Montserrat Sagrada Familia and Barcelona Highlights Small Group Full Day Tour

Summary

Travel through the history of Barcelona, all the way from the Romans, following the medieval city. Pay special attention to the Modernist architecture including Antoni Gaudí ’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia and disposing skip-the-line entrance tickets. Discover the mystic Mountain of Montserrat and its Benedictine Monastery. Enjoy a pick up by your guide at your accommodation in Barcelona and journey by a private vehicle, shared by a friendly small group of no more than 8 people.

Tour highlights

• Discover the hilltop religious retreat of Montserrat and sample the best of Barcelona

• Visit the 12th-century carving of Our Lady of Montserrat, also known as La Moreneta.

• Explore the 'Holy Cave' where the Madonna is said to have once appeared.

• Small group size limited to no more than 8 guests.

• Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the city

• Avoid long lines at La Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s crowning masterpiece.

• Wander along the ancient Roman walls and narrow, winding streets of the Gothic Quarter before visiting a 2,000-year-old Roman Temple.

• Stroll down the elegant Passeig de Gracia, marveling at Modernist masterpieces like La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Points of interest

• Passeig de Gràcia:
  The most luxurious avenue of Barcelona, home to the most distinctive examples of Catalan Modernist architecture. Marvel at the surprising façades of Gaudi’s famous houses (Casa Batlló and Milà, also known as la Pedrera). Discover the ‘apple of discord’

• Eixample District:
  This district was designed by Ildefons Cerdà after 1859, when authorities approved his plan to expand the city. (The word “Eixample” actually means “expansion” in Catalan!) Cerdà’s idea of urban planning was revolutionary and utopian, a fact you will observe directly while walking through the streets of this elegant neighborhood.

• Sagrada Familia:
  Perhaps the most emblematic landmark of Barcelona. There are no words to describe the feeling one gets when entering this magnificent temple of Modernism. The organic shapes found throughout its structure, the light filtering through its stained glass windows and the symbolic nature of the building’s sculpted façade will probably be the highlight of this tour (if not of your whole stay in Barcelona!)

• Waterfront:
  Over time, Barcelona's coast has always adapted to the needs of the city’s people. Its latest architecture is best represented by the World Trade Center and the converted Old Port. The Old Port is now full of fantastic shops, restaurants and nightclubs, while still maintaining the charm of its past. Around the coast you will also find the Columbus Monument and the beautiful Gothic building of the Drassanes.

• Montjuïc Mountain:
  Originally used as a strategic place from which to defend the city against attack, this impressive mountain borders the Mediterranean Sea. From its summit you will enjoy fantastic views of the Barcelona skyline. The mountain is home to several buildings that perfectly exemplify modern art and contemporary architecture. These include the sport facilities belonging to the Olympic Ring, as well as museums like the Miró Foundation and Caixa Forum. You will also discover examples of urbanism and architecture specially designed for the International Exhibition of 1929.

• Old Town:
  This is where the history of Barcelona first started. In Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella you will find a harmonious mix of modernity with Roman and medieval imprints right in the city center. Learn all about Barcelona’s origins and about some of the most fascinating Catalan traditions. Explore the charming corners, picturesque plazas and narrow alleys of the Gothic Quarter. We especially recommend a visit to Plaça Sant Jaume and the famous Cathedral.

• Natural Park of the Mountain of Montserrat:
  Declared a Natural Park in 1987, this rocky massif is characterized by the rounded shape of its peaks. The unique natural landscape offers a rare beauty for visitors to enjoy.

• Monastery and the Black Madonna:
  This Benedictine abbey has existed for almost one thousand years. It serves as an authentic spiritual retreat center and place of pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin of Montserrat. The current image of the 'Black Madonna', a wooden carving from the twelfth century, is a true symbol of the Catalan culture.