Tour Summary
Highlights
- Great marriage: Barcelona and Priorat
- Amazing city: Architecture of Gaudi- Heritage-Gothic quarter- Vibrant atmosphere
- Exquisite gastronomy- Tapas in the old quarter- slow food in the countryside
- Magnificent scenery in The Priorat
- Excellent range of activities: Wine tasting-Cooking Class- Heritage excursion Scenery route.
This is one of the most dramatic tours, a feast for the senses! The countryside varies from pastoral river plains to the harsh terrain of mountains; the Mediterranean coast changes from golden strands to plunging rocks. The Romans founded Barcelona and left us grand monuments and the basis of today’s Catalan gastronomy, later enriched by the Moors and traders from the north and eastern Mediterranean.
Your adventure starts in the four-star superior comfort of a hotel in centre of the city. A guided walk will introduce you to Gaudi’s fertile genius, the Sacrada Familia and Casa Milá. You will be taken to the Boqueria market where the fusion of colours and aromas of sets the tone for this culinary voyage where you will get hands-on experience in Catalan cooking in Barcelona and Priorat.
On the way to Priorat, you will be chauffeur-driven or given a self-drive car with GPS to map-read for you. You have a choice of visiting Sitges for lunch with a sea view or drive to Spain’s holiest shrine, the monastery of Montserrat with its funicular access.
Priorat, your home for the next two nights, is almost a small country in itself. Surrounded by mountains and with its own rugged climate, it has a long heritage of culture going back to the Carthusian monastery of Santa Maria d’Escaladei (ladder to God). The monks started making wine in the 14th century and has since become is one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions. It is known for its hearty stews (slow cooked and delicious), festivals, terraces of olive trees, vineyards and inspiring walks.
During this tour, you will meet masters of wine who will talk about their passion and invite you to tastings. You will take an active part in the preparation of speciality food of the region and sit down to enjoy the unique pairings of the local cuisine and wines of Catalonia.
Itinerary
DAY ONE - Barcelona
Your gourmet vacation starts with a private transfer from Barcelona Airport to our selected hotel in the centre of Barcelona (We have carefully chosen charming and boutique 4 star design hotels located in historic buildings in Paseo De Gracia, Gothic Quarter or Ramblas, all of them situated in the heart of Barcelona).
Our selection of hotels are ideal places to relax and enjoy a magical ambiance, and taste superb gourmet dishes. Check-in at our hotel and free time to settle.
Evening free before starting your gourmet adventure. We can provide a list of activities to do, places to visit or restaurants to dine on the first day depending on your arrival time
DAY TWO- Barcelona
After breakfast you will meet your gourmet expert guide who will take you in the first gastronomy adventure visiting the famous Boqueria food market, . You will enjoy an incredible contrast between colours and activity, ideal to discover why Mediterranean cuisine is internationally known due to its ingredients.
Your culinary expert will guide you to the best booths of fruit, vegetables, meats, seafood, bread and desserts.
After the market visit your guide will take you through the winding streets of The Gothic quarter enjoying the Cathedral, a few churches and squares, explaining the history of Barcelona with its Roman and medieval past. In this walking gourmet tour you will be stopping in speciality food shops for tastings of Catalan cheese, charcuterie, pastries, olives and chocolates.
For lunch you will be taken to some of the numerous tapas bars to sample some of the specialities of the Spanish cuisine accompanied by delicious local wines.
In the afternoon you will have a guided walking tour of the Modernist district enjoying the famous buildings of world renowned Architect Gaudi, including Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Casa Batllo.
DAY THREE- Barcelona
Following breakfast, you will head to our venue for your first hands-on cooking class. This cooking workshop consists in cooking a 4-course meal of our traditional cuisine.
Every dish is prepared one after the other, in a successive way, so everybody gets to cook and you see the whole process for all the recipes prepared. It takes around 2 ½ hours and it is followed by the meal, accompanied by wine and water.
This will be an example of a set menu :
Tomato soup shot flavoured with Idiazabal cheese
Potato omelette with tomato bread
Seafood paella
Catalan cream
In the late afternoon at 18.00 you will assist to our location for a commented wine tasting, immersing you in a wine experience right in the centre of Barcelona.
You’ll learn about Spanish wines with four tastings accompanied by typical snacks in a unique wine shop. The wine tasting is led by an English and Spanish speaking wine expert, who will share the history of local wines and its different tastes.
DAY FOUR- Barcelona-Priorat
You will pickup of your car hire fitted with GPS for your next gourmet-wine adventure. Before arriving to our selected local gourmet hotel in Priorat, we suggest driving to Montserrat crossing picturesque provincial villages. You will arrive to the free car park at the bottom of Monserrat and will take the electric-cable to the incomparable setting of Montserrat mountain which rises to 1.235 meters of height and holds the Royal Basilica and the Monastery, where the Moreneta Virgen (Virgen de Montserrat) is kept.
