Olot

Population: 31,932

As capital of the volcanic Garrotxa region, Olot boasts an undeniable charm. Fertile, impressive, creative, obsessive; there’s a lot to Olot. The town itself is lovely, with its calm pedestrianised streets, excellent shops and lovely bars but it is Olot’s setting that makes it so special. In the centre of the Garrotxa nature reserve, the town is an ideal base from which to visit this region of fortunately now extinct volcanoes.

One of the best ways to get an idea of Olot, past and present, is to visit El Museu Comarcal de la Garrotxa, which houses a fine collection of local painters who became known as the Olot School because their work incorporates scenes and perspectives from La Garrotxa that were later to influence Catalan painting as a whole.

The Festa Major, les Festes del Tura, in the second week of September seem solidly Catalan in all aspects and, given that Olot is such a pleasing place to be, is sure to be worth a visit. This is a ‘big cheese’ festival in which one of Catalonia most emblematic towns shows off its cultural excellence, its culinary delights and its ‘collons’ at their Olotin best.

Ajuntament d’Olot, Passeig Bisbe Guillamet, 10 Tel 972 279100