DETAILS
In Barcelona, explore its kaleidoscope of remarkable architecture, and admire modernist works by Picasso, Miró, and Gaudí. Embark Sea Cloud II and head for the Balearic island of Mallorca. In its capital, Palma de Mallorca, tour La Seu, a spectacular sandstone cathedral that took 600 years to build. On the Catalan coast, visit Valencia, where architectural styles abound, including architect Santiago Calatrava’s modern masterpieces. Conclude
amid the Roman ruins of Tarragona, formerly Tarraco, the Iberian Peninsula’s oldest Roman settlement, before returning to Barcelona for disembarkation.
- Pricing from
- $6,999
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Ocean & Sea Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Oct 18, 2024 - Oct 26, 2024
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
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day 1
DEPARTURE
Depart for Barcelona on an overnight flight.
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day 2
BARCELONA, SPAIN / GIRONA
Upon arrival in Barcelona, gather for lunch, then head to the northeast coast of Catalonia to Girona. Check into the elegant Hotel Palau de Bellavista, your home for the next three nights. After settling in, join fellow travelers for a welcome cocktail reception this evening.
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day 3
GIRONA
Spend the day exploring historic Girona, an ancient Roman fortified city that was later claimed by Muslims and Franks. A walking tour will uncover Girona’s historic center, which offers evidence of the city’s great wealth during the Middle Ages and boasts a sumptuous ensemble of Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Discover the Catedral de Girona, first constructed in the 12th century, then rebuilt in the 15th century as a late Gothic monument. Admire its nave, the widest of any Gothic church in the world, and view its Romanesque cloister. At the Museu d’Història dels Jueus, a museum of Jewish history, look at items that document the rich Jewish culture which flourished in Girona during medieval times.
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day 4
GIRONA / PÚBOL / FIGUERES / CADAQUÉS
Rise this morning for a tour of Púbol, a small village with ties to one of Spain’s premier artists. Visit the Castell de Púbol, an 11th-century castle that Salvador Dalí restored as a gift for his wife, Gala. Filled with Dalí’s furnishings, artworks, and other treasures, the Castell de Púbol is a superb example of the artist’s unconventional taste. Continue to Figueres, Dalí’s birthplace, and see the world’s largest collection of his works at the Teatre-Museu Dalí, originally a theater. Afterwards, transfer to the Michelin-starred restaurant Mas Pou for lunch in a charming 16th-century farmhouse. This afternoon, return to Girona, driving via the coastal town of Cadaqués, and spend the remainder of the day and dinner at leisure.
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day 5
GIRONA / BARCELONA / EMBARK SEA CLOUD II
Take a morning tour of the Museu d’Art de Girona, installed in the former Bishop’s Palace and a handsome building in its own right. Peruse the museum’s particularly rich collection of medieval illuminated manuscripts and paintings. Continue to the Banys Àrabs (Arab Baths) and the Monestir de Sant Pere de Galligants, a Benedictine monastery whose 12th-century buildings form one of Catalonia’s most outstanding groupings of Romanesque architecture. After a lunch of Spanish specialties, embark the awaiting Sea Cloud II in Barcelona.
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day 6
MORNING AT SEA / PALMA DE MALLORCA
As Sea Cloud II sails to Mallorca, attend a lecture during a morning at sea. An island with a rich history of conquest and occupation, Mallorca has long attracted artists, musicians, and writers, including Frédéric Chopin, Agatha Christie, and Jorge Luis Borges. In the afternoon, step ashore in the capital of Palma, where we hope to enjoy a special visit and drink at the Fundación Bartolomé March, the former residence of a wealthy banker that features a sculpture terrace, a music room, and an extensive collection of maps and manuscripts. Also, visit the splendid Catedral de Santa María de Palma de Mallorca (also known as “La Seu”) and the Basílica de San Francisco. Time permitting, visit the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró a Mallorca, a museum designed by Rafael Moneo, featuring paintings, sculptures, and other treasures donated by Miró. Return to Sea Cloud II and set sail for Valencia.
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day 7
VALENCIA
Enjoy a day admiring the highlights of Valencia, the “City of Gold.” Discover the Old Town with its UNESCO-recognized Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange), a late Gothic masterpiece with its striking cross vaults and marble floors, which has been a commercial center since 1533. You will also visit the Mercado Central (Central Market) and the spectacular 14th- to 15th-century cathedral. Before returning to the ship, visit the Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia or opt to admire the architecture of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava’s boldly futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex.
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day 8
TARRAGONA / POBLET
Discover Tarragona, an ancient Roman port city with an elegant medieval center. Upon arrival, explore the city’s incomparable history at the Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona, followed by visits to the impressive seaside Roman amphitheater and the medieval bridge Pont del Diable. Continue to the Cistercian monastery of Poblet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the kings and queens of Catalonia and Aragon are buried. This evening, gather for the captain’s farewell reception and dinner.
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day 9
BARCELONA / DISEMBARK / RETURN
Disembark Sea Cloud II this morning, and transfer to the airport for flights home. B
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