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Itinerary
Highlights:
Days 1, 2 &
3 -
Barcelona
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12:00
noon - Check
into the
hotel
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The
hotel is
located in the
right Eixample,
close to Paseo
de Gracia,
Plaza
Catalunya,
Avenue Diagonal
and the Gothic
Quarter. It is
close to some
of our favorite
places,
including:
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La
Rambla, the
tree-shaded
pedestrian
boulevard that
offers a little
something for
everyone, from
art to food to
flowers.
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The
Picasso Museum,
which contains
a collection of
the painter's
early work and
more. Included
here is his
interpretation
of
Velázquez's
series of Las
Meninas.
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The
Miró
Foundation,
which houses an
extensive
selection from
Joan
Miró's
works and other
Spanish and
international
art.
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The
Palau de la
Música,
one of the
world's leading
concert halls.
Built in 1905,
its rococo
spaces play
host to
musicians from
around the
world.
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Park
Güell, a
fanciful
housing
community that
just didn't
catch on in its
day. Its wavy,
colorful roofs
and benches,
designed in
mosaic tiles,
are highlights
of a popular
park in a
woodland
setting, which
also features
Gaudi's own
spartan
residence.
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The
Sagrada Familia
(Church of the
Holy Family), a
daring work
that's been in
progress for
more than 110
years. The
National
Geographic says
this
magnificent
cathedral
represents the
muscle and
imagination
that lifted
Barcelona to
the economic
and cultural
leader it is
today.
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Casa
Milá
(also known as
La Pedrera or
the quarry),
with its
irregularly
curved
limestone walls
reminiscent of
desert sand
dunes.
Originally
thought too
futuristic, it
is today
considered a
landmark of
modern
architecture.
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While
in Barcelona
you have the
option taking a
half-day
cooking class,
a workshop,
combined with a
visit to the
world famous
Boqueria market
to select the
freshest
ingredients.
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Leaving
Catalunya, we
continue our
journey to the
Basque Country.
A short flight
takes us over
the Pyrenees to
the beautiful
Basque seaside
resort city of
San
Sebastián-Donostia.
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Days 4 &
5 -
San
Sebastian-Donostia
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From
your hotel
balcony you
enjoy the
expansive view
of San
Sebastián's
beautiful
crescent shaped
beach, La
Concha.
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On
the first
afternoon in
San
Sebastián
we will visit
the Parte
Vieja, the Old
City, often
referred to as
the jewel of
Euskadi. Filled
with numerous
pintxos bars
and outstanding
restaurants,
San
Sebastián
is considered
the center of
Basque
cuisine.
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One
the second day
we will visit
the Chillida
Leku, a
sprawling park,
home to the
works of
internationally
famous sculptor
Eduardo
Chillida.
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Days 6 &
7 -
Bilbao -
Guernica
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Bilbao,
once an
industrial
wasteland, has
transformed
itself to
become the
leading
business center
in the Basque
Country and
norther Spain,
and is
challenging San
Sebastian as
the center of
Basque cuisine
and
culture.
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Today
we visit the
famed Frank
Gehry designed
Guggenheim
museum after a
quick stop in
Bilbao's Casco
Viejo at the
equally famous
Riverside
Market built by
the architect
Pedro Ispizua
in
1929.
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On
our last day we
visit
Gernika-Lomo,
the center of
Basque culture
and history and
it's famed Tree
of Guernica,
the Basque
symbol of
heritage, law
and freedom and
the inspiration
for Picasso's
controversial
masterpiece
Guernica.
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Day 8
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Taxi
to the Bilbao
airport for
your flight
home.
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