On Spain's northeastern coast, Barcelona is the capital of Catalan culture and centre of its renaissance. A guided sightseeing and walking holiday, with one of our experienced HF Holidays' leaders, is a great way to discover the long and varied history of this fascinating and beautiful city.

Glorious medieval architecture competes for attention with audacious modern buildings, such as Gaudi's celebrated unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Earlier history is evident in the elegant medieval palaces and courtyards of the Gothic quarter.

There will also be the opportunity to visit some of Barcelona's many fine museums and art galleries. 

Detailed information

	Detailed itinerary
	Dates and prices
	Travel to resort
	Average temperatures
	What the holiday includes

Detailed itinerary

The following is a suggested programme, but your HF Holidays' leader may adjust it at their discretion, according to the wishes of the group and other factors such as weather and local opening times. There is clearly no obligation to join in any activity, and you should feel free to spend the time as you wish.

Day 1: Arrival day
With your leader stroll down the famous street of Las Ramblas, probably the most celebrated of Mediterranean promenades. It is a largely pedestrianised avenue leading from the Plaça de Catalunya to the harbour. You will find a variety of street entertainers, street stalls, particularly bird sellers and florists which are as busy in the evenings as during the day.

Day 2: An introduction to Barcelona
The Gothic Quarter is the area around the Cathedral. With its grand buildings and maze of atmospheric, dark, narrow streets that are a world apart from the bustle of Las Ramblas, just a few minutes' walk away. Nearby you will find the Plaça del Rei (Kings Square), which is the historic centre of the district, with Gothic buildings that were an integral part of the Palau Major.

Palau de Musica Catalana: Opened in 1908, this is one of architect Lluis i Montaner's most unconventional modernistic designs.

The Casa Mila was designed by Gaudi as a block of apartments for his client Mila i Camps Segimon. The attic space has been turned into an exhibition hall with videos, drawings and models of all of Gaudi's works. One of the apartments is now open to the public and is furnished in the style of its original occupants.

Day 3: In the footsteps of Gaudi
Antoni Gaudi i Cornet was born in Reus on 25 June 1852. He studied architecture in the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and his contribution to the city's wealth of artistic monuments is considerable.

In 1883 Gaudi took over the responsibility for the completion of the great temple of Barcelona; the Sagrada Familia. He dedicated 43 years to the project until his death in 1926. Since then experts have been working slowly on the building. When you see it you will understand the vast scale involved and the brilliance of the man who conceived such a fantastic and controversial project.

Hospital de la Santa Crieu i Saint Pau: In the early 20th century Lluis Domenech i Montaner built a hospital complex which, in contradiction to the established principles of construction, was not a single unified building. Combined on one single site are the various hospital departments each housed in a pavilion and separated from each other by wide expanses of grass. The buildings display characteristic modernistic façade decorations.

Guell Park: This park was designed by Gaudi and it was planned to be a complete private garden estate. The park has since been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Day 4: Montuïc and the Olympic site
The Palau Guell was Gaudi's first major building in Barcelona. It is situated just off the Ramblas and was completed in 1899. The interior is decorated in typical Gaudi style, particularly his trademark use of ceramic mosaics on uneven surfaces. The interior will unfortunately be closed until December 2006.

The Olympic Site occupies a position on Montuïc Hill, overlooking the city and was used to stage the 1992 Olympics.

In the afternoon there is plenty of time to visit the museums in and around the Montuic Hill area, including the Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya and the Fundació Joan Miró, one of the most influential 20th century Spanish artists.

Day 5: Departure day

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Dates and prices

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Travel to resort

Guests who have booked their holiday 'with flight' will arrive at terminal B in Barcelona airport. The onward journey by coach to the hotel takes around 45 minutes. Guests wishing to join the transfer should meet by the arrivals gate in terminal B. Iberia, along with most airlines from the UK into Barcelona, do not serve in-flight meals.

Latest HF Holidays Flight Information - updated 21/08/07 (provisional)

Iberia
Heathrow - Barcelona
Out 09:20 - 12:25
Return 13:20 - 14:40

Monarch Airways
Manchester* - Barcelona
Out 08:00 - 11:25
Return 12:20 - 13:40
*Manchester flight supplement: £50

Airport Parking: To book secure airport parking throughout the UK visit Purple Parking or Holiday Extras to book on-line.

Airport Hotels: To book airport hotels throughout the UK visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.

Making Your Own Travel Arrangements
By air to Barcelona: Barcelona is served by a number of direct scheduled, charter and 'low-cost' flights from the UK. If you are booking your own flights you may wish to consider one of the following options:

www.iberia.co.uk flights from Heathrow.

www.easyjet.com flights from Bristol, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton, Newcastle and Stansted.

www.jet2.com flights from Leeds/Bradford and Belfast.

www.thomsonfly.com flights from Coventry.

www.flyglobespan.com flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

www.flymonarch.com flights from Manchester.

From Barcelona airport join the HF Holidays' transfer for £20 return. Please contact our Reservations Team to find out the latest times and book your place.

By public transport, the most convenient means is by bus. The Aerobus (A1) runs from the airport to 'Plaça Catalunya' in the city centre every 15mins and takes around 35mins. A single ticket costs approx. €3.30.

Barcelona airport is also connected to the city centre by a train service operated by RENFE, the Spanish national railway. The station at the airport lies midway between terminals A and B. Trains run approximately every half-hour, take about 23mins to reach and cost approx. €2.20. Taxis are available from the terminal forecourt and cost approximately €20 into Barcelona.

By air to Girona: Girona-Barcelona airport is situated around an hour to the North of Barcelona. Ryanair operate a number of direct flights from regional airports in the UK:

www.ryanair.com flights from Luton, Stansted, Liverpool, Blackpool, Prestwick, Bournemouth and East Midlands.

A bus service operated by Sagales (tel: 0034 902 361 550) connects Ryanair flights to Estacio del Nord, the main bus station in the centre of Barcelona which takes around 1hr 10 mins. From there you can catch the metro from the Arc De Triomf metro station (Red Line, L1) the short distance to Liceu metro station from where it is a 5mins walk to the hotel.

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Temperatures

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What the holiday includes

• Return economy class air (with flight).
• 4 nights' accommodation in double or twin-bedded en-suite rooms.
• Bed & Breakfast.
• Services HF of Holidays' leaders.
• Detailed itineraries.

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