Reus

No city matches Barcelona, of course, for the sheer density of its Modernisme, but it all began here: Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus, and his contemporary, Lluís Domènech i Montaner—lesser known but in some ways the more important architect—lived and worked here for much of his earlier career. The oldest part of the city, defined by a ring of streets called "Ravals" where the medieval walls once stood, has narrow streets and promenades with many of Reus's smartest shops, boutiques, and coffee houses. Inside the ring, and along the nearby Carrer de Sant Joan, are some 20 of the stately homes by Domènech, Pere Caselles, and Joan Rubió that make Reus a must for fans of the Moderniste movement.