Olot

It is the capital of the region of Garrotxa. The medieval buildings that made up this town were destroyed in the 1427 and 1428 earthquakes. At present, the most remarkable feature of the city is its intense cultural and artistic life.

Olot still preserves some interesting monuments, like the parish church of Sant Esteve, from the 18th century, which has the Baroque altarpiece of El Roser; the sanctuary of Mare de Déu del Tura, from the late 18th century; the cloister of El Carme; and the old hospice, which is the present site of the Regional Museum, with a magnificent Modernist painting collection. The town also has many noble mansions, such as the houses of Solà-Morales, Vayreda, Trinxeria, Bolòs and Ventós. From Olot we can also take excursions to the nearby volcanic zone of La Garrotxa, declared a Nature Reserve.