Tours in Costa Brava and Barcelona
Figueres
Figueres (or Figueras in Castilian) houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí. In fact the city’s fame rests on the extravagant personality of this 20th century histrionic painter. The museum has been created and designed by the great surrealist painter himself and now hosts his last residence and his tomb.
The museum was actually born as a theatre in 1849 with a neoclassical aspect, but was later destroyed in 1939 during the Spanish Civil War. The edifice was chosen by Dalì after he exhibited there his first artwork in 1929: where else could Dali express his great theatricality if not in a theatre? It is not your plainly partitioned theatre but a true artistic masterpiece displaying paintings, statues, frescos, murals, covers, furniture, objects and unpredictable contraptions created by the wild imagination of Salvador Dalì.
Next to the theatre stands the Galatea Tower (Torre Galatea), where Salvador Dalì spent the last years of his life and where he died. The building can be traced back to the mid 19th century, but its external aspect has been revisited by Dalì’s fantasy: he repainted it in pink and topped it with giant eggs and mounted sandwiches.Not one single angle, wall, display or ceiling is presented as a mere “practical” object: everything there is transformed (rather deformed) in an artwork. It is a unique place to try and probe the intricate and creative imagination that raged inside Dalì’s head.
Gerona
Just above Barcelona, Gerona looks still and criss-crossed with alleys, steps and descents. It boasts a charming town centre, paths immersed in greenery, ancient landmarks and most of all a splendid gothic cathedral.
Generally speaking, all the gothic cathedrals in Spain are covered with magnificent and rich decorations and precious materials. However, the Gerona Cathedral is bare from the inside. Its gothic aspect brings forth the fundamental elements of that architectonic style where verticality rules supreme.
Among the other exceptional landmarks are the Houses of the Onyar river. The view of these houses on the river and the bridges hanging over it, is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque sights ever. The oldest of these houses go back to medieval times. They now lean against the walls that surrounded the ancient quarter and the Mercadal borough.
You should not miss touring the Call or the Jewish Quarter. The steep roads surrounding La Forca Street, housed in the medieval era the Jewish community of Gerona. The buildings that now preserve the character of this ancient ghetto are still evident to the eye.
Also a must-see are the Arab Bathes. We advise you to make a quick visit to this oasis of peace that consists of three rooms characterized by the temperature of their water. The base structure rests on Romanesque elements despite the presence of Islamic ornaments.
Sant Nicolau’s Church is a single-aisled Romanesque Lombard temple with a terminal part unusual in Catalonia, made of three apses in the form of a shamrock, and an octagonal tambour leaning on protruding vaults. The underground part of the church that holds Paleochristian funeral finds, is accessible.
The Agullana Palace is a noble baroque residence and the most interesting of its kind in the quarter where it is located.
La Rambla de la Libertat Street is one of the most frequented and active destinations in the city. In medieval times it was used as a marketplace, and apart from its characteristic portals, various architectural elements inside the various shops are witness to the continuous use of this area throughout the centuries.
Its centre is marked by a long avenue sided with two sets of arcades and surrounded by a marvellous assortment of intricate alleys and small medieval squares.
Montserrat
A location famous for its monastery that is still visited since more than 1000 years by the faithful who come to pray to the Black Madonna guarded by the Benedictine monks. Located 61 kilometres from Barcelona, Montserrat is considered to be the foremost spiritual centre of the entire Catalonia.
You can also chose from other tours, visits and entertainment activities, thanks to our special agreements with:
- Sea cruises from Pineda to the entire Costa Brava
- Super Go-Kart, Pineda
- “La Siesta” restaurant show, Pineda
- Gran Palace, night club, music hall
- Marineland, the marine zoo
- Cordera, Medieval Castle, horse tournament shows
- Daily sightseeing bus trips to Barcelona
- Barcelona Zoo
- Water World, the grand acquapark, Lloret de Mar
- Flamenco shows, Lloret de Mar
- Bowling, Lloret de Mar
- Tossa de Mar, private exhibition of Salvador Dalì’s art
- International Observatory of Mediterranean Biology, Gerona
- The Madonna Sanctuary and Benedictine Monastery, Montserrat
- The Jewish Quarter, the Cathedral, Gerona
- Nautilus, the submarine exploring the Medas Islands
- Port Aventura, theme park.
Barcelona
It is the capital of Catalonia, and Spain’s second most important city. Elegant and sober, Barcelona is a seaport on the Mediterranean. It is a sophisticated, refined and romantic place that still preserves the energetic and careless attitude of seaports.
Starting from higher reaches, you can visit Montjuich Park with its terraced gardens that overlook the city from the top of Mount Tibidabo at a 532-meter altitude offering a panoramic view of the whole city. You can then go from there to visit the Juan Mirò Foundation and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.
However the utmost architectonic masterpiece in Barcelona is the incomplete Sagrada Familia basilica born out of the genius mind of architect Antoni Gaudì, who has also created the Casa Batllò, Casa Milà and the Park Guell.
La Ramblas is the hub of city life: a continuous flow of strollers enjoying the city’s atmosphere, and hundreds of fantasy-stimulating cafes, bars, shops and tourist locations.
The Pueblo Español is Barcelona’s closed quarter and it contains the most evocative Spanish buildings.
In the direction of the port, on the right of the Ramblas, you can see the Barrio Chino or the Chinese Quarter, and on its left, you will spot the Barrio Gotico, or the medieval part of Barcelona. Here you can also admire the S. Eulalia Cathedral whose construction started in 1298, the alleyways and the hidden squares. In the shadow of the Santa Maria del Mar church stands the Berenguer de Aguilar Palace, home to the Picasso Museum.
To the east of the cathedral stands the important Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat (City History Museum) which includes, among other things, an underground passage that crosses a great part of the Roman and Visigoth Barcelona.
As far as shopping goes opportunities abound. Els Encants, for instance is a wonderful second-hand market held in Les Glòries Catalanes square, in addition to the antiquarian market in the Plaça Nova and the craftsmen market in Sant Josep Oriol square.
Other landmarks in the port’s area include the column of Christopher Colombus stretching his arm towards the sea, and of course you must not miss visiting one of the nice restaurants found there.
The Olympic Village has been built in a forlorn industrial zone that now contains the Olympic stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi (Olympic gymnasium) and the Poble Espanyol which is a permanent exhibition pavilion displaying Spanish handicrafts; the Marina Olimpica and its 4-kilometre long beach allows you to practice all kinds of water sports. In this area you can also find the Juan Mirò foundation, the Greek Theatre, the Barcelona Fair (Fira de Barcelona) and the Mies Van der Rohe Pavilion.
