Barcelona & Catalonia: A Feast for the SensesBarcelona & Catalonia: A Feast for the Senses

Explore the flowing designs and surreal features of Antoni Gaudí’s architectural genius. The free spirit of his parks and buildings are a defining characteristic of Barcelona. No building better represents Gaudi’s stamp on the city than his as yet unfinished Basilica, La Sagrada Familia. Your discovery of Modernist architecture culminates in an exclusive visit inside a private Barcelona apartment, where you’ll enjoy a home-cooked meal of fideua — similar to paella, but made with vermicelli noodles instead of rice, slowly stewed in fish stock and served with potent garlic aioli. This evening, explore some of Spain’s favorite tapas along with a Spanish wine tasting during an on-foot venture to soak in Barcelona's culinary and cultural identity.

Today you’ll explore a darker side of Barcelona’s history, visiting some of the most important sites from the civil war. You’ll learn about the many ways these events continue to shape modern Spain. To lighten the mood, enjoy a soulful lunch of Botifarra amb Mongetes, the Catalan comfort dish of local pork sausage and stewed white beans adored by Spanish kids everywhere.

This morning you’ll head for the Catalonian countryside. Take to the trail and explore the Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola by foot, marveling at the natural beauty just outside the city. After an easy-going 6-kilometer hike, arrive at a hidden winemaking cooperative, the Can Calop de Dalt estate dating to the 16th century. Their mission is to help people with disabilities integrate into society and here you will taste the fruits of their labor. A festive winery lunch, complete with Xai de Collserola a la Brasa (grilled local lamb), comes served with wines made on site. After lunch, continue on to Penedes, the center for Cava (sparkling wine) production and some of the best natural wines in Spain.

In a local vineyard of D.O. Penedes, you’ll meet the famous Vilafranca del Penedes Castellers. Among many unique Catalonian traditions, this one, dating back to the 18th century, is especially wondrous, recognized as a UNESCO “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible History of Humanity.” In town squares across the region, people form human towers up to ten levels high. The sport of human tower–building is most popular of all in Vilafranca, where teams of people gather in the town square to build these monuments to courage, teamwork, and strength. After learning the history and strategy of this unique art form, you and your co-travelers may even want to build a tower of your own. Afterward, pay a visit to a boundary-pushing local farmer and winemaker leading the way in the natural wine movement. You’ll take to his fields to learn about his winemaking philosophy and production before sitting down for lunch and a tasting. Return to our comfortable boutique hotel where the remainder of the evening is free for you to explore.

Today, delve into the modern Priorat renaissance in winemaking, starting with a visit to one of the region’s prettiest and most fascinating family vineyards. From there, head for the tiny village of Gratallops to experience the charming character of one of the first wineries established in the region. Walk through the dusty slate-rich vineyards that provide their signature mineral character, and match the robust reds (some of the strongest wines in Europe) with a winemaker’s lunch of roast suckling lamb and savory, freshly-baked Catalan flatbreads. After lunch, visit the charming small town of Porrera where you’ll meet the owners of a family-run winery for a tour of their beautiful vineyards and a tasting of their fabulous vintages. The day ends at a converted monastery, now serving as our hotel—a truly luxurious oasis in the middle of the Priorat.

Start the day at the stunningly beautiful clifftop village of Siurana. Take a walk out to the cliff end, famous for the jump a Morrish queen took from the top to avoid capture by Christian invaders. Enjoy an easy-going loop around the mountain, taking time to enjoy the amazing views. After the hike, sit down for a rustic barbecue lunch prepared by our hosts, set spectacularly beneath the majestic Montsant Mountain range. After lunch, the recently restored 12th-century Carthusian Monastery awaits, the linchpin for wine production in medieval times. Take a private tour of the monastery with a local history expert, full of stories from centuries past.

The city of Tarragona is home to 13 UNESCO-listed ruins, all dating to the time of the Romans, including ancient tunnels, walls of thousand-year-old stone buildings, and one of the best-preserved aqueducts in Europe. One of the highlights is the amphitheater, still echoing in the town center. You’ll be joined today by a local expert who can bring the ruins and the events and culture that once thrived here, to life. Lunch is another delicious Catalan feast fit for the Romans, with local cured meats, cheeses, and homemade Spanish tortilla. This afternoon, pay a visit to the grand, 12th-century Poblet monastery, one of the most enchanting monasteries in Spain. Settle back into our hotel in Barcelona before enjoying one last, farewell meal together: a traditional Spanish paella overlooking the sea.

It’s time to say farewell. After breakfast, transfer to the Barcelona International Airport for your flight home.