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Shore
Excursion
in Barcelona - Panoramic Tour
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
This easy drive through Barcelona is a
wonderful introduction to one of Spain's most beautiful cities. Begin
with a panoramic drive up Montjuic, a hill that rises above the harbor
and is named after the Jewish community that once lived on its slopes.
Today it is the site of the Olympic Stadium and Spanish Village, as well
as several important museums, including the Miro Foundation. The
downhill drive takes you to Plaza d'España and the old bullring that is
used today for political rallies and theater performances. The street is
lined with the city's most elegant shops, and some of Antoni Gaudi's
most eye-catching buildings. On Barcelona's main thoroughfare, Avenida
Diagonal, you get your first glimpse of the city's most eccentric
landmark - Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia, left unfinished after his death
in 1926. Pause for a photograph of the church or buy a postcard of this
strikingly surreal structure. Your tour concludes with a view of the
Olympic Village and the new marina.
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Shore
Excursion
in Montserrat
Duration: Approximately 8 hours
Drive north about 35 miles through
picturesque countryside to the sacred Mountain of Montserrat, one of
Spain's natural wonders. The highest peak of this jagged mountain range
reaches 4,072 feet. At one time, the mountain's many caves were
inhabited by religious hermits. Approximately halfway up the mountain
stands the famous Montserrat Monastery, built by Philip II between 1563
and 1592. Apart from its incredible setting, it is world famous for its
shrine of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Montserrat, the patroness of
Catalonia affectionately called "La Moreneta." The shrine was dedicated
to the image of the Virgin and has been considered for many years one of
Spain's most significant places of pilgrimage. You will visit the
16th-century basilica, which was built in the Renaissance style with
some Gothic features, the cloister and the Black Virgin. Afterwards,
listen to the famous Escolania choir from the monastery's School of
Music. The school was founded in the 15th century and is one of the
oldest in Europe. Following the performance, lunch will be served in a
nearby restaurant. After returning to Barcelona, enjoy a brief tour of
the city before returning to the ship.
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Shore
Excursion
Highlights of Barcelona
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Take a short ride to the Gothic Quarter,
Barcelona's oldest section, where its medieval heritage is concentrated
in a maze of narrow cobblestone streets. Your walking tour begins with a
visit to the magnificent Gothic cathedral, with beautiful stained glass
windows and small chapels that date back to 1298. Then drive to
Montjuic, a hill on whose slopes a Jewish community once lived. From
this vantage point, you will have a fine view of the city and the sea
beyond. From here, you can also see the exterior of the Olympic Stadium.
Next, you will see one of Spain's unique sights, La Sagrada Familia.
Designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1881 but never completed, this church is a
fine example of his creative genius. Other highlights include
Barcelona's finest promenade, Las Ramblas, and Catalunya Square.
Note: Comfortable walking shoes are
recommended for touring the Gothic Quarter.
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Shore Excursion
Historic & Architectural Highlights
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Begin your tour with a short drive to
Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, where you will follow your guide on a
walking tour through the narrow alleyways of the city's oldest section,
unrivaled for its medieval atmosphere and wealth of historic buildings.
Visit the magnificent Gothic Cathedral, built from 1298 to 1450, with
its exquisite stained glass windows and beautifully carved choir stalls.
Continue through the busy city center, along Barcelona's famous Las
Ramblas, and past Plaza de Catalunya, the main square, north to the
Passeig de Gracia with its modern architecture. See Spain's
extraordinary La Sagrada Familia (Church of the Holy Family). Designed
by Antoni Gaudi in 1881 and never completed, it is a shining example of
the artist's genious. Continue north to Parc Guell. Originally intended
as a hillside garden suburb, it instead became an Art Nouveau
extravaganza with a mosaic pagoda, undulating benches, and large
multicolored lizards guarding a grotto. It also contains the house where
Gaudi lived from 1906 to 1926. After a guided stroll through this most
unusual park, you'll return to the ship.
Note: Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
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Shore
Excursion
Picasso & Miro Museums
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Your tour begins with a visit to the medieval
Ribera Quarter, which houses the beautiful Santa Maria del Mar Gothic
church. Next you'll visit the Picasso Museum in the Carrer de Montacada.
It includes a broad collection of items donated by the artist to the
city before the civil war, and demonstrates Picasso's intimate
connection to Barcelona. This is where the great artist completed his
apprenticeship and produced his early works. Following your visit to the
museum, drive to Montjuic, where you'll enjoy impressive views of
Barcelona and its harbors from on high. Then continue to the Miro
Foundation, a complex of concrete and glass buildings opened in 1975
that are a tribute to the great Catalan artist, Joan Miro. The Miro
Foundation is one of Barcelona's most exciting contemporary art
galleries.
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