Group Tour Operator for Holidays to Barcelona, Catalonia
Costa Brava, Barcelona and the Jewels of Catalonia
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Monastir de Montserrat, Catalonia
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Cavas Freixenet Headquarters, Catalonia
With golden beaches, deep blue waters and mountainous beauty, Catalonia is a destination that has it all. Whether you are looking for the sun, the lively bars of Barcelona, the intriguing history or the Catalonian gastronomy, you are sure to find some sparkling jewels on this tour. Visits include the city of Girona, the beautiful town of Tossa de Mar and the spectacular monastery in the Montserrat Mountain range and a Cava tasting.
Dates
Dates on request throughout 2024 & 2025
Suggested itinerary by coach
Day 1-2
Depart the UK
Take a short sea crossing from Dover to Calais and travel through France for an overnight stop. Next day continue southwards into Spain and to your hotel in Calella/area.
Day 3
Day at leisure
There’s free time today to relax and enjoy the facilities of the hotel and getting to know the local surroundings. Calella is the tourist capital of the Costa del Maresme. While its gorgeous golden sand beaches are a big hit, the old town offers pleasant walks through paved and cobbled alleyways under historical buildings and towering landmarks. See Day 7 for further information about Calella.
Day 4
Girona sightseeing
Girona is a walled medieval town with narrow streets, cobbled lanes and some remarkable architecture. Of particular note are the brightly painted façades of the houses overlooking the River Onyar, as well as the Cathedral of St. Mary, which has the widest Gothic nave in the world.
Built on the site of the former Roman city of Gerunda, Girona was seized by the Franks from the Moors in the 8th century and went on to become one of the region’s most important cities. Towering 86 steps above the Plaça de la Cathedral, the Cathedral de Girona (Cathedral of St. Mary) features foundations dating back as far as the 5th century.
Day 5
Barcelona, the Cosmopolitan Capital
Meet up with a local guide, starting with a stroll along the tree-lined Ramblas carving its way through the inner city, flanked by trees and seemingly endless shops, cafes and restaurants. The expansive boulevard takes its name from a long-since dried up local stream. Admire the unique, distinctive and often whimsical architecture of Antoni Gaudí, and explore the historic Gothic Quarter. Its most famous building, and Spain’s most visited attraction, is La Sagrada Familia. Started in 1882, work promises to wrap up on the monument in 2026, a hundred years after the death of its architect. Other attractions include Park Guell, the famous Nou Camp football stadium and Montjuic Fountain. Maybe hop on board the Montjuïc cable car for breathtaking views of the city and the option to get lost amongst the botanic gardens, castles and museums.
Day 6
Montserrat and the Cava Houses
A drive up the winding mountain roads to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, home to about 80 monks. The Basilica and Monastery is Catalonia’s most important religious retreat and is home to La Moreneta (The Little Brown One or Black Virgin), one of only around 500 in Europe. The basilica also holds one of the monastery’s most noted attractions, the 50-member Escolanía, one of the oldest and most renowned boys’ choirs in Europe.
Return via the Freixenet Cava House for a tour and tasting experience and discover the history, production and bottling process. Produced and bottled only in the Catalonian hills, Freixenet is one of the best well known cava brands.
Day 7
Calella at leisure
A further free day to spend at the hotel or for more exploration of Calella. The old part of this town is clustered around the church of Santa María, a neoclassical construction with a Baroque façade. Other buildings that are part of its architectural and artistic heritage include the Casa de los Salvador (14th century), Casa Sivilla (16th century) and the chapel of San Quirze and Santa Julita. The old Llobet-Guri factory and the Municipal Market are another two important monuments that are well worth a visit. The Dalmau Park is a pleasant place to relax and enjoy another view of the city. Its numerous pedestrian streets are ideal for strolling around the town centre, and the seafront promenade leads you to the lighthouse area. This maritime construction has become the symbol of the city, and stands on a promontory overlooking the whole coastline. Also worth seeing near here are the ancient towers which were previously dotted all the way up and down the coast.
Day 8
Blanes and Tossa De Mar
Drive to Blanes and embark on a leisurely one way boat trip to Tossa de Mar. Considered a medieval masterpiece, Tossa de Mar sits majestically on Catalonia’s Girona coast. Dubbed the ‘Blue Paradise’ by painter Marc Chagall, Tossa De Mar was one of the first places on the Costa Brava to attract foreign visitors. The once ancient fishing village still retains its medieval beauty. Vila Vella, a well-preserved citadel overlooking the ocean is definitely the main attraction.
Day 9-10
Return to the UK
It’s time to leave Spain, making an overnight stop in France enroute. Drive to Calais for the short sea ferry crossing to the UK on Day 10.
Suggested hotel
Hotel Volga Calella****
Located just off La Playa Callela, this hotel offers amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea, and is a 2-minute walk from Calella train station and only 1 hour’s drive away from centre of Barcelona. The hotel has its own restaurant, but is centrally located close to bars and restaurants. As well as this, whether you’d like to relax by the pool and the poolside terrace, or on the hotel’s private area of the beach, this hotel is perfect for a relaxing trip. Coach parking available in the centre of Calella for a fee.
We have a selection of 3* and 4* hotels in Calella and other nearby resorts. Please ask for details.
| 10 days by land and sea | Half Twin | Single Supplement |
| October – December 2024 | From £705.00 per person | From £275.00 |
| January – April & October – December 25 |
From £705.00 per person | From £275.00 |
