Spain – Spectacular Gardens and Gaudi Tour 2016

Arrive into Granada and make your way to your hotel…and what a hotel! The historic Hotel Alhambra Palace.

We meet later on this evening to enjoy a Tapas Dinner.

One of the most beautiful gems of architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens started as far back as the 13th Century by the Nasrites. The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. The summer palace is called Generalife. The Generalife is the most charming corner of the Alhambra, thanks to its gardens, ponds and fast-flowing water. In fact, the name of the main courtyard is the Patio de la Acequia – Courtyard of the Water Channel – in reference to the water which coursed through the villa before supplying the Alhambra below. It stands at the foot of Spain’s highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. The Alhambra (Arabic root meaning ‘red’ or ‘crimson’) and Generalife both became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. A short walk from our hotel takes us there where we will enjoy a guided morning visit of the gardens for there is much to see and we want time to soak it all in.

Did you know? The word “Generalife” has been translated as “garden of paradise”, “orchard” or “garden of feasts”.

Then we take a light lunch before walking to the Carmen Rodriguez-Acosta. Wait until you hear the history – romance and more – of this quite startling, eclectic and very cool villa and its gardens. Designed by painter Jose Maria Rodriguez-Acosta in the early 20th Century, our guide will have you spell bound. He traveled the world and loved so many styles… Built in 1914-1930, it is one of the most relevant architectural complexes of that period, a summary of the European style of the twenties and thirties, and declared a National Monument in 1982. Its creator used it as a studio where he developed an important body of work, midway between modernism and symbolism. The steep hill on which the carmen is perched gives rise to its magnificent gardens. They are full of monuments and stand out from the rest of the secluded gardens in Granada.

If there is time we will enjoy a rest at our hotel for it is close by before walking back for a very special night visit of the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra when the intricate and beautiful details of the palace seem to come alive. Built in the 10th century, the complex has been home to a succession of sultans, kings and emirs, giving the site a diverse heritage that’s fascinating to discover. This is indeed a journey back…. to another time and place.

Hotel Alhambra – Classic Room with View

Experience a revival of a grand tradition of European hospitality at Hotel Alhambra Palace. Inspired by the beauty of the Alhambra, our hotel conjures up a sense of culture, aristocracy and elegance. Relax on one of our terraces with a refreshing drink or outstanding gastronomy. Hotel Alhambra Palace has been offering stylish Granada hotel accommodation since 1910. Five minute walk to Alhambra and 10 minute walk to historic center.

http://www.h-alhambrapalace.es/default-en.html

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

Cordoba’s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or “Mezquita” in 785, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements – became one of the largest in all of Islam. When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns, and creating the extraordinary church-mosque we see today.

As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba’s treasures include the Alcazar, or Royal House, built by the Christians in 1328. The Alcazar served as one of the primary residences of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. From 1490 to 1821 the Inquisition operated from here. Today the castle’s gardens are among the most beautiful in Andalucía and also take time to enjoy the Roman mosaics…they are truly special.

We enjoy guided visits of the Alcazar and Mezquita and a quiet joyful time to wander on our own through the many gardens of Viana. This 17th-century palace is one of Córdoba’s most splendid aristocratic homes. Also known as the Museo de los Patios, it contains 12 interior patios, each one different; the patios and gardens are planted with cypresses, orange trees, and myrtles and more. I was so delighted to see this that I bought a book on the patio gardens here…well worth it!

We will also enjoy lunch and a wine tasting too!

