Shorexc

Description

About this tour

The capital of Catalunya is also one of the capitals of many important arts in Spain. Starting with football, with mighty FC Barcelona, until the pictorial arts with names as Picasso, Dali and Gaudí, Barcelona combines modern and historic architecture in a unique way. Founded by the Romans, it became the capital of the county of Barcelona by the Middle Ages and then by merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, the capital of the Principality of Catalonia.

Barcelona has been also the centre of Catalan separatism, since at least the Catalan Revolt of 1640, through the centuries, wars and regimes and still standing proud today. At Plaza Nova and Sant Jaume Square you will see roman ruins that witness the birth of the city, over 2000 years ago. The monumental medieval architecture will take you to the middle ages, like in Plaça del Rei, with the viceroy’s palace and the beautiful Palau Reial, where the Spanish Catholic kings received Christopher Columbus when he returned from his first journey to the New World.

See the outside of the cathedral of Barcelona and the Santa Maria del Mar church, the best examples of Catalan gothic style. Discover the jewish neighbourhood of El Call, and discover the contrasts that have marked Catalan and Spanish history. Walk through the Las Ramblas avenue, known for its street artists, little coffees and traditional Catalonian restaurants. We will unveil the complex layers of this city’s complex past, through a city neighborhood that never lost its ancient atmosphere even today. An unique opportunity to experience this unique side of Barcelona.

During this walking tour you will learn about the history of Catalunya, the foundation legends connected to Hannibal and Hercules, the Roman period, the arrival of the Visigoths, the Muslim domain, the Reconquista and the Spanish Rule, the Civil war and Franco dictatorship, as well as the modern life.