Hi.
Welcome to KikiNetwork Travel.
I have a passion for taking small groups on life-changing adventures! Join me….
Hi.
Welcome to KikiNetwork Travel.
I have a passion for taking small groups on life-changing adventures! Join me….
KIKINETWORK TRAVEL
kiki@kikinetwork.com
Kiki 608-858-2733 or Nancy 206-491-5858
Discover Barcelona through the prism of Modernisme —the Catalan equivalent of the Art Nouveau movement that spread across Europe in the late 19th century. Modernisme exemplifies much of Barcelona’s architectural appeal, but it goes beyond art and aesthetics. It was a cultural movement encompassing political, economic, and social aspects still relevant today. Viewing Barcelona through the Modernisme lens provides a historical context to make your visit meaningful and memorable. We’ll see fantastical works by Antoni Gaudí—the Sagrada Familia, Casa Milá, Casa Batllo—and more by architects and artisans instrumental in creating this stunning city designed for art lovers. There'll be time to sample Catalan cuisine, enjoy the waterfront, shop in neighborhood boutiques, and watch the local scene unfold in outdoor cafes and hidden terraces.
After your overnight flight arrives in Barcelona, it's just a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. The hotel is conveniently located in a lively residential neighborhood with easy access to all the important sites.
We’ll gather in the afternoon to meet our fellow travelers and trip coordinators, Kiki and Nancy. Nancy lives in Barcelona and personally designed the itinerary to include her favorite places. A luxury minivan will take us on a panoramic orientation of the city. Afterward, you'll have time for dinner and a stroll around the neighborhood.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel Seventy - Barcelona
Meals: Dinner
Over breakfast, we’ll preview the Catalan Modernisme movement with particular attention to architecture. We’ll place it within the Art Nouveau movements in London, Paris, Vienna, and other European capitals. Next, we’ll set out on foot from the hotel along the stately Passeig de Gràcia, a street exhibiting bourgeois modernism at its best. You'll see an array of Modernisme architecture, highlighting the works of Barcelona's Big 3— Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner, and Puig i Cadafalch. We'll stop for a tour of Gaudi's fantastical Casa Batllo.
The Passeig de Gracia leads us directly to Catalunya Plaza and the start of Las Rambla de las Flores. The famous pedestrian street is full of outdoor cafes, stalls, street performers, and is home to La Boqueria food market. We continue to Ciutadella Park, the city’s largest green area and site of the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. Several legacy buildings from the Exposition that ushered in Modernisme still remain on the grounds.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel Seventy - Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Catalan Modernisme is distinguished from other art movements by its non-aesthetic features. It was an essential tool in the creation of a new, modern society built upon a foundation of past glory. Catalonia's preeminence in the Mediterranean predates the formation of modern Spain and lives on in today's Catalan independence movement. We'll see several examples of this today.
The Hospital de la Santa Creu established in 1417, was one of the institutions targeted for modernization in Barcelona’s renaissance. The hospital was redesigned by Domènech i Montaner between 1902 and 1930 and is a masterpiece of Modernisme. A private tour of this 'city within a city' reveals more than bricks and mortar. It reveals a whole new way of caring for people and practicing medicine.
Gaudi devoted his greatest effort to the spiritual realm. A devout Catholic, he worked on the design and construction of the Basilica de Sagrada Familia church for over 40 years. As you tour the church, you’ll be amazed that anyone could envision such a structure. One hundred years on, architects, engineers, and artists are still working to complete his vision.
We'll end the day at the Palau de la Música concert hall and enjoy a live performance. The music palace was designed by Domènech i Montaner in order to showcase the choral tradition of Catalunya.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel Seventy - Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Barcelona’s origins as a Roman settlement and later as a seafaring power in the medieval period inform its art and architecture. Patterned mosaics in the Roman style influenced the mosaics popularized by Gaudí. Symbolism from the period when the Counts of Aragon ruled Barcelona shows up in all sorts of Modernisme designs. We'll start with a walking tour of the city’s oldest area, the Gothic District. You’ll see the seat of government, the city’s cathedral, and the palace where Ferdinand and Isabella met with Columbus before his voyage to the New World. We’ll tour the 14th-century Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. The story of the church's construction is recounted in the historical novel by Spanish author Ildefonso Falcones, "Cathedral of the Sea." Netflix released a series in 2018 based upon the book.