Hotel Posada Vallina – Double or Twin Room

This charming hotel is located in the heart of Cordoba, next to the legendary Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral in the Jewish quarter. Guests might find interesting the fact that Christopher Columbus stayed in what is today room 204 during his stay in Cordoba.
http://www.hhposadadevallina.es/

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

But first…on our way we make a very special stop to visit the private gardens of Palacio Moratalla and learn about is unique history dating back to the Romans from our guide. It is currently owned by the Duke of Segovia. I wonder what will impress you more – the majestic 19th century gardens designed by JCN Forestier in the purest style of Versailles and eye popping pink palace nestled in green landscape or a wander behind this all to see acres and acres of orange trees, just hoping to find one on the ground that you can peel and enjoy. Palma is the capital of citrus county located on the border between Cordoba and Sevilla. Oranges from this area are considered in the citrus industry as one the best worldwide.

Did you know? A short history lesson on the Seville Orange!

Although the Seville orange smells like a true orange, it does not have many other obvious award winning virtues. Its rough, thick and bumpy deep orange colored peel clings tightly to its pale orange translucent flesh, making it hard to peel. It is sour, tart, sometimes bitter and laden with seeds. It has two primary attributes: the peel contains fragrant essential oils and its flesh, when ripe is extremely juicy. The most common usage for the Seville orange is for the production of marmalade where it can use its peel and juice to its advantage; any sour and bitter flavors can be developed and enriched into elements of depth. Sour oranges are native to China. Trade routes brought them to Africa and the Mediterranean in the 10th Century. Cultivation of sour orange varieties led to the Seville orange of Seville, Spain in the 12th Century, where it would accrue its name. The Seville orange was the only orange variety in Europe for the next 500 years. It was also one of the first citrus varieties brought to the New World where it was naturalized in the Caribbean, South, Central and North America. When sweet oranges were introduced to America, sour orange trees would begin to shift their role as edible fruit to rootstock. Cross pollination of the sour and sweet orange trees also proved to create bitter fruits in sweet orange varieties which forced farmers to reduce production of sour orange trees.

According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilization. It was called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya with the Moors. Sevilla lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is one of the largest historical centers in Europe, it has the Minaret of La Giralda, the Cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom), and the Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure also includes Casa de Pilatos.

From the Palacio we head to Sevilla and our first stop is the Centro Andaluz de Arte
This large, walled complex of honey-coloured stone buildings, situated on the Isla la Cartuja has seen many ups and downs during its long, dramatic history. From monks who welcomed Christopher Columbus who stayed here while planning his second voyage, to barracks for Napoleon’s troops, a ceramic factory run by an Englishman producing world-renowned porcelain and those emblematic tall, cone-shaped brick kilns and chimneys are so much part of Seville’s skyline today, to a modern-day contemporary art gallery and open-air live music venue. The 16th-century monastery consists of a magnificent entrance gate with surrounding grounds and lake; domed church with various chapels and Mudejar cloisters; numerous patios; refectory with wood coffered ceiling; crypt; chapterhouse with tombs; and a beautiful walled garden with fruit trees and a small Mudejar torreon (tower) with mirador offering views over the river Guadalquivir to the city.

After our lunch we visit the Hospital Venerables Sacredotes.

This building was founded by Justino de Neve in the 17th century as a hospital and retirement home for priests. It is in the Baroque style and comprises two sections. The first is the residence built by Leonardo de Figueroa and features original elements such as the tiled galleries arranged in a circle leading to the fountain, and the staircase beneath an elliptical vault decorated with Baroque plasterwork. The second part of the building is a church with a half-barrel vault with lunettes and rib arches. It now houses the Centro Velázquez, devoted to famous painter Diego Velázquez. …A beautiful 17th century baroque mansion, Seville’s most typical patio – embellished with plants and intimate in design and of course decorated in tiles, a church filled with rich murals and frescoes (now used for music), and a painting done by Diego Velazquez called ‘Santa Rufino’ the Patron Saint of Seville, painted between 1632 -1634 and what more you do need? If you know your artists this is indeed a very special and very rare visit.

And we finish off the day with a visit to Casa de Pilatos.

