You only have to walk down Las Ramblas, the major street in Barcelona to take in the texture of this cosmopolitan capital. Tapas bars and street performers provide the introduction to a city that fizzes with life and has a real enthusiasm for ideas and ambition. Most famous offspring from this region include Dali, Picasso and Miro, all modern masters, alongside Antonio Gaudi, whose architecture made such an impact during the twentieth century.
Park Guell offers a tantalising glimpse into the Gaudi subconscious, where one can reappear in a wonderland full of the fantastic. Created from concrete and ceramic tile the arabesque architecture curves and folds its way around the park adorned with amphibians and flowing natural forms. The still unfinished Sagrada Familia combines the gothic austerity of Spanish past with the playful modernism of today. The whole edifice appears to breathe like a sleeping giant perhaps to awake when finally completed. Other Gaudi masterpieces include Casa Battlo, where Baroque meets Art Nouveau in a mythological inspired fantasy, and Casa Mila, once described as ‘an enormous melting wedding cake’.
This use of simplified organic forms is reflected in the artwork of Juan Miro, whose work can be visited at the Fundacio Juan Miro. Canvases full of bold shapes and primary colours, so resonant of the Gaudi design ethic, are infused with the vibrancy and spirit of Catalan culture. This colourful optimism and engaging attitude makes Barcelona an all absorbing experience perfect for the aspiring student artist.
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Key Study Areas
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Location Click here to view map
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Art and Design Excursions
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Our best value sample itinerary from £415
4 Days to Barcelona by Air
Day 1:
Depart from UK. Meet your overseas coach transfer to take you to your accommodation. Visit the Picasso Museum. Return to your accommodation.
Day 2:
Spend the morning at the Sagrada Familia, then visit the Park Guell and Casa Mila. Explore the centre of Barcelona into the evening to see the Gothic quarter and Las Ramblas sights by night.
Day 3:
Spend the morning at the Joan Miro Foundation, then walk through the gardens to the Museum of Catalunyan Art. Leisure time.
Day 4:
In the morning visit the Olympic village before transferring back to the airport for your return flight back to the UK.
