Sample Tour: Art, Architecture and Cuisine in Catalonia
Departure from the US for overnight flight to Barcelona. Airfare is not included but Celestial Voyagers can help you get the best airfare and schedule.
Meals: D | Hotel: Gran Hotel Calderon 5* (or similar)
We will meet and assist you at the airport. Check-in to your centrally located hotel. In the afternoon, we will have a guided walking tour of the Barrio Gotico in the heart of old Barcelona. There, narrow streets, many of them for pedestrians only, wind around hidden squares, the remains of the old Roman wall, “El Call”, the medieval Jewish quarter, along with galleries, restaurants and shops. Continue onto El Born, home to the bohemian Catalan artistic community in the early twentieth century.
In the evening, meet your travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant serving typical food of Barcelona. Then it’s off to bed to catch up on some sleep in a comfortable room.
Meals: B, D | Gran Hotel Calderon 5* (or similar)
After breakfast, learn about Modernismó (Catalan Art Nouveau) and the unparalleled architecture of Barcelona native son, Antoni Gaudí in a guided tour of his iconic works. Gaudí worked on La Sagrada Familia Cathedral for more than forty years. Construction on this marvelous and magnificent structure began in 1915 and is ongoing. Visit Casa Batlló, a landmark of Modernismó and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This jewel of a building is an expression of the colors and forms of the sea.
Next, stroll through Parque Guell, a generous public space overlooking the city filled with playful structures and crazy-quilt mosaics created from broken painted ceramic tiles.
Free time for lunch on your own.
After lunch, take part in a chocolate workshop at the Museu de la Xocolata.
At night, watch a vibrant flamenco show followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: B, L, Tapas | Gran Hotel Calderon 5* (or similar)
In the morning, visit the world-famous La Boqueria Market, a striking steel and glass structure right on Las Rambla, the wide central thoroughfare in the heart of the city. The market celebrated its 180th anniversary in 2020. Join a local chef to shop the market for the freshest products and then cook lunch. Working in teams, you’ll prepare typical Catalan recipes as you learn about the region’s cuisine, its products, flavors and wines.
After lunch, visit the Picasso Museum for a guided tour of the works of this incredibly influential and prolific artist. The museum houses over 4,000 of his works and are housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in the La Ribera neighborhood.
In the evening, do like the locals and sip wine and sherry accompanied by a series of small plate tapas. At night, delight in the sight of the city’s splendid and colorful Magic Fountains show.
Meals: B, L, D | Hotel: Mon Sant Benet, 4* (or similar)
After breakfast, depart Barcelona for Mon Sant Benet and Manresa. Dine on a special traditional pilgrim’s lunch at Kursaal Restaurant in Manresa. After lunch, a guided tour of its famous cathedral, the Basilica of Santa Maria de la Seu, a place of pilgrimage for Catholics that is associated with Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the founders of the Jesuit order. Like Girona, Manresa was also home to about 500 Jewish families in the 12th century. In the afternoon, learn about innovative and local cuisine in a demo cooking workshop with one of the talented chefs at Hotel Mon Sant Benet followed by dinner.
Meals: B, D | Hotel Mon Sant Benet, 4* (or similar)
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the town of Vic to shop its famed Saturday market. See a demonstration of the making of salchicon and Fuet de Vic, two typical Catalan sausages at Casa Riera Ordeix, a family-owned business now in its sixth generation. Explore the town of Vic and visit a local farm to taste regional artisan cheeses.
Free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit the Monastery of St. Benet. The original church on the site was consecrated in 972; the Romanesque abbey and cloister were built in the 12th century. The monastery eventually became the home of Ramon Casas, the Catalan painter and graphic artist who helped create Catalan Modernismó.
Dinner that night will be a most memorable experience at Restaurant L’O, 1* Michelin where the cuisine is rooted in local, seasonal products and inspired by the elements surrounding it including the monastery of Sant Benet, the market garden and the natural surroundings and landscape of Pla de Bages.
