Vic

The municipality of Vic is the capital of the Osona region, province of Barcelona. Located about 70 kilometers from Barcelona and the Pyrenees, the city was founded by the Romans under the name of Auso in the territory of the Iberian tribe of the Ausetanos. Repopulated by Guifré el Pilós after being destroyed by Muslim incursions, it was an important point in medieval Catalonia, above all thanks to its status as episcopal seat and head of the county. Among the many bishops who have held the miter of Vic, Oliba stands out, who in the 11th century, with the support of Countess Ermesenda of Carcassonne, built a new Romanesque Cathedral, an architectural style that he helped to spread throughout old Catalonia.

The spectacular bell tower and the crypt still remain from this Cathedral, while the rest of the building was later rebuilt, the cloister in Gothic style and the nave in Neoclassical style. In the 20th century, the mural painter Josep M. Sert decorated the central nave, thus completing the interest of the architectural ensemble. In addition to the Cathedral, the historic center of Vic shows many other elements of interest: from the emblematic and well-known Plaza Mayor, to the Roman Temple of the 2nd century, the Vicpuntzero space to discover the 2000 years of history through an immersive experience and a guided tour, other buildings from different periods and styles, all of them in a network of streets with a medieval structure. The most useful instrument for the visitor is the Historical Center Tourist Route, which helps to discover the city from 30 signposted points of interest in a pleasant walk.

But if there is one facility that exemplifies the wealth of Vic's heritage, this is the Vic Medieval Art Museum, with a magnificent collection of masterpieces of Catalan Romanesque and Gothic painting and sculpture.

Currently, Vic is a university city with a complex for the performing arts and musical studies, and with numerous entities that give it great cultural vitality. It is known for its commercial vitality, the traditional market in the Plaza Mayor and for the many fairs throughout the year, such as the Ram Market in April, the Vic Music Market in September or the Medieval Market in December. Top-quality local products, such as Vic's whip and sausage, offer visitors an extensive repertoire of gastronomic proposals.

Vic is a city made to measure, in a rural environment where traditional human activity coexists with nature and which is ideal for balloon flights and a crossing point for numerous routes and excursions.