Private Shore Excursions

This visit allows having a global vision of Barcelona. We will begin the tour at the Plaza de España square with its impressive perspective of the Queen Maria Cristina Avenue, surrounded by the National Palau, that will lead to us until the Olympic Ring, at the hill of Montjuic, where we will make a brief stop to enjoy the magnificent panoramic views over the condal City and its port. We will follow until the Sagrada Family - unfinished masterpiece of Antonio Gaudí and the gothic district that we will discover it on foot, it is the pedestrian and commercial area of the city. We will finish in the el ensanche and its most representative streets and arteries like the Paseo de Gracia; where there are two buildings designed by Antonio Gaudí, among other numerous examples of the exuberant architecture of the end of the last century by which the city is well-known. We will have free time to do shopping in this zone of the city there are the most prestigious and international fashion stores. We will arrive at the Gothic district where we will make a walking tour to the religious centre with the Cathedral, constructed during the centuries XIII to XV above the old Romanic cathedral. By right hand, through a fragment of the Roman wall edge, the Bishop Street will led us to San Jaime square, political centre of Catalonia, Here is the Generalitat palace to one side, and the building of the City council, to the other. We will cross through the King of Barcelona square where remarkable medieval buildings are located. We will arrive to the famous Ramblas where there will be a free time for lunch. After lunch, we will follow until The Paseo de Gracia, the Batlló House is a building designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí, in the Paseo de Gracia, avenue that crosses the modernist district of the Ensanche in the called Manzana de la discordia because it lodges in addition to this building, the works of the modernist architects like the Amatller house, that is contiguous with the Gaudí building, work of Puig & Cadafalch and the House Lleó Morera, work of Domènech & Montaner. In the same zone is the Pedrera, this building also called Milà house (1905-1910), the design and the works were in charge of the brilliant architect Antonio Gaudí, it is a building of houses where Gaudi shows the great mastering of the technique creating a very complex apparent stone structure, We will follow until the Expiatorio Temple of the Sagrada Family, the most well-known work of Gaudi. We will finish the visit in the Güell Park, entering we found double stairs divided by a dragoon before arriving at the room hypostyle of considerable dimensions with 86 massive Doric’s columns that maintain the great square of the park. To the conclusion of the Parque güell visit return to the Port.

TOUR # 2 - Barcelona Highlights and Picasso

Barcelona - Tour 2

HALF DAY HIGHLIGHTS: We will begin this itinerary with a panoramic visit to the marine city front, we will arrive at the Gothic district where we will make a walking tour, religious centre with the Cathedral, built during centuries XIII to XV above the old Romanic cathedral. By right hand, through a fragment of the Roman wall edge, the Bishop Street led us to San Jaime square, political centre of Catalonia. Here is the Generalitat Palace on one side and the building of the City council, to the other. We will cross through the King of Barcelona Street where remarkable medieval buildings are located. We will get the bus and we will go to the Batlló House, it is a building designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí, located in Grace avenue, that crosses the modernist Ensanche district , called Manzana de la discordia because it lodges in addition to this building, the works of the modernist architects like the Amatller house, that is contiguous to the Gaudí building , work of Puig & Cadafalch and the House Lleó Morera, work of Domènech & Montaner. We will follow until the Pedrera, this building also called Milà house was constructed between 1906-1910. Finally we will arrive at the Sagrada Family, who is the great church in Barcelona, designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí, still in construction. Its complete name is Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Family. The Sagrada Family is the masterpiece of Gaudí, the maximum exponent of the Catalan modernist architecture.
PICASSO’S BARCELONA: In order to follow the Picasso steps in Barcelona, we must begin in carer de la plata where he had its first factory in 1896, with his friend and colleague Manuel Pallarès. Afterwards he moves to another one in carrer dels Escudellers Blancs in the heart of the gothic district. The old part of the city was a swarm of cultural life at that time, and Picasso submerged in it with all his energy. It is saying that one of its streets: Avinyó, populated with women, was his inspiration for his first cubista work, Les Mademoiselles d'Avignon. The centre of all that Bohemian life was, without doubts, Els Quatre Gats, a brewery inspired on a famous Parisian coffee. The social gatherings, exhibitions and concerts, had a young student called Picasso. There they had news about the vanguard movements that caused rage in the French capital: the impressionism, the symbolism, the work of Toulouse-Lautrec. In the door of this establishment it can be seen still today, the advertising poster that Pablo Picasso designed for Els Quatre Gats, and that shows a great Eastern influence in its work (1898). In 1900, Picasso Already makes in this bar his first independent exhibition, still somewhat with informal character. The Parés gallery is the first one in which Picasso exposes seriously in 1901. The exhibition was not great successful due to the style of his work, too realistic for the taste of the cultural bourgeoisie of that moment. This first failure impels him to his great step: Paris, where he moved definitively in 1906 to never return to Barcelona. Nevertheless, he fulfils an honor debt with the city that saw born his career as a painter, designing the Architect’s School frieze of Catalonia in Nova Square. In it’s interior, there are other two murals dedicated to the city of Barcelona and to the sardana. Following the tracks of Pablo in Barcelona, we must arrive until the Picasso’s Museum located in the Aguilar Palace, in carrer Montcada, in the Borne, reference’s centre for the knowledge of the formation’s years of Pablo Picasso. Through more than 3,600 works that conform the permanent collection keeps awake the genius of the young artist. But the Picasso Museum is also the testimony of his bond with Barcelona. Thanks to the will of Picasso and his friend Jaume Sabartés, Barcelona today has the youth work of one of the most significant artists of the artistic scene of century XX. To the conclusion of the visit return to the Port.