The construction of this palace, which is adorned with precious azulejos tiles and well-kept gardens, was begun by Pedro Enríquez de Quiñones, Mayor of Andalucia and his wife Catalina de Rivera and completed by Pedro’s son Fadrique Enríquez de Rivera (first Marquis of Tarifa), whose pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1519 led to the building’s present name of “Pilate’s House”. It was declared a National Monument in 1931. The oldest documentation of the name Casa de Pilatos is from 1754. The larger garden is lined with Italianesque loggias and beds of plants while the small garden has a pond and fountain depicting a young Bacchus. It is a walk back in time to wander through the palace and gardens.

Hotel Becquer 

The Hotel Bécquer is situated at the heart of the Seville’s historical district, in a unique and prime location in this magnificent city. From here you can take a stroll around its streets, delve into its iconic places, mix with its people, appreciate its cuisine or admire its characteristic architectural beauty. Seville Cathedral, the Giralda tower and the Santa Cruz district are just five minutes’ walk from the hotel. Large and comfortable room with a fresh style that offers a pleasant atmosphere and a relaxing feeling. They are equipped with 2 single beds or 1 double bed, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, telephone, mini-bar, trouser press, free tea and coffee and free safe. All the rooms have complete bathrooms with a wide range of functional and practical toiletries, as well as hairdryer, magnifying mirror and bath linen of the highest quality.
http://www.hotelbecquer.com/en/

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

We start off our day by walking from our hotel to the Alcazar and Gardens. Our guide will take us through this incredibly impressive monument of Sevilla. The Alcazar is a fortified palace and Royal Residence of which the construction was ordered by Abd Al Ramn III in the year 913. The numerous rooms, patios and halls vary in architectural styles from the Islamic to Neoclassical. The beautiful gardens and fountains are all different in look, feel and decoration. The garden-orchards not only supplied food for the palace residents but had the aesthetic function of bringing pleasure. Water was ever present in the form of irrigation channels, runnels, jets, ponds and pools. The gardens adjoining the Alcázar of Seville have undergone many changes. In the 16th century during the reign of Philip III the Italian designer Vermondo Resta introduced the Italian Mannerist style. Resta was responsible for the Galeria de Grutesco (Grotto Gallery) transforming the old Muslim wall into a loggia from which to admire the view of the palace garden.

Then a short walk to the Plaza España.

Plaza de España was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 (Expo 29), along with many of the pavilions you can see in and around the Parque Maria Luisa which is across from this and you can visit it during your leisure break. The Maria Luisa Gardens were built by JCN Forestier as well. This building will take your breath away. I was simply stunned as I stood and looked at it. Seville’s most impressive and majestic after the cathedral, for its sheer scale and grandeur. All that tilework – from guardrails to finials on the roofs and everything in between – you must see this in person to truly appreciate that each tile piece is unique. The building is a semi circular brick building, Renaissance/neo-Moorish in style, with a huge tower at either end. All along the wall in front of the building are 48 alcoves with benches – one for each province of Spain, each with a relevant tableau and map, all designed on colourful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles). In front of the building, following the curve of its façade, is a 500-metre canal crossed by four bridges. Lots of boats on this lake with people happily paddling as they made their way around. It was simply amazing to stand on one of these bridges and take it all in.

Followed by lunch and the rest of the afternoon at leisure so you can discover more of this beautiful city on your own.

Did you know? The Giralda minaret is a masterpiece of Almohad architecture built in 1184 to 1197. It stands next to the Cathedral with its five naves; the largest Gothic building in Europe (and holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus). Make time to visit if you can as it is worth seeing and yes – do walk all the way up to the top of the minaret for an incredible memory. (I did) to discover that there are no steps, just a wide ramp because when the minaret was built the Imam used to ride a horse up to the top for the call to prayer! (or so the story goes).
Hotel Amadeus

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a Mediterranean and cosmopolitan city with Roman remains, medieval quarters and the most beautiful examples of 20th century Modernism and avant-garde. It is no surprise that emblematic constructions by the Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner have been declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

Arriving into Barcelona from our train excursion, we board our coach and visit not one but two of Gaudi’s amazing Works.

