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 15.00 Coaches arrive 15.45 dep. Abingdon 19.15 arr. Dover 151m/243km Check in P&O Ferries 20.15 dep. Dover Evening meal on ferry (independent 22.45 arr. Calais Day 2 Sunday 6 July Travel to Corbera de Llobregat Breakfast in Autoroute Services (independent Lunch in Autoroute Services (independent 18.00 arr. Corbera de Llobregat 1329km/826m Check in: Can Fisa Hotel www.canfisa.com 19.30 Dinner in hotel restaurant Optional Rehearsal after dinner
Day 3 Monday 7 July Barcelona 08.00 Breakfast in hotel 09.00 dep. Corbera de Llobregat 10.00 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 1900. 10.15 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. 11.00 Coach transfer to Barcelona Cathedral Lunch in the neighbourhood of the Cathedral (independent 13.00 Assemble at Barcelona Cathedral 13.30 16.30 Rehearsal in Cathedral (Cathedral closed to public between 13.00 16.00) 16.45 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. 17.45 Walk to restaurant
Day 3 continued 18.00 Dinner in: El Reloj Restaurant 20.00 Concert 22.00 dep. Barcelona 23.00 arr. Corbera de Llobregat 29km/18m Day 4 Tuesday 8 July Montserrat/Igualada 08.30 Breakfast in hotel 10.00 dep. Corbera de Llobregat with packed lunch 11.00 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 12.30 10 minute recital in the Basilica (a capella) Packed lunch 14.00 dep. Montserrat 15.00 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. 16.00 Rehearsal in Teatre Municipal l Ateneu 19.00 19.15 Dinner in El Café de l Ateneu 21.00 Concert in Teatre Municipal l Ateneu 23.00 dep. Igualada 00.15 arr. Corbera de Llobregat 57km/35m
Day 5 Wednesday 9 July Tarragona 08.30 Breakfast in hotel 10.00 dep. Corbera de Llobregat 11.45 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 16.30 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. 19.15 Dinner in Les Voltes Restaurant
Day 6 Thursday 10 July Barcelona 09.00 Breakfast in hotel 10.00 dep. Corbera de Llobregat 10.45 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
View exteriors of Gaudi Buildings: Casa Milà Casa Batlló Casa Calvet 17.30 Walk to Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar Rehearsal in Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar Day 6 continued 19.30 21.00 22.30 23.15 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 08.30 Breakfast in hotel Check out hotel 11.30 dep. Corbera de Llobregat with packed lunch 13.45 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
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. 17.00 19.00 Rehearsal in Teatre Casino Ceretà 19.30 Dinner in Restaurant 22.00 Concert 23.45 dep. Puigcerdà Day 8 Saturday 12 July Travel to Abingdon Breakfast and lunch in Autoroute Services (independent 16.15 arr. Calais 1133km/704m Check in P&O Ferries 17.15 dep. Calais Evening meal on ferry (independent 17.45 arr. Dover (local time) 21.30 arr. Abingdon 151m/243km