TOUR # 3 - Gaudi's Barcelona and Jewish Barcelona

GAUDI’S BARCELONA You will be picked up at 10:00 a.m. by the driver who will be calling any of the party members by the family name. We will begin the visit with the Güell Park, entering we found a double stairs divided by a dragoon before arriving at the hypostyle room of considerable dimensions with 86 Doric’s columns that maintain the great park square. Located in the superior part of Barcelona, the Güell Park is maximum exponent of the Catalan modernism, constructed between 1900 and 1914 and inaugurated as a public park in 1926. We will follow until the Expiatorio Temple of the Sagrada Family, the most well-known work of Gaudi. Initiate in 1882 by F. of P. Villar and Lozano, Gaudi became in charge of the work in 1883 and work all his life, the last years with almost exclusive dedication and leave it unfinished. He Projected over the crypt already initiated, a huge temple, where he applied all his knowledge, of great symbolism, twelve towers by everyone of the twelve apostles, four by the evangelist, one for the Virgin and the highest one whom symbolizes Jesus Christ). Each window, column etc it is related to the saints, institutions or mysteries of the catholic faith. We will continue until the Paseo de Gracia, where is the Batlló House, representing the top of the Catalan modernism located in the number 43 of the Paseo de Gracia that crosses the modernist district of Ensanche in the called Manzana de la discordia because lodges in addition to this building, the works of the modernist architects, like the Amatller house, that is contiguous with the Gaudí building, work of Puig & Cadafalch and the House Lleó Morera, work of Domènech & Montaner. We will end the visit with the Pedrera, this building also called Milà house (1905-1910), the design and the works were in charge of the brilliant architect Antonio Gaudí, is a building of houses where Gaudi shows his mastering of the technique creating a very complex apparent stone structure.
JEWISH BARCELONA In this reduced and prosperous as active enclave during the century XIII, in which use to live up to four thousand inhabitants (a 15 percent of the total city population) we found the history of the Jewish community in Barcelona. As a curiosity the Jewish districts that for the rest of the Iberian Peninsula were denominated aljamas, in Catalonia were called "Calls". Nowadays the district is a mystery of narrow and shady side streets located in the gothic district, around the cathedral. In order to be situated one of the two gates of Jewish borough it is located between the Sant Jaume square and the Sant Doménech street. The Barcelona "Call" in century XI occupied one of the angles of the Roman city and in the middle of century XII limited by the east with the old street of the Font (today Sant Honorat) and occupied part of the land in which it is nowadays the Generalitat Palace, bordering, to the north, until the street of Santa Eulalia. It limited the west with the street Banys Nous and the south with the Castell Nou (where the Jews took refuge at moments of danger). The Jewish Quarter had its own slaughter, bakery and cemetery. The communication between Jews and Christians was total and free during the day, but when the night arrived, the "Call" doors had to be closed. But if we do a little of history, the life of the Jewish community in Barcelona suffered a radical change in 1391, after the initiated anti-Jewish campaign in Valencia, part of the Barcelona people , helped by environs farmers , commenced an offensive to the District, being destroyed, and in which 200 Jews were assassinated and the rest expelled. This year supposes the beginning of the progressive disappearance of the Catalan Jewish quarters, which, due to the progromos and to the forced conversions were implacably decimated. Finally, the Jews expulsion decree by the crown of Castile and Aragón in the year 1492 comes to close a vast and fruitful chapter of Jewish history. Nowadays thanks to numerous conducted studies we can know where some excellent personages lived at that time like the doctors who lived in the place that today occupies, the Generalitat Palace, the retailers, etc... Also in the following stop we will visit the most important building, the Synagogue, constructed in the century III and rediscovered 20 years ago, recovered and consecrated again in January of 2006. The primitive building was free; it did not have any adjacent building. After visiting the Synagogue, we will cross the Sant Jaume square, Catalonia political centre, where are the Generalitat Palace, in one side, and the City council building, to the other. Before arriving at the the King square is the Lloctinent Palace of the century XV, in spite of not being a key place at that time, its interest is that many of the stones form their facade were extracted from the old Jewish Montjuïch cemetery . We will follow until the monumental set of the King square, set formed by the Condal Palace of century XI, were the, kings of Catalonia and Aragón used to live. Keep going with the tour we will cross the Layetana Street and we will go until the District of the borough Rivera , where we find the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar , the great gothic jewel of the city and one of the most loved churches by the Barcelona people . In the place where it is raised this church existed already a well-known church from century X. Santa Maria de la arena and where according to the legend the rest of Santa Eulalia is buried. The new church was constructed in a record time for that time, 55 years, the interior of the basilica is spectacular by its elevation and its architectonic disposition causes that the nave has a diaphanous luminosity and an aspect very cleared that it impresses at first sight, has perfect acoustic conditions. From that time of splendor, close to Santa Maria del mar , are the great palaces of Montcada street t , main street of the medieval Barcelona bourgeois, the Finestres Palace where at the moment lodges the Picasso Museum and of Marques de Llio, Palace present Textile Museum. From here we will return to the port

