Vilafranca del Penedès

Vilafranca del Penedès is the capital of the Alt Penedès comarca in the province of Barcelona, Cataluña, with a population of around 42,600 people (INE 2025). The town sits at 224 metres above sea level on predominantly flat terrain, with a few low hills rising about a hundred metres above the plain; the highest point in the municipality is Turó de Sant Pau at 302 metres.

The town's origins are medieval, and that period left a clear mark on the centre. The Basílica de Santa María, the Convent of San Francisco, the Palau Reial, the Palau Baltà, and the Palau Macià all date from this era. Gothic churches are still visible in the town centre today.

Later, at the turn of the twentieth century, modernist architecture arrived along the ramblas and on the façade of the town hall in the Plaça de la Vila, adding another layer to the streetscape.

Vilafranca is best known for wine. It sits at the heart of the Penedès Denominació d'Origen and is closely associated with cava, the Catalan sparkling wine. The Museu de Vilafranca houses a dedicated wine museum where visitors can learn about how wine is made, its history, and its relationship with the town. The museum has been led by Josep Soler in recent years, following César Martín.

The municipality is well connected by road, with the AP-7 motorway providing fast access to Barcelona and Tarragona, and the N-340, C-15, and C-243a linking it to surrounding towns.

The nearest airport is Barcelona El Prat, with Reus airport also an option. The main road connections into the Penedès are the N-340, C-15, C-32, and AP-7. Vilafranca has its own wine DOC and is a recognised wine destination.

Local food worth trying includes El Xató de Vilafranca, a salad of escarola, cod, tuna, anchovies, and olives; Les Catànies de Vilafranca, almond and chocolate sweets; and coca garlanda, a traditional local dessert.