Meals: B, L | Hotel: Hotel Trias Palamos 3* (or similar)
In the morning, an expert guided walking tour of Girona focusing on its extensive Jewish history. Known as “El Call”, the town’s old Jewish quarter on the banks of the Onyar River dates back to the 12th century and is one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. It was inhabited by the city’s Jewish community until the Expulsion in 1492. After a delightful lunch featuring local products presented by a local chef, free time to explore the town. After check-in to your hotel in seaside Palamos, dinner will be on your own, perhaps finding your own special seafood restaurant in this picturesque town with its old port.
Meals: B, L | Hotel: Hotel Trias Palamos 3* (or similar)
Start the day by exploring the scenic village of Peratallada and sample unique ice creams created by a local artisan. Return to Palamos to visit the Museu de la Pesca. After an informal fish cooking demonstration, enjoy a lunch featuring fish and seafood right out of the water. At 4:00 pm, observe the fascinating daily “Return of the Fishermen” and the fish auction of their catch. After a short drive to Calonge, visit the Mas Molla Winery and Fruit Farm for a wine tasting. Dinner or perhaps a snack will be on your own.
Meals: B, D | Hotel: Hotel Trias Palamos 3* (or similar)
Begin the day with a visit to the Museu de la Confitura to learn about making small-batch fruit preserves. Then sample preserves and jellies all made from ripe, local, seasonal fruits. It will be hard to choose your favorites to bring home from the more than two hundred varieties on sale here. Next, visit the medieval Gala Castle in Pubol, summer home of Dali’s wife, Gala, for many years; then,go and tour the Dali Museum in Figueres. Continue on to Cadaques on the water with free time for lunch and an afternoon stroll. Return to Palamos for our Gala Farewell Dinner.
Meals: B
After breakfast, drive to Barcelona Airport (about 11/2 hours) for flights home (or extend your stay in Barcelona–we can help). For those taking an evening flight, we can make arrangements for you to join a Foodie’s Walking Tour of Barcelona (not included).
This is a future trip. For more details, please contact Aliza Green, the tour organizer at spice@alizagreen.com
Price $6450 per person, sharing a double room
Single supplement + $995
| This trip is a land only program. You can book your airline ticket prior to travel. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, the best routing and best value for your ticket. Your round trip ticket leaving from the USA will be to arrive in Porto, Portugal and return from Lisbon Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own, please provide us with a copy of your schedule. You may have to book additional private transfers between the airport and your hotel. |
Celestial Voyagers Terms and Conditions relate to specific contracts with various suppliers. The policies and regulations below must be strictly enforced.
Due to the Covid situation, we may adjust the program, but we will commit to creating the best possible program for guests with safety, comfort, and ease our top priorities.
DEPOSITS:
A deposit of $600 is due at time of your reservation. This secures your place and helps us to determine the size of the group.
Your deposit is fully refundable until Friday, March 25, 2023.
After March 25, 2023 your deposit is sent to the local suppliers to confirm the tour services such as transportation, hotels, restaurants and activities.
BALANCE DUE:
Due to the changing nature of the Covid situation, your balance is now due no later than Friday April 8, 2022, instead of a customary earlier period. At that time, required payments will be sent to the suppliers and any refunds will depend on their willingness to return the money or give a credit for future use.
In case of cancellation due to Covid after Friday, April 8, 2023 we will negotiate with our suppliers to protect your payment. In the past, we have been able to get a full or partial refund and/or a full or partial credit for future travel. Although we will do our best, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee results.
Keep in mind that such refunds are to be considered in case the tour is cancelled due to Covid situation and you cannot be covered by travel insurance. In case of individual cancellation, because of personal issues, refunds will be processed by travel insurance, which you are required to purchase.
After April 8, 2023 suppliers in Spain will be paid in full and refunds to participants will be subject to whatever refund or credit will be available from the suppliers.
A cancellation can always be replaced with a new participant and name change fees will be waived.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself with trip cancellation insurance including medical coverage.
All changes and cancellations must be provided in writing via email or postal service.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://keyword.celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before November 28, 2023, you must apply to renew your passport. If you are not a US citizen please check with the consulate of Spain or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.