Casa Milà, popularly known as ‘La Pedrera’, is probably one of the most famous buildings of the Catalan Modernisme or Catalan Art Nouveau period and one of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s most ambitious works. It is a container that is a work of art in itself. Gaudí planned Casa Milà (1906–1912) at the age of fifty-three, when he was at the height of his powers and had found a style of his own independent of any established ones. It turned out to be his last civil work and one of the most innovatory in its functional, constructive and ornamental aspects. Indeed, thanks to his artistic and technical ideas, it has always been considered a breakthrough work, outside the concepts of the time, a rara avis in Modernisme itself and, especially, a work that anticipated the architecture of the 20th century.https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home

The Torre Belleqguard, Gaudi’s Forgotten Masterpiece.

The Torre Bellesguard, which is currently owned by the Guilera family who still live in part of the house, was designed by Antoni Gaudí and built between 1900 and 1909. The building has straight lines which were seldom seen in his work and was inspired by the medieval castle where King Martin the Humane once lived, parts of which can still be seen in the gardens of the house. The history of Bellesguard is closely linked to the history of Catalonia as it dates back to the Middle ages when Martin the Humane gave the site its current name and built his home there. It was also the place where one of Catalonia’s most famous bandits, Serrallonga, used to hide out after committing his crimes, and also played an important role in the historic events of 1714. The building takes its name from its strategic position and magnificent views – in Catalan “Bellesguard” means “beautiful views” or “good viewing point”. The gardens that surround the house are by no means small, but it must have been quite an impressive and secluded estate to live in, once upon a time. Importantly, what remains now of the gardens is not only enough to keep the now encircling city at bay, but enough of the original garden and colourful monuments to showcase how beautiful it must have been to walk through and relax in.http://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/en/product/22479/torre-bellesguard.html

I have chosen what I think are the most representative of his works on this tour but there is much more that you can discover on your leisure day in Barcelona. Here are some more ideas….

http://www.globotreks.com/destinations/10-gaudi-buildings-barcelona/

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-architecture.html

http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-tourist-attractions.html

Also worth walking to is the Block of Discord, noted for having buildings by four of Barcelona’s most important Modernista architects. Their styles were very different and here you see them all up close and they seem to clash with each other creating this discord.

Once our visits are over we enjoy a light lunch and the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Hotel Astoria – Superior Rooms.

The Astoria is a classic amongst Barcelona’s hotels, a boutique hotel located off the emblematic Avinguda Diagonal and steps from Passeig de Gràcia, the city’s trendiest shopping district. Elegant and modern, the hotel provides comfort and charm with every detail. Housed in an elegant building in Barcelona’s Eixample district, the hotel’s classic early-twentieth-century architecture is a striking contrast to its renovated interior. One of the hotel’s main features are the exquisite pieces of art—modernist posters, frescoes and busts alongside marble and delicate Lalique crystal—that decorate its walls. Be sure to also visit the in house museum dedicated to the Catalan illustrator Ricard Opisso.
Just outside the front door you will find cafes to sit and enjoy a latte at, wonderful walking streets that offer all kinds of shopping and we are close to the main shopping streets and sights as well.

http://www.derbyhotels.com/en/hotel-astoria/

Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on own.

Sit back, enjoy the spectacular mediterranean views from our coach as we make our way out of Barcelona to Cap Roig Botanical Gardens for our first guided visit today.

The Gardens of Cap Roig are a singular, unique and magical space and considered one of the best botanic gardens in the Mediterranean. Nature, art, culture and history unite in this 17-hectare enclave that holds nearly 1,000 botanical species from all over the world and sculptures by renowned Spanish and international artists. The history of this space goes back to 1927, when the Russian colonel Nicolai Woevodsky, lover of drawing and architecture, and the English aristocrat and decorator Dorothy Webster, an archaeology and gardening enthusiast, were searching on the Costa Brava for a place to live and to build their dream. After years of effort and work, they succeeded in creating this singular space where nature and calm reign. The couple rest, as they wished, in one of the most beautiful corners of this spot. The castle and its gardens are today their legacy. The garden is terraced all the way from the house (castle) down to the beach, linked by elegant footsteps lined with tall cypresses, offering many tantalizing views of the sea, but the best view is from Mirador de la Lady.

