|
Day-by-day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Barcelona
Day 2 - Barcelona
On arrival in Barcelona we will be met by our SAT tour manager and our
transfer bus and driver. We will drive to the Hotel Rossello. The
balance of the afternoon will be free to relax after the flight, do a
little preliminary shopping perhaps or simply explore the local area.
Dinner at the hotel, overnight Barcelona.
Day 3 - Barcelona sightseeing
We spend today sightseeing in the company of a local guide. We travel up
to the Hill of Montjuich overlooking the city. Our focus here is the
outstanding Miro Foundation, dedicated to the whimsical paintings and
sculpture of Joan Miro. From here it's on to the atmospheric Gothic
Quarter to stroll the narrow streets and break from touring to attend
Mass at the glorious medieval cathedral. After lunch we continue our
tour through Las Ramblas and along the waterfront. We discover the works
of Barcelona's visionary architect Antoni Gaudi at the extraordinary
Parque Guell and, amid the 19th-century elegance of the Eixample
district, at his unfinished masterpiece the Sagrada Familia. This
evening we have dinner in one of Barcelona’s fine restaurants.
Overnight Barcelona.
Day 4 - Poblet / Vilafranca del Penedes / Barcelona
An excursion inland today takes us first to the magnificent medieval
Monastery of Poblet. This is one of the great sights of northeast Spain,
a UNESCO World Heritage site. A guided tour reveals this masterpiece of
monastic architecture and its greatest treasures, among them the royal
tombs of the Kings of Aragon. On the return to Barcelona we drive
through Catalonia’s most celebrated wine region at Vilafranca del
Penedes. Here we will stop for lunch, a visit to a winery and,
naturally, a little delicious wine-tasting to ease the journey back to
the big city.
Overnight Barcelona.
 Day 5 - Barcelona
We spend this morning discovering the seafaring traditions of this great
port city at the Maritime Museum. With its collections of maps and model
ships, figureheads and navigational instruments, all in a setting of
superlative architecture, this is the finest museum of its kind in
Europe. The afternoon is free for shopping and further visits on our
own. The Picasso Museum is certainly worth a visit. Later we take
afternoon tea in the historic Cafe de la Opera on the Ramblas before
heading next door to Barcelona's majestic opera house, the Gran Teatro
del Liceu where a treat awaits – a performance of Wagner's masterpiece
'The Meistersingers of Nuremberg'.
Overnight Barcelona.
Day
6 - Girona / Figueres / Barcelona
We begin today with the short drive north to Girona. This small city is
one of the most fascinating and evocative in Catalonia, preserving its
picturesque medieval center intact. A local guide leads us on a walk
through the steep and winding streets. We explore the old Jewish
Quarter, brought vividly to life in the Jewish Museum, and visit the
cathedral treasury with its 12th-century masterpiece, the Creation
Tapestry. After lunch it's on to another small town but an incredible
contrast. Figueres is indelibly associated with its most famous son, the
surrealist master Salvador Dali. His Theater-Museum is dazzling,
extravagant, eccentric and bizarre. On our return to Barcelona we enjoy
a dinner in the old part of the city.
Overnight Barcelona.
Day 7 - Montserrat / Solsona
Leaving the capital behind this morning we begin our journey northwest
into the Catalan heartland. Soon the weird and startling landscapes of
the Sierra de Montserrat come into view. This is the incomparable site
of the Monastery of Montserrat, home to the famous Black Madonna, patron
saint of Catalonia. On visiting this venerable shrine we have the chance
to hear the magical singing of the Escolania, one of the oldest boys'
choirs in Europe. Our adventure continues by funicular to the pinnacles
of the range from where an unforgettable panorama spreads out below,
before we descend to rejoin our tour bus. Our next destination is the
noble town of Solsona. We can enjoy a stroll in its elegant streets and
squares before gathering for dinner in our hotel.
Overnight Solsona.
Day
8 - Solsona / Cardona / Solsona
A remarkable excursion is on the agenda today to the nearby town of
Cardona, dominated by its spectacular castle. First stop is the unique
Salt Mountain for a fascinating tour of the ancient salt mines,
combining industrial history with stunning geological formations. We
will then visit the impressive castle and the 11th-century fortress
church. The views from the castle ramparts are superb. Mid-afternoon
return to Solsona for free time.
Overnight Solsona.
 Day 9 - Scenic Pyrenees drive /
Barcelona
About an hour north from Solsona rises the towering chain of the
Pyrenees, one of the great mountain ranges of Europe, separating Spain
from France, touching 10,000 ft. and stretching from the Bay of Biscay
to the shores of the Mediterranean. We embark today on a scenic drive
through the pretty Vall del Segre to the majestic mountains of the
Catalan Pyreness, offering sublime views in a suitably splendid finale
to our tour. We return to the Hotel Rossello in Barcelona this evening.
A farewell dinner is included tonight.
Overnight Barcelona.
Day
10
Depart Barcelona
TOP
| 
