06 Jun 13 Nights in Spain & Portugal: Part 1: Barcelona
Part 1: Barcelona
Our travel expert Teresa is currently on an epic 13-night adventure throughout Spain and Portugal. Check out her full itinerary below:
Sunday, May 26: Leave Omaha @ 11:21 AM.
Monday, May 27: Arrive in Barcelona @ 10:20 AM local time.
Thursday, May 30: Fly from Barcelona @ 12 PM & arrive in Madrid at 1:35 PM local time.
Saturday, June 1: Fly from Madrid at 12:10 PM & arrive in Lisbon, Portugal at 12:30 PM local time.
Monday, June 3: Leave Lisbon by train at 2:09 PM and arrive in Porto, Portugal at 4:50 PM local time.
Thursday, June 6: Leave Porto by train at 1:25 PM and arrive in Santiago, Spain at 6:15 PM local time.
Sunday, June 9: Fly from Santiago at 5:05 PM and arrive in Dublin at 6:15 PM local time.
Monday, June 10: Fly from Dublin at 11:20 AM and arrive in Chicago at 2 PM local time.
Teresa’s group divided on May 30th, when a brave bunch including her husband Jeff and her daughter Courtni set out to walk a portion of the Camino in Spain. Stay tuned for a full post on this portion of the trip coming to the travel blog soon! For now, let’s check out what Teresa’s half of the crew experienced during their time in Barcelona. Later this week, we’ll recap their time in Madrid and next week, we’ll cover their adventures in Portugal. We’ll also give you all the details on Courtni and Jeff’s hike through Camino in a separate post coming soon.
Barcelona, Spain
Teresa and her whole group spent three nights in Barcelona. Here, they experienced amazing cuisine, Montjuic, some of Antoni Gauid’s architectural marvels, the breathtaking Montserrat and more.
Barcelona Cuisine
Montjuïc
Montjuic is a neighborhood located on a scenic hilltop overlooking Barcelona. Teresa and her crew explored the area during their time in the city.
The Museum of Catalan Art
The Museum of Catalan Art is located inside the grand Palau Nacional, or National Palace. It is not just breathtaking from the outside, however. Inside, the museum holds centuries of Catalan art from the 10th through the 20th centuries.
CaixaForum Barcelona
Originally designed as a textile factory, CaixaForum Barcelona holds several modern and contemporary art shows. You’ll find works of art from Dalí, Rodin, Freud, Turner, Fragonard, and Hogarth inside.
Antoni Gaudí’s Architecture
Antoni Guadi is one of the most famous architectural designers in history. It is widely known that when he graduated with his architectural degree in 1878, his headmaster said. ‘Who knows if we have given a diploma to a nutcase or a genius. Time will tell.’ He may have been a bit of both, but his influence on the world of art and architecture, especially in Spain, will live on forever.
La Sagrada Família: Exterior
Although La Sagrada Família is still under construction today, it is still one of the absolute must-see sights in Barcelona. In addition, it is one of Antoni Gaudí’s most famous designs. Construction on the medieval cathedrals began in 1882. If it is completed by the expected date of 2026, the completion will mark a century since the architect’s death. Ask your Enchanted Travel agent about tours of La Sagrada Família. We suggest purchasing the Sagrada Família skip-the-line tour, especially if you are on a tight schedule.
La Sagrada Família: Interior
Park Güell
Park Güell is Antoni Gaudí’s first foray into landscape gardening. The strange, enchanting park and grounds display his passion for natural forms mixed with bright colors and unexpected twists. Only a certain number of people are allowed into the central area of the park each half-hour, so make sure to ask your Enchanted Travel expert to book your tour ahead. The rest of the park is free and you do not need to book in advance to explore it.
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló is one of the most unique residential buildings in all of Europe. It is located on the Passeig de Gràcia. It’s kooky facade offers a glimpse into Gaudí’s odd nature and whimsy. The front is covered in green, blue and mauve tiles and it is recognizable by its wavy windows and balconies. At the top the structure holds an uneven blue-tiled roof and a single tower.
Casa Milà
Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is another famous work of art by Gaudí. It shares a similar whimsical facade as Casa Batlló and was the fourth and final Gaudí work built on Passeig de Gràcia. It was designed for the industrialist Pere Milà i Camps to be his family home. On the upper floors are apartments for rent. Below is what you’ll find on the building’s rooftop:
Montserrat
Montserrat is is located about 50 km southwest of Barcelona. It is considered to be the most significant mountain in Catalonia. This is the site of the miraculous appearance of the Madonna and Child in one of the caves, Santa Cova (Saint Cave). You’ll find a number of small churches and chapels throughout the mountains, as well as the main monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. Head to our Facebook page to see some amazing videos that Teresa shared from her visit here.
Santa Maria de Montserrat
Santa Maria de Montserrat is a monastery at the top of the mountain that houses the depiction of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat. It is accessible by the rack railway that scales the mountain side.
Stay tuned for more on Teresa’s time in Spain, including Madrid. We will also be recapping her time in Portugal, including Lisbon and Porto. In addition, we’ll be posting about Courtni & Jeff’s hike through the Camino. Don’t miss it: Follow us on Instagram (@enchantedtravel_) & Facebook for updates.
To speak to one of our Spain Travel experts, call us at 402-390-9291 or get started here.