Art
and Architecture in Spain
From
Valencia to Barcelona
The
northern Mediterranean coast of Spain (Costa del Azahar, Costa Dorada and Costa
Brava) offers range of cultures dating from the Phoenicians and the Romans to
modern times. Along this beautiful sunny coastline you can tour a variety of Spanish
cities, large and small, enjoy picture-perfect scenery and learn to appreciate
a variety of architectural styles from Romanesque to Art Nouveau and "futuristic"
modern - some of it still under construction.
Read
our article on this subject.
Valencia
is a progressive city and one with much charm and character. One of its most stunning
sights is the City
of Arts and Sciences - a modern architecture complex including a museum,
a planetarium, a sports center and a performing arts center, all designed by world-renowned
Spanish architect (and native son) Santiago Calatrava, the creator of the 2004
Olympic Stadium in Athens. This is an absolute delight of the most modern and
avant-garde design!
Further
up along the coast is Roman Tarragona, just south of Barcelona. This seaside
town is the home of the National Archeological Museum, with its magnificent mosaic
collection and the archaeological site that includes a Pretoria and a Roman circus
linked by domed tunnels, and an ancient amphitheater near the beach.
In
Poblet, visit Santa María de Poblet, a 12th century Cistercian monastery
and an impressive complex of medieval architecture. Of notable interest in this
compound are: the Sant Jordi Chapel, with a magnificent star-shaped dome, the
cloister, the chapter house and the main church with an alabaster sarcophagus
and a Renaissance marble altar. Poblet monastery is a World Heritage site.
All
the different sites you can visit on this route are of unique cultural interest,
but the most notable is "La
Sagrada Familia," a modern cathedral with a blend of Gothic, modern
and futuristic architecture like no other in the world. It is the masterpiece
of famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and the signature building of
Barcelona.
The
best art museums also await you in Barcelona: Some of Picasso's early works are
at the Picasso Museum, Juan Miró's modern paintings and sculptures are
at his foundation in Montjuic Park and the Salvador Dalí Museum is only
a day trip away in Figueres. Sometimes called "Paris on the Mediterranean,"
Barcelona, with its rich history, art, architecture and pervasive vibrant activity,
will surely make you want to return again some day.
And,
don't forget! The Spanish region of Catalonia is also known for its wine production.
Valencia is surrounded by vineyards and, the regions of Penedés,
Montsant and Priorat, located south of Barcelona, are world famous. So, vineyards
are always within striking distance. Wine tours and wine tasting escapes are always
an easy possibility.
There
are many more possibilities: Peñíscola,
Girona, Port
Lligat, etc.
Please
tell us where and when you want to travel and we will create a custom tour
that fits your specific interests, schedule and budget.
Your
tailor-made package will include ground transportation, guided tours and hotel
rooms.
The
price of your program will depend on your needs (scheduled group tours, private
guides...) and the number of participants in your group, the length of the trip,
the category of hotels, the number of places visited, the time of year, etc.
We
will do all the bookings and pay each individual
provider on your behalf. In other words, you go and have fun and we'll take care
of the details for you.
