I recently sailed on the Oceania Marina from Barcelona to Rome (Civitivecchia), and beginning in this blog, am showcasing some of my tour information and photos. Included today are the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and the port of Palamos (to tour the Costa Brava).
Barcelona
After arriving to an all day rain, we began the next morning by visiting the 600-year old Cathedral of Santa Eulalia built on the site of a Roman Temple, the famous unfinished Gaudi Cathedral La Sagrada Familia and other Gaudi buildings, and ended at the modern Museum of Arts and Sciences which afforded us a panoramic view of the city.
Valencia
Valencia’s very modern and recently built Museum of Arts and Sciences buildings and including a botanical garden definitely make an impression. Other highlights on our walking tour included the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken and government buildings, as well as a Spanish dance exhibition outdoors on a Sunday.
Palma de Mallorca
Our walking tour started with the Cathedral-Basilica of Santa Maria in the Sea around the Parc de la mar. Other points of interest included the Palace of Almudaina adjacent to the Cathedral & the Town Hall (not shown), Plaza Mayor (shown below) and the Olivar market, Jewish Quarter, and ending at the Plaza Espana where the equestrian statue (shown at the end) of Jaime I, the Conqueror, was erected in 1927.
The Cathedral of Mallorca (often called La Seu with one of the highest naves in Europe) with its Rosette window which twice annually shows a reflection projected under the building’s opposite rosette forming a figure eight was built under the reign of the King of Aragon. After demolishing a mosque, construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1229 and was completed in 1601. More recently, interventions of Gaudi in 1904 and Miguel Barcelo in 2007 created wall overlays (shown below) depicting scenes of heaven and hell.
Palamos, Spain (port) – Tour of the Costa Brava
Our tour along the Mediterranean’s beautiful Costa Brava stopped at the seaside town of Tossa de Mar with a well preserved Old Town and ancient Roman fortress built in 1187 overlooking the bay. Ava Gardner was a frequent visitor there, so an actual size (very petite) statue has been erected of her. Another stop was made at the seaside village of Lloret de Mar which was a walking tour of a large mansion’s serene Italian Renaissance gardens (occupant opens his gardens up for tourists in order to pay for their care and manicuring) with sculptures, terraces, cascading fountains and springs perched high above the sea with magnificent views.
Call Getaway Dreams Come True Travel for your complimentary consultation where we’ll discuss the details of what you are looking to see and do. We’ll give you our suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the lifetime memories vacation of your dreams.
You may wish to view additional blogs and another from my Mediterranean cruise:
RCCL Preview of W. Caribbean Ports to Labadee, Cozumel, & Falmouth, Jamaica
Danube or Rhine for Your First River Cruise?
Star Flyer October 2017 15-night Croatia, Montenegro and Greece Port Summary
Seasonal Cruising By Global LocationRail Travel in Europe
Puerto Rico’s Recovery after Hurricane Maria
French Locations to See in the Mediterranean
Getaway Dreams Come True Travel Agency 
Pingback: Destination – Croatia | Getaway Dreams Come True Travel Agency·
Pingback: Did You Know Singapore is the Second Largest Port City in the World? | Getaway Dreams Come True Travel Agency·