Montserrat Royal Basilica Half-Day Trip (Morning):
After driving through picturesque little villages you will arrive at the craggy mountain of Montserrat and the Royal Basilica. Montserrat has been one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites for hundreds of years, due to the famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of the Moreneta, the Black Virgin.
After hearing an introduction to Montserrat from your guide, learning about its importance in past and present times, use your free time (roughly 2 hours) to explore independently and discover the site’s magic on your own. Then, meet back up with your guide later to travel back to Barcelona by coach.
On your way back to Barcelona you will make a stop at the harbor, before continuing to the terminal to commence your tour of the city’s Gaudi-designed highlights.
Artistic Barcelona Tour: (4.5 hours)
Set off on your afternoon tour with a stroll to La Sagrada Familia, arguably one of the most prized of Gaudi’s architectural works. Make your way around the outside of the UNESCO-listed cathedral, gazing up at its sky-piercing spires, and learn about its history from your guide. Created during the artist’s final days, the cathedral remains unfinished but is said to have been his most ambitious project.
From the cathedral, follow your guide to Park G?ell, an extensive garden complex located on the hill of El Carmel that was also designed by Gaudi. Known for its architectural features with mosaic terraces, curved walls and eye-catching sculptures, the park attracts lengthy entrance lines. Skip past the lines with your fast-track ticket, and head inside to explore the abundance of pretty walkways and leafy parkland with your guide.
Having admired the colorful mosaics, statues and architecture inside the park, continue to Passeig de Gr?cia in central Barcelona. On a stroll down the street, stop to see two of Gaudi’s home-turned-museums: Casa Batll? and La Pedrera. Learn how the wealthy Batll? and Mil? families commissioned the artist to create their residences, and of the controversy that the attention-grabbing abodes created.