Tossa de Mar – Some leisure time in this Seaside Resort.

Before becoming a tourist resort, Tossa was a small fishing village, and before this, was involved in various other industries such as cork, food preservation, charcoal burning, wine making and olive oil production. At one time, Tossa even had a fleet of boats which traded with other Mediterranean ports and America. Another important part of Tossa’s history was the filming of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman in the 1950s, with Ava Gardner and James Mason in starring roles. At one of the most spectacularly astounding viewpoints of the Vila Vella, there is a magnificent bronze statue of the renowned American actress, Ava Gardner. A tranquil stroll around the old town reveals a multitude of intricately interwoven alley ways, each leading to it’s own spectacular pine framed view of the bay of Tossa, lapped by the sparkling topaz blue Mediterranean, sunlight drizzling through the branches. If you need ideas of what to do while here, please check out.

http://www.tossacostabrava.com/things_to_do.html

http://www.tossacostabrava.com/shopping_in_tossa.html

http://www.tossacostabrava.com/eating___drinking.html

but I would suggest just finding that perfect place to sit, relax and enjoy lunch. Be in the moment and take it all in.

We finish off this day with a guided visit to Santa Clotilde Gardens in Lloret de Mar.

This wonderful garden was landscaped in a setting of great beauty on top of a cliff with breath taking views over the sea. It is a fine specimen of the spirit that animated the Noucentista movement in Calalonia – an early 20th century movement for intellectual and aesthetic renewal that found a distinguished spokesman in the writer Eugeni d’Ors.

The Santa Clotilde gardens were designed in the manner of the dainty yet austere gardens of the Italian Renaissance by Nicolau Rubió i Tuduri at the age of twenty-eight, when he was still brimming over with admiration for his master in the art of landscape gardening, JCN Forestier. In these gardens, Rubió ignored Forestier’s teachings with their Spanish-Arabic slant mixed up with images of the French garden, as he had seen when working with Forestier, and instead sought to recover the spirit of the Italian Renaissance as the essence of modernity. A new bourgeoisie was then emerging, looking back nostalgically on the prestige enjoyed by patrons of the arts during the Renaissance. The garden greets us with a blend of features from the Villa Medici, the Villa Borghese and perhaps the Boboli gardens as well – Florence was where one went for inspiration at the time. The spirit of romanticism underlies the garden, expressed in the marble bust glimpsed amid the vines, looking out to sea with its back to us – another delightful parody of that romantic sentiment of union with nature, closer to Leopardi than to his master C.D. Friedrich. These gardens, work on which began before the house, feature a collection of marble statues in the neo-classical style and the mermaids by the sculptress Maria Llimona.

All the paths, avenues, squares and steps are set off by clipped hedges that form splendid green architectural shapes.

And make our way back to our hotel…renewed in spirit and basking in the memories.

Hotel Astoria.

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own.

Barcelona is very easy to walk around and enjoy and our hotel is very close to great shopping venues as well. Make your own memories today as you stroll, remember to look up as you walk too or you will miss some great architectural features. Cafes seem to be on every street corner and as I walked along the streets I had the distinct feeling I was here before for it is very European.

Hotel Astoria

Breakfast included, Lunch and Dinner on own.

