Antoní Gaudi was born near Reus in 1852 in the province of Tarragona in Catalonia. At the age of 21 he began his architectural studies at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura in Barcelona. Upon graduation with only mediocre grades in 1878 the college’s director still didn’t know what to make of him as he noted: …
Shore Excursions to Estoril and Cascais from Lisbon Cruise Port
Once listed among Europe’s most stylish destinations Estoril remains one of the top places to visit in Portugal today. A civil parish in the municipality of Cascais, Estoril is conveniently close to the capital, only 15km away, and is often included as part of the itinerary of Lisbon tourists. Estoril possesses a unique charm that …
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Shore Excursions to Sintra from Lisbon Cruise Port
The town of Sintra is one of the most scenic locations in Portugal. The celebrated 18th century English poet Lord Byron himself was inspired enough by its beauty to immortalize it in one of his poems calling it a “glorious Eden.” Other wealthy and prominent men of his time also found Sintra an ideal retreat. In …
Shore Excursions to Fatima from Lisbon Cruise Port
The town of Fatima in Portugal is most famous as the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Our Lady of the Rosary, as she is known in the country, was said to have appeared as a vision to three shepherd children in 1917. Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marta had these …
How to Get to the Dalí Museum in Figueres from Barcelona
Spanish surrealist painter, Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali y Domenech made a dramatic impact on the world with his often bizarre, always striking and beautiful artistic images. Best known for his brilliant “The Persistence of Memory” where “melting” clocks are draped across a barren landscape, Dali’s work was always creative and imaginative. As for entertaining …
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How to Get to Montserrat from Barcelona
The sacred Catalan monastery of Montserrat is located on top of a range of craggy mountains some 60km north-west of Barcelona. It is one of Spain’s most important pilgrimage sites where more than two million annual visitors come to visit ‘La Moreneta’. This is a small statue of the Virgin of Montserrat which stands high …
How to Get to Toledo from Madrid
Toledo was the former capital of medieval Spain until 1560 and to this day remains one of the country’s greatest cities where the Jewish, Moorish and Christian cultures once lived together in relative harmony. It lies just 70km southwest of Madrid and is well served by public transport as well as tourist buses. Nowadays, Toledo …
How to Get to Segovia from Madrid
Lying 90km north-west of Madrid, Segovia is the epitome of Old Castile. It is easily accessible from the capital and is one of the most popular day excursions. Although only a small town it has a remarkable number of outstanding architectural monuments most notable its 800m long Roman aqueduct which has stood here for around …
How to Get to El Escorial and Valle de Los Caídos from Madrid
Monasterio del Escorial The Royal Palace of El Escorial lies 45km north-west of Madrid and is one of Spain’s most famous sights. Felipe II ordered the construction of the palace to commemorate Spain’s victory over France at the Battle of Saint Quentin in 1557 during the Franco-Habsburg War. With practically unlimited funds available from the “New …
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