The Santa Catarina Food Market is our next stop. Food is an integral part of Catalan culture, and Barcelona residents are never far from one of the city's 39 food markets. Seasonal fruits and vegetables and fresh-caught fish and seafood are staples of the markets. We'll have lunch and then a tour of the Picasso Museum. The museum is housed in a magnificent medieval palace and features an extensive collection of his early work. If you'd rather go shopping, we’ll take you to the best shopping areas. You may want to check out the largest stationery store in Europe (its five floors must be seen to be believed) or head to a shoe store where you can have a pair of espadrilles custom-made on the spot, just for you.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel Seventy - Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we’ll head to Sarria, the last of the independent villages annexed by Barcelona in 1921. It’s always been one of the places where Barcelona's affluent chose to live from the second half of the 19th century onwards. We’ll visit a villa designed by Gaudi (Torre Bellesguard) and an exclusive private sports club set in a noble 19th-century building.
Next up is the Barceloneta neighborhood for lunch. Once the home of fishermen, the area was modernized and opened up during the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics to sandy beaches and a harbor filled with private yachts. Keep your eyes open for sea glass as we stroll along the beach.
Back at our hotel near the Gràcia neighborhood, we’ll “go for a vermouth” at a nearby traditional bodega. The saying is synonymous with catching up with friends and family in the late afternoon. Catalan vermouth is not like that used in classic martinis—it’s typically sweet and infused with caramel and a range of spices and botanicals. We’ll learn all about the local vermouth from the bodega’s owners and do some taste-testing.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: Hotel Seventy - Barcelona
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The day begins with a walking tour of Tarragona, a fascinating mix of ancient Roman ruins, a colorful city center, and beautiful beaches. We'll tour the well-preserved 2nd-century Roman amphitheater and the city's medieval Old Town. A short drive takes us to the Roman aqueduct that supplied Tarragona with fresh water from a river 10 kilometers from the city. The beauty of its arches represents Roman engineering at its best.
We'll drive on to reach the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet. Under the protection of kings and noblemen, the monastery of Poblet became the nerve center of medieval Catalonia. Construction of the monastery began in the 12th century and it has been expanded upon in a variety of architectural styles— Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. Set in the peaceful surroundings of the Prades mountains, Santa Maria de Poblet is still an active monastery inhabited by a community of Benedictine monks.
We'll end the day back in Tarragona with a celebratory dinner to mark the conclusion of our trip.
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: H10 Imperial Tarraco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Head to the airport to catch your return flight home, or to wherever you are going next!
Daily Summary:
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
The Seventy Hotel blends the warmth of a Mediterranean guest house with the vibrancy of a modern multifunctional space. It boasts a spectacular ambiance with an avant-garde architectural style and an unbeatable location. The hotel has one of the best locations in the city for exploring top sites. Set between Eixample & Gràcia neighborhoods, you are within walking distance from one of the main shopping and business areas, Passeig de Gràcia, and surrounded by a plethora of Modernist architecture. It’s also the perfect spot for getting to know the locals, with the Gràcia neighborhood housing traditional stores, bodegas, markets, bookstores, and more.
The H10 Imperial is located in the historic center of Tarragona by the Roman amphitheater with stunning sea views. The hotel has a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, bar, and features a hammam and sun terrace.
Planning a trip can be daunting. We want you to relax and know that we are committed to ensuring you're well prepared to enjoy your journey. We work hard to put together itineraries that match your interests and fit your budget. We aim to create trips that have the feel of casual travel with friends rather than formal tours.
Global travel can only succeed if communities benefit from tourism. We hire local operators who value sustainable travel and support their communities.
We specialize in journeys of discovery and inspiration. Our adventures are all about local culture—the people, history, art, and food. Our trips showcase a rich source of inspirational people, landscapes, and cityscapes. Traveling is the time for discovery, exploration and adventure.
In case of an emergency, all our guides are licensed and trained to handle situations that may arise. We are always with you to assist in any way we can to make your trip safe and memorable.
