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 architecture, 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, its hidden gems, and its futuristic side, on a journey through centuries of architectural masterpieces that will win your heart and delight 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 your accommodation, where you will check in and receive your Hola Barcelona card. This evening, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at a typical Spanish restaurant. Overnight stay.
DAY
2
THE GRANDEUR OF BARCELONA IN 1929
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, you will meet your guide and board your private transfer to discover the history of Montjuic, where you will be able to see a panoramic view of the city and learn how Barcelona was planned. The Barcelona International Exposition of 1929 involved the urban development of the city and the introduction of avant-garde trends such as Rationalism, which characterised the design of the Barcelona Pavilion, created by Mies Van der Rohe. The exhibition was also the occasion for the creation of several iconic buildings such as the Palau Nacional de
Catalunya, the Magic Fountain, the Greek Theatre, and the Pueblo Español. You will also visit the buildings created for the 1992 Olympic Games such as the Olympic Ring, home to the Arata Izosaki Sports Palace, the Palau Sant Jordi, and the tower designed by Santiago Calatrava. The Fundació Joan Miró and the Botanical Garden are also nearby, and Montjuic Castle is a must-see. Return to your hotel for the night.
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, theatre, architecture, fine arts, and decoration. In Barcelona, the Eixample district has become the most important “modernist” mecca, with a unique decorative style that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Figures such as Luis Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch, and Antoni Gaudí have become internationally famous for their unique creations in the architectural world, with Gaudí being the city´s most emblematic architect. 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 Block of Discord, a unique block of modernist jewels), the Fundació Tapies, the Santa Cruz y Sant Pau Hospital and the Casa Convalescència UAB. You will also get to see the iconic Parc Guell, a unique landscape jewel created by the mesmerising mind of Gaudí.
Return to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight stay.
DAY
4
BARCELONA: A 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 centre of new activities in an attempt to solve the crisis caused by an outdated architectural model, creating the 22@ District: an experimental area for urbanisation.
A new model of a compact city where the most innovative companies coexist with research and technology centres, housing, facilities, and green spaces. The design of these new networks focuses on the energy efficiency and the responsible use of natural resources. The 22@ itinerary includes stops at the MediaTIC (Cloud-9), the Disseny Hub building, the Encants Market, the Agbar Tower, Can Framis, among others.
In the afternoon, you will get to see the Eco urban building, a case of design that prioritises bioclimatic and renewable energy use, and the Bank of Blood and Tissues (SAAS Sabaté), built to achieve maximum energy efficiency. You will end the day with a visit to the Forum, with its photovoltaic pergola and the water purification system.
Return to your hotel for the night.
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 railway crossed the seafront. The recovery of the city’s coastline has proved to be a major lifestyle and historical change that has
helped to integrate the beaches and the sea into the daily life of citizens and visitors. On this walking tour, you will discover the city´s main maritime areas: the dynamism of the multicultural Barceloneta and the residential Olympic Village, built for the 1992 Olympic Games.
In the afternoon, you will explore Barcelona`s oldest neighbourhood, the Gothic Quarter, the true centre of medieval Barcelona. Enclosed within the walls is a maze of narrow streets. You will also explore El Born, where medieval tournaments once took place and which has now been transformed into an area famous for its independent design stores, hip atmosphere and vibrant nightlife.
Return to your hotel. Farewell dinner at a paella restaurant overlooking the sea. Overnight stay.
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!
