ABINGDON SCHOOL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHOIR EIGHT DAY TOUR TO CATALONIA (OVERLAND) Saturday 5 Saturday 12 JULY 2014 DRAFT ITINERARY

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1 ABINGDON SCHOOL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHOIR EIGHT DAY TOUR TO CATALONIA (OVERLAND) Saturday 5 Saturday 12 JULY 2014 DRAFT ITINERARY Day 1 Saturday 5 July Overnight travel to Spain Coaches arrive dep. Abingdon arr. Dover 151m/243km Check in P&O Ferries dep. Dover Evening meal on ferry (independent arr. Calais Day 2 Sunday 6 July Travel to Corbera de Llobregat Breakfast in Autoroute Services (independent Lunch in Autoroute Services (independent arr. Corbera de Llobregat 1329km/826m Check in: Can Fisa Hotel Dinner in hotel restaurant Optional Rehearsal after dinner

2 Day 3 Monday 7 July Barcelona Breakfast in hotel dep. Corbera de Llobregat arr. Barcelona 31km/19m Barcelona, one of the Mediterranean s busiest ports, is more than the capital of Catalonia. In culture, commerce and sport it not only rivals Madrid, but also considers itself on a par with the greatest European cities. Although there are plenty of historical monuments in the Old Town (Ciutar Vella), Barcelona is best known for the scores of buildings in the Eixemple left by the artistic explosion of Modernisme in the decades around Optional visit Sagrada Família Cathedral Sagrada Família Cathedral Europe s most unconventional church is an emblem of a city that thinks of itself as individualistic. The church became Gaudi s life s work and he lived like a recluse on the site for 16 years. He is buried in the crypt. Eight of the twelve spires, one for each apostle, have been built and work continues today, financed by public subscription Coach transfer to Barcelona Cathedral Lunch in the neighbourhood of the Cathedral (independent Assemble at Barcelona Cathedral Rehearsal in Cathedral (Cathedral closed to public between ) An hour s sightseeing time. The Roman walls and fort are right by the Cathedral. You can also go up in a lift to the roof of the Cathedral where there is a great view across the city. There is a Gaudi Museum by the Cathedral front door. Groups of 4 people as a minimum and there will be a designated check in place and time Walk to restaurant

3 Day 3 continued Dinner in: El Reloj Restaurant Concert dep. Barcelona arr. Corbera de Llobregat 29km/18m Day 4 Tuesday 8 July Montserrat/Igualada Breakfast in hotel dep. Corbera de Llobregat with packed lunch arr. Montserrat 53km/33m Montserrat is a spectacular Benedictine Order mountain retreat. The monastery is also famous for its Boys Choir who sing during the services for much of the year. There is a funicular to the top of the mountain and from there you can choose a number of different walks, all with amazing views of the Catalonian countryside. Visit Monastery minute recital in the Basilica (a capella) Packed lunch dep. Montserrat arr. Igualada 30km/19m Igualada (population 36,000) is the central market town of a rich agricultural and wine producing district. The Old Town if full of narrow and irregular streets and contains the remains of a fortress and ramparts Rehearsal in Teatre Municipal l Ateneu Dinner in El Café de l Ateneu Concert in Teatre Municipal l Ateneu dep. Igualada arr. Corbera de Llobregat 57km/35m

4 Day 5 Wednesday 9 July Tarragona Breakfast in hotel dep. Corbera de Llobregat arr. Tarragona 101km/63m Drop off concert dress & music at cathedral Tarragona has a magnificent legacy of Roman remains spread throughout the town. It is now a major industrial port, but it has preserved many remnants of its Roman past, when it was the capital of Tarraconensis. The Romans chose it as their base for the conquest of the peninsula, which began in the 3 rd century BC. Tarragona s fishing port is the second most important in Catalunya and is a lively area and a good place to eat. Free time and lunch (independent Suggestions for places to visit: Roman amphitheatre The walls Museu Historic Rehearsal in Tarragona Cathedral The cathedral dates from the 12th century and is built on the site of a Roman temple to Jupiter and a subsequent Arab mosque. The structures evolved over several centuries, as seen from the harmonious blend of styles of the exterior Dinner in Les Voltes Restaurant

5 Day 6 Thursday 10 July Barcelona Breakfast in hotel dep. Corbera de Llobregat arr. Barcelona (Plaça de Catalunya) 19km/12m Day 6 continued Suggestion for self-guided walking tour along La Rambla: La Rambla The historic avenue of La Rambla leading to the sea, is busy around the clock. Newsstands, caged bird and flower stalls, musicians and mime artists throng the wide, tree-shaded central walkway. Among its famous buildings are the Liceu Opera House, the huge Boqueria food market and some grand mansions. At the bottom of La Rambla either take the metro or walk to metro Paral-lel and take the funicular and then the cable car to Castell de Montjuïc. The summit of Montjuïc is occupied by a huge, 18 th century castle with fabulous views over the port. Return back down the cable car to Plaça de la Sardana. Walk to Plaça de L Armada and take the cable car across the port to Torre Sant Sebastià Lunch (independent Suggestion: Walk to Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia

6 View exteriors of Gaudi Buildings: Casa Milà Casa Batlló Casa Calvet Walk to Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar Rehearsal in Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar Day 6 continued Participation in the Mass followed by a short Recital Dinner in restaurant dep. Barcelona arr. Corbera de Llobregat Day 7 Friday 11 July Puigcerdà and overnight travel to UK Breakfast in hotel Check out hotel dep. Corbera de Llobregat with packed lunch arr. Puigcerdà Unload instruments, concert dress and music at the Teatre Casino Ceretà NB: Coaches not available drivers obligatory rest period (9 hours) 19km/12m 150km/93m

7 This town in the high Pyrénées and close to the French border is reached through spectacular scenery. It is an attractive place to wander in with its old streets and balconied houses Rehearsal in Teatre Casino Ceretà Dinner in Restaurant Concert dep. Puigcerdà Day 8 Saturday 12 July Travel to Abingdon Breakfast and lunch in Autoroute Services (independent arr. Calais 1133km/704m Check in P&O Ferries dep. Calais Evening meal on ferry (independent arr. Dover (local time) arr. Abingdon 151m/243km