Accompanying Persons

ACCOMPANYING PERSONS PROGRAMME

MONDAY, 24TH AUGUST 2009

BARCELONA AND GAUDI ARCHITECTURE

DEPARTURE FROM: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)
ITINERARY: GOTHIC QUARTER >> SACRED FAMILY (SAGRADA FAMILIA) >> GÜELL PARK
ENDING AT: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)

VISIT TO BARCELONA AND GAUDI ARCHITECTURE INCLUDES COACH, ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE, LUNCH AND ENTRANCE TO SAGRADA FAMILIA.

MAXIMUM DURATION: 8 HOURS
MINIMUM TO CARRY OUT THE EXCURSION: 20 PAX

The Montjuïc Mountain: built on in 1929 for the World Fair, it has a cultural part: The National Museum of Catalonian Art (Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña - MNAC), the Joan Miro Foundation, the Barcelona Pavilion (Miess Van de Rohe); and another sports area: Olympic Ring, hub of the 1992 Olympic Games. The Palau San Jordi, the Picornell swimming pools, the Sports University, the Calatrava Tower, etc., all stand out in this area.

Port: we will see the maritime façade of the ‘Port Vell’ (Old Port) converted into a fully integrated city port in the heart of Barcelona. This space contains a large leisure area, with the 'Maremagnum’ and the Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe.

Gothic Quarter - stopover: we will visit the religious centre -Cathedral square-, the civil centre -Sant Jaume square- and the royal centre –Plaça del Rei (King’s square)-. The important social and cultural axis of the ‘Ramblas’ will be explained.

Columbus Monument: where ‘La Rambla' meets the sea near the Royal Shipyards that house the Maritime Museum. This column was erected in commemoration of Christopher Columbus being received by the Catholic kings in the city of Barcelona on his return from America.

Passeig de Gràcia (Gràcia boulevard): the central boulevard of the city, is the area of luxury shops and the most famous international brand names. Several modernist buildings, among which two of Gaudi’s works stand out: the ‘Casa Batlló’ (Batllo House) and the ‘Casa Milà’ (Mila House), better known as “La Pedrera” (the Quarry).

Sagrada Familia – stopover: unfinished temple of the master architect Antoni Gaudí, who consecrated his later years to this project, synthesis of his integral concept of architecture. The richness of details and their symbology, which will be explained by the guide, will allow the visitor to appreciate the fascinating and extraordinary construction in its entirety.

Güell Park – stopover: unfinished residential area project financed by Eusebi Güell, work of Gaudi. The park gathers all the Modernism characteristics, as well as the architect's personal insight (sinuous and organic forms, integration into nature), "trencadís” (composition made with pieces of ceramic and mosaics). It is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

TUESDAY, 25TH AUGUST 2009

MONTSERRAT

DEPARTURE FROM: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)
ITINERARY: MONTSERRAT MONASTERY
ENDING AT: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)

VISIT TO MONTSERRAT INCLUDES COACH, ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE, LUNCH AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE MONTSERRAT MONASTERY.

MAXIMUM DURATION: 8 HOURS MINIMUM TO CARRY OUT THE EXCURSION: 20 PAX

Exterior of the sanctuary: the guided visit consists in a route round the precinct of the sanctuary. Stops will be made at each one of the most significant monuments: the “Abat Oliba” sculpture, the one of Sant Jordi de Subirachs, the main façade of the Basilica, the ancient gothic cloister (XV century), the romanesque portico and the most outstanding parts of the architectural complex of the atrium.
Each one of these places helps us to know the history of Montserrat, from its origins up to our days.

Montserrat Museum: presentation of the six collections: modern painting, ancient painting, goldsmithery, Nigra Sum and Phos Hilaron. Likewise the peculiar structure of the building, where the museum is, which is the work of Puig i Cadafalch, will be explained. The visit centres on the important art collection that occupies the majority of the museum.
The paintings, mainly religious, correspond to the period from the XIII to the XVIII centuries (Berruguete, Caravaggio, El Greco, etc.).
The realistic art is represented with the works of Martí Alsina, “l’Escola d'Olot” (the Olot Art College)
Modernism has space in the museum with the artist Rusiñol i Casas. Likewise; the works of Picasso, Novell and Mir highlight the Impressionism and the ‘Noucentisme’.

