Barcelona
Barcelona burst onto the tourist scene in 1992 when it hosted the Summer Olympics. Since then it has added to its pedigree with innovative architecture and one of the best café, bar, and restaurant cultures anywhere. It is our favorite urban playground, featuring the Ramblas, the preeminent pedestrian scene in Europe. Come join us for a week of Modernista (Catalan Art Nouveau) architecture, highlighted by Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and Casa Battlo plus the masterpieces of Cadafalch and Muntaner. We’ll include excursions into the fertile imagination of Salvador Dali when we visit Figueres and Port Lligat and visit Gaudi’s inspiration when we venture to the evocative pinnacles of Montserrat monastery.
Day 1 Sept 5 Welcome to Barcelona
Meeting; Dinner
After a brief get-acquainted meeting at the end of the afternoon we’ll enjoy a classic Catalan dinner together.
Day 2 Sept 6 Modernist Barcelona
Sagrada Familia; St Paul’s Hospital
After breakfast we’ll meet our guide to begin our introduction to Barcelona’s most famous favorite son – Antonio Gaudi. We’ll begin with Gaudi’s masterpiece, the famous Sagrada Familia. We’ll learn everything about this iconic building – past, present, and future. Then it is on to Sant Pau by Lluis Domènech I Muntaner, a contemporary of Gaudi’s. Free afternoon and evening.
Day 3 Sept 7 Modernist Barcelona
Battlo; Ametller; Ileo l Morera
Today we’ll focus our morning tour on the “Block of Discord” – a section of the Paseo de Gracia that boasts 3 buildings by different Modernists (Catalan’s Art Nouveau). We’ll tour buildings, inside and out, by Gaudi (Casa Battlo) and Cadafalch (Casa Ametller). Free afternoon and evening.
Day 4 Sept 8 Muntaner
Musica Catalana
This morning we’ll be focusing on the amazing Musica Catalana music hall by Domanech i Muntaner. Free afternoon and evening
Day 5 Sept 9 Dali
Port Lligat; Cadaques; Dali Museum
After breakfast today a coach will take us to nearby Port Lligat, a beautiful coastal town where Salvador Dali made his home. We’ll tour his house, now a museum, and enjoy some free time in picturesque Cadaques. We’ll continue on to Dali’s home town of Figueres where we have a guided tour of the Dali Museum, designed by Dali himself in a converted theater.
Day 6 Sept 10 Montserrat
Montserrat Monastery
Today we’ll organize an excursion to the nearby monastery of Montserrat. The uniquely shaped rocks that surround the monastery provided the inspiration for Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Free afternoon and a final dinner together.
Day 7 Sept 11 Tour over after breakfast
Imprint will assist with airport transfer arrangements.
[Itinerary details & hotels subject to change]
What’s Included:
6 night accommodation 4-Star centrally located hotel; All breakfasts, 3 Dinners, 1 Lunch; All tour transportation (bus, train, cable car, metro pass); All tips (guide, tour director, drivers, group meals, hotel staff); Full-time services of a Barcelona guide and Imprint tour manager, local guide(s); All entrances: Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlo, Sant Pau Hospital, Musica Catalana, Dali house, Dali Museum; All activities: Figueres/Port Lligat excursión, Mont Serrat excursion
Important Exceptions:
Tour participants are responsible for the cost of drinks, free-time sightseeing & meals, and expenditures of a personal nature.
Our Barcelona hotel is a modern 4-star hotel in the heart of the city. We’ll have easy access to all the sights as well as great shopping and a variety of restaurants.