Today, our last day, I want to share two very special places we will visit…

Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia

I did not know what to expect on the inside…I only knew that even with the scaffolding from continual building I was mesmerized by every inch of it on the outside. It was so totally bizarre. The outside is busy, colourful in spots with the tiles yet so very grey, having so much symbolism and inside….well, I loved it for being so different from the outside. As with all of Gaudi’s work, you either like it or not but I don’t think you can make that presumption without seeing it in person. It is so different from our usual thinking and it just plain takes time for it all to sink in. I loved the peace that I felt inside, especially when the sun shone through the most beautiful and unique stained glass windows you will set your eyes on. When this happens you cannot help but look up and feel you are being transported on one of the beams of colour. You can go up into one of the Towers as well and I suggest you do so that you can see the tiles at a closer level. At the time of Gaudi’s death in 1926 less than a quarter of this project was complete. They say it should be complete by 2026, the centenary of his death. Paul Goldberger, an American architectural critic and educator, called it “The most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages.” The building’s design itself has been polarizing. Assessments by Gaudí’s fellow architects were generally positive; Louis Sullivan greatly admired it, describing Sagrada Família as the “greatest piece of creative architecture in the last twenty-five years. It is spirit symbolized in stone”. George Orwell called it “one of the most hideous buildings in the world” James A. Michener called it “one of the strangest-looking serious buildings in the world” and British historian Gerald Brenan stated about the building “Not even in the European architecture of the period can one discover anything so vulgar or pretentious.” The building’s distinctive silhouette has nevertheless become symbolic of Barcelona itself, drawing an estimated 2.5 million visitors annually. That is a good thing as I want to see what this looks like when finally complete!  Did you know? Since he was convinced that nothing of value could be achieved without sacrifice, Gaudi dedicated himself to an austere life of prayer and detachment. On occasion Gaudi had expressed a desire to die in a hospital among the poor people. This came to pass when he was run down by a street car. The police didn’t recognize him and seeing him a poor man, they took him to the Holy Cross Hospital, where he died June 10th, 1926.

And Finally…

The Palau de la Música Catalana is one of the most representative monuments of Art Nouveau architecture. An emblematic building of the Catalan Modernism, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Built between 1905 and 1908 by the great architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, the Palau de la Música Catalana is an architectural jewel of Barcelona. Our guided tours starts in the Rehearsal Hall of the Orfeó Catala, where the foundation stone of the building was laid in 1905 and where even today, as it has for more than 100 years, the choir of the Orfeó Català rehearses regularly. Sitting in this intimate space, you can find out the reason for its importance with an audiovisual tour. The tour continues along the grand staircase decorated with flowers, Catalan flags and a single rail: built in a clever combination of a range of materials including iron and glass to create a world of detail which never ceases to amaze. Next we’ll visit the Lluís Millet Hall, where you can glimpse the large balcony with columns symbolizing flowers of every kind, in a tribute to nature. Finally we’ll go into the Concert Hall where an explosion of colour, shapes and light will welcome you to this great masterpiece of decorative art which amazes and inspires visitors and artists day after day. You will also go up to the second floor, next to the great skylight, a drop of water and honey, a source of both light and inspiration. And finally the organ of the Palau, overlooking the room, will accompany you on a little musical journey. We cap our tour off with a Farewell Afternoon Tea at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental Hotel. I enjoyed it so much when I visited in 2014. I distinctly remember sitting at my table in the corner, enjoying my tea and delights, and reading my Gaudi book and thinking…life is so full of wonder and beauty every where I travel. I am so fortunate to be able to share some of the most wonderful gardens and sights in the world….why did I wait so long?

Hotel Astoria

Breakfast and Farewell Afternoon Tea (please note that Tea will be at 5 p.m.)

Or you may choose to stay on a couple more days…if you want to use the same hotel do let me know so I can confirm post tour nights for you.

*Pre tour nights are also available. Let me know if you are interested and I can find out for you.*

*Please Note that our tour starts in Granada and ends in Barcelona*

*Meals on tour do not include alcoholic beverages but do include water, soft drinks, tea and coffee.*

*There is a good amount of walking on tour days, but the walks are not long. Check with me if you have questions on this.*