Day
01 : BARCELONA
Upon arrival at Barcelona, make your own way to the Hotel of your choice.
Check-in at the Hotel. Day free at leisure. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
02 : BARCELONA
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast enjoy Grand City Tour of Barcelona.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
03 : BARCELONA
Day free for at leisure for shopping & other independent activities.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
04 : BARCELONA
In the afternoon check out and proceed for your onward journey.
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Barcelona Attractions
Barri
Gòtic
Barri Gòtic, the enchanting centre of old Barcelona, is a maze of
dark streets crammed with cafes, bars and the cheapest accommodation in
town. Spend a day wandering among wonderful, medieval buildings and some
of the most awe-inspiring architecture ever to leave a draughtsman's desk.
Most of the buildings date from the 14th and 15th centuries, when Barcelona was at the height of its commercial prosperity and before it had been absorbed into Castilla. A masterpiece of its medieval heritage, the Barri Gòtic's catedral, is one of Spain's greatest Gothic buildings.
Gràcia
A fully fledged suburb since the end of the 19th century, Gràcia
is home to a combination of artists, students and intelligentsia mixed with
average Joseps, who lend it a down-to-earth atmosphere. There are lovely
parks to enjoy during the day and at night the square becomes a popular
and vivacious meeting place. Its strong artistic and political communities
create a lively (and, strangely, not intimidating) scene. Plaça del
Sol is a pleasant place to sit during the day, surrounded by cafes and serene
19th-century architecture.
La
Pedrera
La Pedrera was designed by Gaudí and built between 1905 and 1910
as an apartment/office block. Formerly called the Casa Milà, it's
better known as La Pedrera (the quarry) because of its uneven grey stone
facade that creates a wave effect, an effect further emphasized by elaborate
wrought-iron balconies.
Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where giant multicoloured chimney pots jut up like medieval knights. On summer weekend nights, the roof is eerily lit and open for spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudí's work.
La
Rambla
La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, mimes
and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewellery.
It's actually five separate streets strung end to end and covers the entire
sightseeing gamut from sublime to seedy.
The noisy bird market on the second block of La Rambla is worth a stop, as is the nearby Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, with arts and entertainment information and a ticket office. Next door is La Rambla's most colourful market, the Mercat de la Boqueria. Just south of the Boqueria the Mosaïc de Miró punctuates the pavement, with one tile signed by the artist.
The next section
of La Rambla boasts the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera
house. Below the Plaça Reial, La Rambla becomes decidedly seedy,
with strip clubs and peep shows. La Rambla terminates at the lofty Monument
a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. You can ascend the monument
by lift.
Just west of the monument, on Avinguda de les Drassanes, stand the Reials
Drassanes (Royal Shipyards), which house the fascinating Museu Marítim.
It has more seafaring paraphernalia than you'd care to wag a sextant at
- boats, models, maps, paintings, ships' figureheads and 16th-century galleys.
La
Sagrada Família
La Sagrada Família is truly awe-inspiring. Even if you don't have
much time, don't miss it. The most ambitious work of Barcelona's favourite
son, Antoni Gaudí, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral
imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired
by the holy Montserrat.
Montjuïc
Montjuïc, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest,
is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks
and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Approach the area from Plaça
d'Espanya and on the north side you'll see Plaça
de Braus Les Arenes, a former bullring where the Beatles played
in 1966. Behind it lies Parc Joan Miró, where stands
Mirá's highly phallic sculpture Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird). Nearby,
the Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya,
which has an impressive collection of Romanesque art. Stretching up a series
of terraces below the Palau Nacional are fountains, including the biggest,
La Font Màgica, which comes alive with a free lights
and music show on summer evenings. In the northwest of Montjuïc is
the 'Spanish Village', Poble Espanyol. At first glance
it's a tacky tourist trap, but it also proves to be an intriguing scrapbook
of Spanish architecture, with very convincing copies of buildings from all
of Spain's regions. The Anella Olímpica (Olympic
Ring) is the group of sports installations where the main events of the
1992 games were held. Down the hill, visit masterpieces of another kind
in the Fundaciá Joan Mirá, Barcelona's gallery
for the greatest Catalan artist of the 20th century. This is the largest
single collection of his work.
Museu
Picasso
Barcelona's most visited museum shows numerous works tracing the artist's
early years and is especially strong on his Blue Period, with canvases like
The Defenceless, as well as ceramics and early works from the 1890s. The
rest of the museum traces Picasso's life and travels.
The stunning stone mansions that house the museum are situated on the Carrer de Montcada, which was, in medieval times, an approach to the port. The 1st floor is devoted to Picasso's Blue Period. The 2nd floor displays his impressionist-influenced works, produced in Barcelona and Paris between 1900 and 1904. The haunting Portrait of Señora Canals (1905), from his Pink Period, is also on display. Among the later works, all painted in Cannes in 1957, is a complex technical series entitled Las Meninas, which consists mostly of studies on Diego Velázquez's eponymous masterpiece.
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Barcelona Travel Tips
When to Visit - Arts and Events
Like many other Mediterranean cities, Barcelona is festive; from the cobbles of its ancient streets, to the spires of Gaudi's extraordinary buildings. The agreeable climate brings people out to celebrate, with very little excuse, the cycle of life and seek the blessing of good spirits. All year there are holidays and holy days each backed by centuries of tradition. For instance, being the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona honors the region's patron saint St. Jordi (St. George) with a massive winter festival, while summer brings the city out again to celebrate both St. John and St. Peter.
The other tradition which perhaps sets Spain apart from other European countries is the serving and eating of tapa: important as much for the conversation and company as for the delicious food. Every Spaniard has his favorite tasca, as the tapa bars are called, where he goes regularly to meet his friends or business acquaintances.
Barcelona Dining
Barcelona is rich in bars and restaurants and the greatest concentration is within walking distance of La Rambla. Spanish food, at its best, has been adapted from the country's excellent family cooking and nowadays enjoys an international reputation. Besides meat, poultry, game and fish there are a wealth of dishes featuring beans, rice, eggs, vegetables and savoury pies that can all be used to make a classic meal from the region. Tapas, a range of appetizers, play an important and delicious role in meals throughout the day. Paella, gazpacho and chorizo may be familiar to visitors, but the range of meals is much more extensive with a fascinating variety of rich stews, soups, beans, seafood and meats. You may have to reset your gastric clocks when travelling in Spain because lunch is usually the main meal of the day and is eaten between 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm. The evening meal is lighter and is traditionally eaten late in the evening.
Barcelona Tipping Advice
Waiters and other service people do not earn a fortune in Spain so you can be sure that your contribution will be appreciated, although pride might well prevent acknowledgement of the tip. Restaurant's may or may not include service, but do not tip more than ten percent of the bill, and leave less if you only eat tapas. Tip taxis about ten percent of the total fare, but more for long rides or help with luggage. Tip hotel porters 50 to 100 ESP for assistance with bags and tip room service between 50 to 100 ESP. If you stay in a hotel for more than two nights, tip the chambermaid about 100 ESP per night.
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TOUR COST :
HOTEL
Rate
( Per person on TWIN sharing basis )
Hausa International (2*) EUR 144.00
Dante (3*) EUR 215.00
Barcelona Hilton (4*+) EUR 381.00
PRICE
INCLUDES:
1) 03 Nights accommodation at the Hotel of your choice.
2) Daily Breakfast.
3) Classic Tour of Barcelona.
4) All applicable taxes.
OPTIONAL
TOURS
Artistic Tour EUR 39 per person
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Have a great trip! This itinerary and supplementary information has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it may be subject to change, and DOES NOT form part of a contract between the client and AirCruise.
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