Arty Barcelona

Start with a day trip into the Montserrat mountains to visit the famous Benedictine abbey, framed by striking pink sedimentary rock. Linger at its edge and you can soak up bird’s-eye views of the city below. Inside you’ll meet some of the resident monks and see the famed Virgin of Montserrat, a stained black Virgin and Child relic that draws thousands of worshippers a year. The history museum is also worth a look. 

Today you can explore the works of Spain’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. Start at Casa Mila, memorable for its attractive twisting pillars and rough-hewn stone facades. It’s almost a sacrilege to go to Barcelona and not see La Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s spectacular unfinished masterpiece whose completion date is set for the mid 2020s. Then visit Park Güell, one of the most picturesque parks in the world with its serpentine decorated benches, oft-photographed salamander and mosaiced walls seen on many a postcard.

You don’t need to be a music lover to appreciate the splendid concert hall of Palau de la Música Orfeó Català. It’s a feast for the eyes with chandeliers, stained glass windows and beautiful ornamental sculptures. You can admire this UNESCO World Heritage Site even outside performance times on a private tour. If you do have time to see a concert though, you’ll be treated to sensational musical acts ranging from Mozart symphonies, Spanish guitar recitals, and operas such as Carmen and La Traviata.