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"As the centre of
the whimsical and darling 'Modernisme' architectural movement,
Barcelona holds fairy-tale creations like no other buildings in
the world" IntoBarcelona offers a variety of classical tours with a strong emphasis on the city's outstanding art, architecture and design. Described as the 'Athens of Art Nouveau', Barcelona boasts everything from Romanesque to Modernisme. The city's most famous son is Antonio Gaudi, an architectural genius, and any art lover's visit to the city must pay homage to at least some of his work. Barcelona's most celebrated monument and the symbol of the city is Gaudí's unfinished cathedral 'Sagrada Familia'. Catalunya was also home to three of the world's most celebrated surrealist painters - Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miró. The following tours are led by one of the many hugely successful artists to have come out of Barcelona. Columbian-born Maribel Vidal-Quadras has a wealth of knowledge on the history of the city's art, design, architecture and sculpture, and even for the art novice, these tours are a real delight.
Art tour 1 - The Gothic Quarter After being picked up from your apartments in el Born, this tour begins with a visit to the beautiful Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral. From there you will visit the Picasso Museum, Banys Nous Street with its famous antique shops. You will have the chance to see Barcelona's stunning Gothic Cathedral, ‘La Seu' and its cloisters filled with geese. Enjoy the bustling charm of the pretty Plaza del Pi, the contrasting Italianate square of the Plaza Reial and the famous Ramblas. Your tour also includes a visit to the Opera House, the world-famous Boqueria market and much more besides. Price: £102 per group for a four hour walking tour Max 8 people Art tour 2 - Gaudí "Gaudí's
methods, one century on, continue to be revolutionary" Antoni Gaudí was the greatest figure of the Art Nouveau movement in Catalunya, known as "Modernisme". An architectural genius, his works are famous all over the world. No visit to Barcelona would be complete without sampling at least some of his enchanting creations. This tour includes the four must-see Gaudí works Casa Batlló - an extraordinary work of art and probably one of the most commonly photographed buildings in Barcelona. Casa Mila/La Pedrera - or "rock pile". one of the most imaginative houses in architectural history, it is more a sculpture than a building. Made a world heritage site in 1984, it's roof in particular is breathtaking. Sagrada Familia - Barcelona's best known landmark, Gaudí's Sagrada Familia signifies the city's desire to be unique and ground-breaking (indeed it was one of the few religious buildings to have avoided being burned down in the civil war). It is simply a fantastic modern architectural creation, which, more than 120 years on is still unfinished, and finds itself leaving other similar works a long way behind.. Park Güell - After the Sagrada Familia, Parc Geüll was Gaudí's most ambitious project. A park unlike any you would have seen before, you feel like you are privy to Gaudi's wildest fantasies. Giant mosaic lizards, vast pavilions of contorted stone, colours and shapes which continually excite the imagination. Price: £102 per group for a 4 four hour walking tour Max 8 people Art tour 3 - Gaudí highlights
This is a shorter version of the above tour designed for smaller groups. It includes Casa Batllo, La Pedrera and Parc Güell Price:
£55 per group for a 2 hour walking tour Art tour 4 - Miró, Montjuic and the Olympic Ring Joan Miró was one of Catalunya's greatest ever artists, and Barcelona houses his greatest works in a beautiful Pavillion on the hill of Montjuic. Inside are a permanent collection of paintings, tapastries, graphics and sculptures donated by Miró himself. One of the most moving pieces in the museum is the 'Barcelona Series', a set of fifty black and white lithographs depicting the Spanish civil war. Also on Montjuic are some of Barcelona's most celebrated modern buildings such as the Japanese-designed concert venue, the Palau Jordi and the Olympic Stadium, originally built for the 1929 exhibition, and completely refitted for the 1992 games. Halfway down the hill sits the Palau Nacional (the Museum of Catalan Art) which houses everything from the 11th to the 18th century Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque collections. You will also visit the Caixa Forum cultural centre, a former textile factory designed by another of Barcelona's acclaimed architects Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Renovated just a few years ago, it's home to some fabulous contemporary paintings and is worth a visit just to see the building itself. Price: £102 per group for a 4 hour walkiug tour Max 8 people Art tour 5 - 'Modernisme' architecture This tour is for lovers of modernista architecture, introducing you to Barcelona's three key exponents - Antoni Gaudí, Domenech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafach. Among the highlights the breathtaking Palau de la Musica designed by Domenech i Montaner, Gaudí's stunning Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. You'll visit one of Barcelona's most famous Boulevards, Avenida Diagonal where you will find La Casa de la Punxes (house of spikes) and the palatial Casa Macaya, both by Puig i Cadafalch. A Modernisme tour would not be complete without visiting Gaudí's Sagrada Familia and while you are in the neighbourhood, it would also be a crime to miss Domench i Montaner's innovative and extremely colourful Hospital de Santa Creu. Price: £82 for a three hour walking tour, £102 for a four walking hour tour Art
tour 6 - Barcelona art
class The
day begins with visits to a classical painter, a contemporary
artist, a photographer and a sculptor, all at work in their studios.
You will have the chance to purchase some of their work at wholesale
prices. You will spend the afternoon walking around the city and
sketching some of the city's most exciting buildings, parks, churches
and bustling streets.
PLEASE BE AWARE
THAT THE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE TRANSPORT OR MUSEUM ENTRANCE FEES |
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