This is the longest route, and we recommend stopping to spend a night in one of the towns along the way. From Barcelona, take the A-7 towards Lleida, and an hour an a hlaf later you'll find yourself in Montblanc. Montblanc is a town located in the center of the Conca de Barbara D.O. region, which stands out also because it is almost completely walled. The walls are more than a mile long and are topped with 34 battle towers (pictured at right). In 1947 Montblanc was designated a monumental and artistic site by the Spanish government.

Depending on the time of year, culinary offerings will vary. In winter you can enjoy calcots, in spring dishes featuring habes or fava beans, in summer paellas and salads, and in fall lamb and wild mushrooms.

Very close to Montblanc is the Santa María de Poblet monastery. This abbey was the royal cemetery for the all of the Aragonese royals from Alfonso I on. The building was commissioned by Count Ramón Berenguer IV who later donated it to the Bernardine monks of Fontfroide in 1149.

About 25 minutes away from Poblet, in the Garrigues comarque in the province of Lleida, you'll find a culinary paradise: the town of Les Borges Blanques, considered the "world olive oil capital". Beyond olive oil, however, you'll want to visit the 1743 barroque chapel, the renaissance main plaza and the town Church of the Ascencion, done in neoclassical style.

In all of the towns in the Garrigues comarque you will find olive oil of the Arberquina variety. And in the restaurants of the region, traditional dishes such as caracoles a la llauna, las setas a la brasa con butifarras, la tortilla con samfaina, la escalivada, la escudella de habas tiernas and esqueixada de bacalla benefit greatly from the use of this exqusite oil. When visiting this area, you must accompany your meals with the regional wines, from the Costers del Segre D.O.