Audiovisual Space: is an exhibition that shows the daily activity of the monks and the most representative spaces of the monastery. An audiovisual presentation highlights the spiritual and symbolic dimension of Montserrat and a CD-Rom allows having a virtual journey through the monastery.

WEDNESDAY, 26TH AUGUST 2009

OPTION A: GIRONA, FIGUERAS AND DALI MUSEUM

DEPARTURE FROM: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)
ITINERARY: GIRONA >> FIGUERES >> DALÍ MUSEUM
ENDING AT: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)

TOUR OPTION A: FIGUERES AND DALÍ MUSEUM INCLUDES COACH, ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE, LUNCH AND ENTRANCE TO THE DALÍ MUSEUM

MAXIMUM DURATION: 8 HOURS
MINIMUM TO CARRY OUT THE EXCURSION: 20 PAX

GIRONA: offers great cultural and historical wealth, acquired during its 2000 years of existence. There are many cultures that have left their mark in the streets of the city: Iberians, Greek, Romans, Arabs, Jews, Christians… Its period of utmost splendour and great social and economical stability dated from the XIII and XIV centuries, when the Call or Jewish quarter and the Hebrew community were the maximum exponent of this period.

© Instituto de Turismo de España
Nano Cañas.

The houses on the Onyar river: really these are the rear façades of the buildings on the streets parallel to the river, built between the XVII and the XX century on an ancient wall that separated the city from the river.

The walk along the wall: here is the Jardines de la Francesa (the French Lady's Garden) named as such because of the ancient owner's nationality. Terrace structured at different levels, they are surrounded by the wall that can be followed offering a wonderful panoramic view.

The Arab baths: as from the XI century, coinciding with development of urban life, the tradition of public baths was regained in Catalonia, following the model of Roman Thermals, of Jewish Mikvehs and of Muslim Baths.

The Cathedral: the cathedral dedicated to Saint Mary, is the prime temple of dioceses in artistic, monumental and religious aspects. The main nave is the widest of European Gothic (22.98 metres or 75.4 feet).

FIGUERES: Salvador Dalí was a universal man, but his roots appear in many of his works. His birthplace was permanently with him. L’Empordà is a magnificent territory to discover and visit the different spots that Dali dreamt about. In fact, the art collector Reynolds Morse was the fist in talking about “Dali land”, which he considered to be an obligatory landmark in understanding the cosmography of the painter. Figueras, commercial, social and cultural centre of the Alt Emporda, lives under the magic influence of surrealism. This locality was the birthplace of Dali, also his remains rest there.

© Instituto de Turismo de España
Fernando Alvira.

Dalí Theatre-Museum: should be considered as a whole, like the great works of Salvador Dalí. The artist did not want either catalogues or the chronological ordering of his works. Installed in the old theatre in Figueres, Dalí decided to exhibit his great works there like “Naked Gala looking at the sea while at 18 metres distance president Lincoln appears", "The bread basket", “Galarina", “Leda Atomica”, etc.

OPTION B: PORTAVENTURA

[CANCELLED]

DEPARTURE FROM: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)
ITINERARY: PORTAVENTURA
ENDING AT: FIRA (CONGRESS HALL)

TOUR OPTION B: INCLUDES COACH, ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE, LUNCH CHECKS AND ENTRANCE TO PORTAVENTURA.

MAXIMUM DURATION: 8 HOURS
MINIMUM TO CARRY OUT THE EXCURSION: 20 PAX

PortAventura is a unique place in the heart of the ‘Costa Daurada’. The environment of the park transports the visitors to Imperial China, the Far West, the exotic Polynesian jungles and Aztecan Mexico. The legendary Dragon Khan, the free fall of the Hurricane Condor or the speed of Furious Baco are some of the most exciting attractions in the park.