic parts of the town. A market is held here every Tuesday and Saturday, and this is something that has been happening ever since the 9th century! Vic Market is full of life, attracting visitors from across the county of Osona and beyond. Here, you can find flowers, locally produced food, intricate crafts, clothes and more! Additionally, a newer market now takes place on Passeig de la Generalitat, and is open every Sunday from 9am to 2pm, where you can find plenty of stalls selling all sorts of food items, fruit, vegetables and other fresh produce.

What’s more, as well as the regular weekly markets, there are also monthly markets held in Vic that are also known to attract many visitors. The 1st Saturday of the month brings the Antique Market, where you can find different antique crafts and ornaments in Plaça dels Màrtirs. On the 2nd Saturday of the month there is a Painting and Drawing Market, held in Placa Major and on the 3rd Saturday of the month, Plaça del Màrtirs also plays host to a Record Fair, where you can find lots of market stalls selling all types of music records.

Restaurants

Similarly to the rest of Catalonia, Vic is another town known for its incredible gastronomy and, more specifically, for its delicious local sausages, fuet and llonganissa, which you should most definitely try once you are in the town. If you’re looking for somewhere to eat whilst in Vic, check out some of these restaurants!

• Restaurant El Caliu: A traditional Catalan eatery specialising in grilled meats. Carrer de la Riera 13, 08500, Vic.
• El Bohemi: Tapas and main courses, and plenty of tasty Catalan delicacies.  Plaça de la Pietat 8, 08500, Vic.
• Restaurant Divicnus: Another traditional Catalan restaurant offering plenty of tasty options including seafood and meats. Carrer de Sant Miquel dels Sants, 11, 08500 Vic, Barcelona

How to get to Vic

Train: From Sants, Catalunya or Arc de Triomf you can take the R3 train to reach Vic.
Bus: From Carrer Casp 34, about a 5-minute walk from Plaça Catalunya, you can take the bus e12 which will take you to the Vic Bus Station.

For further information about Vic, check out the official tourism webpage, where you can find more top tips about visiting this beautiful little town!