Barcelona Highlights Walking Tour
- 2–3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Join us on a captivating walk through the Catalan capital and world-class city of Barcelona, where we take an UNBIASED look at both sides of the Spanish political coin: to allow an avenue for Catalan independence versus the preservation of Spanish unity. When demonstrators shout ´Visca Catalunya!´ (Long Live Catalonia!), what lies behind those passionate cries? And how widespread is their support, remembering that Spain is both a former world empire, AND a fractured nation of 44 million people speaking 4 different languages. We’ll consider Catalonia’s annexation by Spain and France in the War of 1714, and its consistent cultural suppression since, most notoriously and recently under the infamous Fascist Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco. We investigate what possible resolutions can emerge from this standoff. Trust our guide to take you on a riveting journey - not only political in scope, but scenic and aesthetic in practice, as we enjoy a city area not saturated by common tourism.
Inclusions
What's included
- Guide
Itinerary
We begin outside the imposing former Marketplace of El Born which, in recent years, has garnered government funding for the display of Catalan artefacts.
Take a breath and enjoy views of the gorgeous local basilica made famous by the bestselling book and subsequent Netflix series "Cathedral of the Sea"
Bestriding the Basilica, we find the oft-derided monument to Catalonia's war dead of 1714 and the eternal flame that keeps watch over the symbolic red bricks.
Recognize an escape route for exiles to France during the Fascist Uprising in Barcelona.
We see a statue of General Prim, a Catalan military legend that also served in the Spanish Imperial Army, then stop outside the Catalan parliament to discuss the 2017 'illegal' referendum and the ferocious political fallout.
Why is this 'alternative' Arch of Triumph so significant to the story of Catalan identity? It relates to the emergenge of Barcelona as an industrial powerhouse in the 1880s. We climax the tour underneatha figure of the most talked about hero/turncoat/pioneer of the St. Eulalia defence of the besieged city, and speculate on whether his surrender to the Spanish had either a galvanizing or demoralising effect in the cause for Catalan resistance.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 56
- 40
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- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 6 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- I´ll be right at the door underneath the HUGE Catalan (red and yellow) flag on a wooden pole, can't miss it!
- Pickup
- Pickup is offered, or you can meet at the starting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Exploring Barcelona Tours
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
How it compares in Barcelona
- Its from-price is 48% below the median of the 3008 experiences we list in Barcelona.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1211 of 3008.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Barcelona
Barcelona sets Gaudí's fantastical buildings and a medieval Gothic Quarter between Mediterranean beaches and green hills, with food and nightlife to match.
Antoni Gaudí's work defines the city's image. The Sagrada Família rises over the Eixample, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà line the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, and Park Güell's mosaic terraces look out over the rooftops. The Gothic Quarter keeps its cathedral, narrow lanes and hidden squares, and El Born adds the Picasso Museum and the soaring church of Santa Maria del Mar.
Top-ranked sights in Barcelona: Sagrada Família, Montserrat Mountain, Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic).
Special offers in Barcelona
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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