TOUR # 4 - Montserrat Monastery

The trip begins with a panoramic visit of Barcelona by bus: we will go through the Catalonia Square, the famous Paseo de Gracia and by two of the most important works of Gaudi: The Batló house and the Pedrera. We will leave the centre and we will go towards Montserrat, a unique natural park in the world, one of the most important museums of the country and the Pattern of Catalonia’s Sanctuary. Located within the incomparable framework of Montserrat Mountain, that is a unique geologic formation, raised majestically to 1,235 meters of height. On XI century Oliba abbot founded a small monastery next to the Santa Maria hermitage, between years 1493 and 1835, time of deep reforms of growth and splendor, Montserrat belonged to the Valladolid´s Congregation. The Napoleonic war (1808-1811) and the confiscation of 1835 brought the destruction and the abandonment, but soon (1844) the restoration began, only paralyzed by the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), that turned Montserrat into the monastery-sanctuary that is today. The present community is formed by about eighty monks. Like in all the Benedictine monasteries, the Montserrat monks dedicate their life to the oration, the welcome and the work, following the San Benito’s motto. We can visits its Real Basilica, where is the Moreneta Virgin, roman carve from the XII century, and also we will be able to listen "the Escolanía de Montserrat", that is to the sanctuary service o, is one of the older music’s schools of Europe. There are documents of XIV century that already give testimony of the escolanía existence in Montserrat, a religious institution and musical character. At the moment the escolanos participates in the liturgical celebrations and in the communitarian oration that becomes at the basilica. All the escolanos receive a musical formation of high level, along with the human and intellectual education. Its prestige is recognized internationally, they makes concerts tours everywhere and has an abundant discography. The Montserrat monastery has developed an important roll in the country’s cultural life. The present library has its beginning at the end of XIX century and, specially, it grew during the time at which the P. Antoni Maria Marcet was abbot (1913-1946). In few years the library increased the number of volumes from fifteen thousand to the approximated number of one hundred fifty thousands. The Spanish civil war, first, and, later, World War II interrupted or at least made difficult the acquisitions. Later, in the last decades, have been able to duplicate their volumes. Free time for lunch and at the conclusion, return to the port.

