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Check-in date

Check-out date


Day 1

Barcelona's sky - photo Alessandra Bisio
Barcelona's sky - photo Alessandra Bisio

Arrive at El Prat airport and meet with local specialised guide. Transfer to the OMM Design Hotel in the centre of town and check in. Welcome cocktail and 90 minute talk on political, economic and social factors that conditioned the development of the city.
Guided walk through the historic centre of town, down the Rambla until arriving at the Old Port where interventions in the 90’s were done to integrate the waterfront into the city with the creation of pedestrian areas and public spaces like Moll d’Espanya, Parco dell’istmo, Rambla del Mar, and the new shopping area Maremagnum (Vilaplana/ Piñon), also the recently requalified de Raval neighbourhood.
Proceed to the MACBA- Museum of Contemporary Art (Richard Meier, 1995) and the CCCB- Centre for Contemporary Culture (Viaplana/ Piñon, 1993). The walk continues through the Barri Gòtic, with visit to the gothic cathedral Santa Eulalia (1298-1359), until reaching Plaça San Jaume. The tour proceeds to the art nouveau Palau de la Musica Catalana (Lluìs Domènech i Montaner, 1908), listed by UNESCO and the Mercato di Santa Caterina (extension by Miralles/ Tagliabue, 2005). Dinner on the waterfront and return to hotel.

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Day 2

Gaudì - photo Cristiano De Sciscicolo
Gaudì - photo Cristiano De Sciscicolo

Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Full day tour of works by Antoni Gaudì with expert guide, special attention will be paid to the following buildings: Casa Mila (1910), Casa Batllò (1904), the Gùell building and Gùell park (1900 - 1914) with free time for lunch at the open air cafè, then on to Casa Calvet (1900), Sagrada Familia (1883- today). Return to the hotel and dinner on own.


Day 3

Around Agbar - photo Giovanbattista Bonomi
Around Agbar - photo Giovanbattista Bonomi

Breakfast buffet at the hotel and departure through the area of Barcoleneta and the Olympic Port. Pause to examine the recovery of 7 km of coastline once used to pump industrial waste water into the sea and today, for beaches. Drive past the fish sculpture (Gehry, 1992) and the two towers that characterise the city skyline. Departure for the hill of Montjuïc: arrival at the lookout point over the city for an unbeatable view of the Bach de Roda bridge (Calatrava, 1987), the Agbar Tower (Nouvel, 2005), World Trade Centre (Pei, 1994), Terminal for transatlatic ships (Fàbragas, 1997), Collserola Communication Tower (Foster, 1992). Walk up to the Fundaciòn Joan Mirò (Josep Lluis Sert, 1972), free time to visit the building, the collection and lunch at the museum cafè.
In the afternoon, visit to the sports facilities and complexes built for the ’92 Olympics, including buildings by Isozaki, Gregotti, Bofill, Fernandez, Calatrava and others, (1985-1992). Proceed on foot downhill to the Magic Fountain (Boighias, 1963) and then on to the 1929 Expo buildings, in particular the German Pavilion (Mies van der Rohe), the Palacio Nacional de Montjuïc, currently the Musuem for Catalan Art. Visit to the Caixa Forum: Musuem and Cultural Centre housed inside a modernist factory (extension Isozaki, 2002). Return to hotel and dinner on own.


Day 4

Barcelona by night - photo Eleonora Melis
Barcelona by night - photo Eleonora Melis

Full day tour of contemporary architecture beginning with the site of the 2004 Forum. The ex industrial area and water treatment plant was transformed into exhibition and conference spaces. Guided walking tour with specific attention being paid to the following buildings: Forum Building and Square (Herzog & de Meuron, 2004), with its 3700 m² photovoltaic levelled pergola (Torres/ Lapeña, 2004), Conference Centre and Hotel (Moneo/ MAP Arq., 2004), Parc de la Pau (Abalos/ Herreros, 2004), Parco Diagonal Mar (Miralles/ Tagliabue, 2004), Forum Port (BCQ Arq., 2004). Lunch in the area.
In the afternoon transfer by coach to the Agbar Tower (Nouvel, 2005), the much discussed building that drastically modified the skyline of the city. Visit inside the atrium of the building and move on to the Cataluña National Theatre (Bofill, 1991) and the Auditorium di Barcelona (Moneo, 1994). In the evening transfer to the airport and outbound flight.

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