Project Description
BARCELONA
ARCHITECTURE TOUR
From its Roman past (did you know that Barcelona was once a Roman colony called Barcino?) to its avant-garde, unique Modernist architectural style, and contemporary green city initiatives, Barcelona has always been a fascinating city. During this tour, you will discover Barcelona`s past and present, its secrets, hidden gems, and futuristic side, on a journey through centuries of architectural masterpieces that will win your heart and impress your eyes…
Are you ready to discover the many faces of Barcelona?
Welcome to Barcelona!
DAY
1
ARRIVAL IN BARCELONA
Arrival in Barcelona. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the accommodation, where you will check-in and receive your Hola Barcelona cards. This night, you will enjoy a welcome dinner in a typical Spanish restaurant. Overnight.
DAY
2
THE GRANDIOSITY OF 1929’S BARCELONA
Free morning. After lunch, you will meet your guide and board your private transfer to start discovering the history of Montjuic, where you will be able to see a panorama of the city and learn how Barcelona was planned. The Barcelona International Exposition of 1929 involved the urban development of the city and the insertion of avant-garde trends such as rationalism, which marked the design of the Barcelona pavilion, created by Mies Van der Rohe. The Exhibition was also responsible for the creation of several iconic buildings such as the Palau Nacional de Catalunya, the Magic Fountain, the Greek Theater, and the Pueblo Español. You will also visit buildings created for the Olympic Games of 1992, like the Olympic Ring, home to the Arata Izosaki Sports Palace, the Palau Sant Jordi, and the tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. Very close, the Fundación Joan Miró Museum or the Botanical Gardens are also must-see places to explore Montjuic Park. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Optional: Magic Fountain light show, available seasonally.
DAY
3
BARCELONA AND THE MODERNISM
After breakfast, you will meet your architect guide and embark on a tour dedicated to Catalonia`s most important architectural style: the Modernism. The Modernism is a cultural movement that reached its heyday between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It has incorporated the most revived trends in literature, theater, architecture, fine arts, and decoration. In Barcelona, the Eixample district has become the most important “modernist” mecca, with a unique decorative style you won`t find anywhere else in the world. Figures like Domènech I Montaner, Puig I Cadafalch, and Antoni Gaudí became internationally famous for their unique creations in the architectural world, with Gaudí being the most emblematic architect of the city and Barcelona. The city would not be the same without his contribution, as his buildings are masterpieces to be admired, like the Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, and the Sagrada Familia. Other places of interest are the Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera (both part of the Manzana de la Discórdia, a unique block of Modernist jewels), the Fundació Tapies, the Santa Cruz y Sant Pau Hospital and the Casa Convalescència UAB, where you will stop for lunch. You will also get to see the iconic Parc Guell, a unique landscape jewel created by the mesmerizing mind of Gaudí.
Return to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight.
DAY
4
DIBARCELONA: GREEN CITY
After breakfast, you will meet your guide to start a day focused on sustainable architecture. In 2000, the Barcelona City Council approved a new plan to convert the old industrial zone of Poblenou into a center of new activities in an answer to solve the crisis created by an outdated architectural model, creating the 22@ District: an experimental area for urbanization. A new model of a compact city, here you will find the most innovative companies coexisting with research centers and technology, housing, facilities, and green spaces. The design of these new networks focuses on the energy efficiency and responsible management of natural resources. The 22@ itinerary includes visits to MediaTIC (Cloud-9), the Disseny Hub building, the Encants Market, the Agbar Tower, Can Framis, among others.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant. After lunch, you will get to see the Ecourban building, a case of design that prioritizes bioclimatic and renewable energy use, and the Bank of Blood and Tissues (SAAS Sabaté), built to create maximum energy efficiency. You will end the full-day tour with a visit to the Forum, with its photovoltaic pergola and the water purification system.
Return to your hotel. Overnight.
DAY
5
TOUR HARD, PLAY HARD
After breakfast, you will explore the sea promenade and understand how Barcelona’s relationship with the sea has changed throughout history. Until the 1980s, Barcelona was out of reach from the sea because the railroad crossed its promenade. The recovery of the city’s coastline proved to be a big lifestyle and historical change that has helped integrate the beaches and the sea into the daily life of citizens and visitors. On this walking tour, you will discover the main maritime areas of the city: the dynamism of multicultural Barceloneta and the residential Olympic Village, built for the Olympic games 1992. Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will explore Barcelona`s oldest neighborhood, the Gothic Quarter, the true center of medieval Barcelona. Enclosed between the walls, is a maze of narrow streets. You will also explore El Born, where once medieval tournaments took place and today has been transformed into an area famous for its independent design stores, hype vibe, and vibrant nightlife.
Return to your hotel.
Farewell dinner at a paella restaurant with sea views. Overnight.
DAY
6
A DAY TO ENJOY YOUR SURROUNDINGS
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to the airport for your flight home. End of our services. Hasta luego!
Please take note that this program is given depending on the sanitary conditions in 2022.
Depending on the Covid-19 evolution, gauges could be established and sites could be closed by our partners.
The agency reserves the right to modify or reverse the order of visits for the benefit of the traveler.
