Air-conditioned motor coach transportation! All fees and taxes included! English and Spanish speaking and trained Barcelona excursion guides! Scenic drive past several of the major sites in Barcelona Spain! See four of Gaudi's UNESCO World Heritage Sites! See the unique interior and exterior of Sagrada Familia! Walking exterior visit of Gaudi buildings on Passeig de Gracia! Admission and free time
to explore Park Guell! Enjoy a combination motor coach and walking excursion to view some of Barcelona's most famous sites and highlights by Antoni Gaudi. Your meeting point is a short 20-minute taxi ride from your Barcelona cruise pier where you will be greeted by your shore excursion guide staff. Your excursion begins at the adjacent Sagrada Familia Cathedral. You will walk with your guide to the basilica and begin an interior visit. The famous architect, Antoni Gaudi designed the church in a Latin cross plan with five aisles. The vaults reach a height of 230 feet and every little nook seems to be filled with extremely rich ornamentation and symbolism. You will also visit the Sagrada Familia museum, where you will see drawings, plaster models and pictures about the history and development of this basilica from its early beginnings to the present day. Total time at the basilica is approximately 45 minutes. Next, you will hop aboard the air-conditioned transport and join the Best of Gaudi group for a 20 minute drive to Parc Guell, located on a hillside overlooking the city. Started in 1900, this urban housing development is a perfect example of Gaudi's Catalan modernism during its nature phase. Unfortunately, due to finances and a lack of interest by the public, the development was never finished. No Gaudi excursion would be complete without seeing two of his most creative works. Casa Mila, (La Pedrera) is an apartment complex of two buildings designed in a constant curve. There are very few right angles inside or out. An exterior visit is made before walking down the street to Casa Batllo, the Bone House. It is a re-imaging of an existing private house. Like anything Gaudi designed, it is slightly identifiable as Modernism or Art Nouveau but only in a very broad sense. Look closely, the roof may or may not be a dragon. You decide. The excursion ends at Casa Batllo (Passeig de Gracia #43). From here, it is a leisurely 10 minute walk to Placa Catalunya, six blocks away or you can catch a taxi or subway to another area of town. Both Casa Mila and Casa Batllo close at 08:00 PM and your excursion will end approximately 07:30 PM. 30 minutes is not enough time to see either interior. We suggest you make plans to see it when you have a minimum 60 minutes for Batllo or 90 minutes for Mila. You may return to your cruise ship at your leisure and own expense. NOTE: The order you visit the attractions may vary. French and German speaking guides available on Fridays only.