TOUR DURATION: 6 HOURS

TOUR # 5 - Girona and Dali

You will be picked up at 10:00 a.m. by the driver who will be calling any of the party members by the family name. This visit allows knowing the city, arrival to Girona, according to some historians they locate its foundation in the iberos´s time and some other in the years 77 and 76 BC by the Romans. The Arab occupation was very brief. Very important by its Hebrew community in the XIII and XIV centuries, which the Call is the maximum exponent. City that has undergone great changes along the history, now days thanks to its monumental architectonic set and the Brave Coast importance as tourist destiny is a city in remains renovation.
At the entrance of the old part of the city we found the Houses of l´Onyar, constructions of XVIII century on the old fluvial and rehabilitated walls in 1983. We will visit the Call, the old Jewish district, one of the best conserved medieval nuclei of all Europe where we can visit the Synagogue that is now in Jewish school center, we will find the Cathedral, baroque building flanked by numerous noble buildings and marked by the omnipresent outside staircase and the cathedral facade , the Sant Feliu Church , the san Nicolau Church of and the Sant Pere de Galligans Monastery . The Arab baths at which it is arrived crossing a small bridge, of a very well conserved Romanic Christian origin but with clear Moorish influence. We will follow until Figueres, to the Dalí Theatre-Museum, inaugurated in 1974, it was constructed above the rest of the old Figueres´s theatre and which contains the amplest work that describes the artistic trajectory of Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), from his first artistic experiences to the surrealist creations to works of the last years of his life. Also it is possible specifically to emphasize the work made by the artist for the Theatre-Museum, like the Room Mae West, the Room Wind Palace, the Monument to Francesc Pujols and the rainy Cadillac. Also there are works of other artists who Dalí wanted to include: The Greco, Marià Fortuny, Modest Urgell, Ernest Meissonier, Marcel Duchamp, Wolf Wostell, Antoni Pitxot and Evarist Vallès, among others. The Dalí Theatre-Museum is necessary to see it like a whole, as the great work of Salvador Dalí, since everything in it was designed by the artist with the purpose of offering to the visitor a true experience submerging him in his captivating and unique world. At the end of the visit returns to the port.

TOUR # 6 - Barcelona Highlights and wine tasting in a cava

BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS We will begin this itinerary with a panoramic visit to the marine city front, we will arrive at the Gothic district where we will make a walking tour, religious centre with the Cathedral, built during centuries XIII to XV above the old Romanic cathedral. By right hand, through a fragment of the Roman wall edge, the Bishop Street led us to San Jaime square, political centre of Catalonia. Here is the Generalitat Palace on one side and the building of the City council, to the other. We will cross through the King of Barcelona Street where remarkable medieval buildings are located. We will get the bus and we will go to the Batlló House, it is a building designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí, located in Grace avenue, that crosses the modernist Ensanche district , called Manzana de la discordia because it lodges in addition to this building, the works of the modernist architects like the Amatller house, that is contiguous to the Gaudí building , work of Puig & Cadafalch and the House Lleó Morera, work of Domènech & Montaner. We will follow until the Pedrera, this building also called Milà house was constructed between 1906-1910. Finally we will arrive at the Sagrada Family, who is the great church in Barcelona, designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí, still in construction. Its complete name is Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Family. The Sagrada Family is the masterpiece of Gaudí, the maximum exponent of the Catalan modernist architecture.
WINE TASTING IN A CAVA We will begin with a panoramic visit by the marine front of the city. We will leave Barcelona towards Pacs del Penedes, where the famous Torres wine cellar are located In our most representative warehouses you will be witness of a millenarian tradition: the wine elaboration . you will be astonish finding the most sophisticated ethnology technique to the service of this tradition, but in Torres we are expert in combining the best thing of past, present and future. The route, of one hour of duration, begins within our splendid 1300 m² visit center , with the projection of a video that explains our history. In Pacs you will be able to know the Property where our mythical Mas la Olana is born. There we will teach to you why our forms to plant and to collect grape. You will be able to know the reception the grape, the fermentation, and the ample underground diggings. You will take a walk between barrels, you will smell the wine while it ages and you will understand the secrets of this office. Our red wines are the mark of the house. These bottles symbolize centuries of history, the passion about our job and the attention that we pay to the consumer. These wines cover a wide range, elaborated with traditional varieties of Catalan grape that are already accustom to our earth and sky, Special attention deserves our Wines of Fincas , those places in which the ground and the climate make the difference between the good wine and the excellent Wine. These heirs of the "Roman vinetum paganicus" have provided us of unique places essential for a quality and our white wines, the elaboration of this type of wines, pure, clean and seductive, as we understand them nowadays, was difficult to our ancestors. Nevertheless, we know the secret today and have the ways to maintain the properties of the fruit and to transform it into unique, fresh and elegant wines, with the aid of the climate, the Earth, the grapevine well cared and the experience. In Torres we can also find dessert rose wines, and sparkling. And to taste the result of our effort, we will flatter you with a glass of wine when finishing the visit to leave the Penedès with the best flavor in your mouth

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