We can also suggest to drive to the wonderful seaside town of Sitges to enjoy a walk by the beach, perhaps some seafood specialities and a stroll through Sitges Unique old quarter, before continuing to your next destination: Priorat which is on the way from Sitges.
Once your visits is complete to Montserrat and Sitges and after some free time for wandering around and perhaps lunch next to the Monastery or having some seafood delicacies overlooking the sea in Sitges (we can recommend restaurants on the seafront), you will drive to our next destination: Priorat.
You will be arriving to our chosen hotel in Torroja in the heart of Priorat, built over the old abbey of Torroja , a construction of over 400 years old. If you have chosen the second option a driver guide will pick you up from Barcelona and take you to your hotel in Priorat. (please note that your drive guide will only do the transfer from Barcelona to Priorat, he will not take you to Montserrat or Sitges)
DAY FIVE- Priorat ( Porrera )- Cornudella de Montsant- Torroja
After breakfast we head to the little picturesque village of Porrera.
Tour and tasting of famous winery, Vall Llach owned by famous singer-songwriter, Lluis Llach. Celler Vall Llach is fortunate in possessing a selection of magnificent old estates – the so-called trossos – whose 60- to 90-year old Cariñena and Garnacha vines assure an excellent quality wine.
A balanced combination of tradition and cutting-edge technology is strictly applied to all of the creative processes that culminate in the wine you drink: cultivation, harvesting, fermentation, maceration, pressing, ageing and bottling. Highly recommended visit.
We proceed to visit a highly reputable family winery, Joan Simó. It is located in the basement of one of the oldest houses in the village. From the very first day Celler Joan Simo has been characterised for the illusion in making unique high quality wines with personality. Tour and tasting.
Transfer to Cornudella de Montsant and little hamlet of Siurana. Spectacular views. Option here to buy local products in agrobotiga shop and have an improvised picnic overlooking Siurana reservoir on the cliff-top or have a traditional lunch in one of the local restaurants in the village.
Visit this cliff-top historic village which was the last Moorish stronghold in Catalonia. Option to visit the Romanesque church and to hear the legend of the Moorish Queen’s last leap. Option to buy cheeses and olive oils at local produce shop in Siurana or in Cornudella.
Transfer back to Torroja.
DAY SIX- Priorat- Barcelona
After breakfast you will have a first class private guided visit to one of the pioneers in the Priorat wine region, having spectacular wines recognised by wine experts all over the world. Wine tasting.
Although the official name of the winery is Costers del Siurana, it is principally known by its famed Priorat wine brand, Clos de l'Obac. Clos de l'Obac is a powerful red wine, made with a blend of five grape varieties, and with grapes from fifty year old Garnacha and Cariñena vines.
This leading winery is located in the pretty wine village of Gratallops, right next to Rene Barbier's Clos Mogador. Clos de l'Obac is run by the visionary Carles Pastrana. Carles Pastrana is passionate about his wines and he is one of the most charming wine personalities in Spain. Carles is credited with being one of the first in the region, along with Rene Barbier and Josep Lluis Perez as well as Daphne Glorian and later on Alvaro Palacios, to realize the enormous potential of Priorat as a wine region. This was in the 1980's. However, Carles Pastrana's family was already in the region in the '70's, discovering old vines and doing experimental viticulture. Transfer to Falset.
After being delighted by one of the best wineries in The Priorat we visit the fruit and vegetable market followed by a hands -on cooking class at a traditional restaurant with a local chef. The cooking class will be based on typical dishes from the area using fresh local ingredients . The cooking class will be followed by lunch.
Following the cooking class and delicious lunch your will be going to Barcelona airport in your car hire provided. (subject to flight times) or the guide will take you back to Barcelona or your next destination, depending on the type of tour you have booked.
Accommodation
ACCOMMODATION IN BARCELONA
CONDES DE BARCELONA
4 STAR
The hotel Condes de Barcelona 4* star is superbly located in Paseo de Gracia, in the heart of modernism Barcelona, opposite the famous building "La Pedrera" from Gaudi, just a few minutes of Plaza Catalunya and Barcelona' old quarter. The Hotel is formed of two old palaces from the 19th century, It has 235 rooms and the restaurants are run by chef Martin Berasategui who has seven Michelin Stars.
Location:
This attractive hotel is situated in the tourist heart of Barcelona, in Paseo de Grácia, the most elegant avenue of the whole city, right in front of Gaudí’s masterpiece La Pedrera and within walking distance to all of Barcelona’s major attractions. It is located in a typical Barcelonan modernist building, declared monument of interest by the city’s town hall.
A wide range of restaurants, bars, clubs and the best boutiques are located in the immediate vicinity.
The rooms:
All the pleasantly furnished rooms comprise of a private bathroom, hairdryer, direct dial telephone, satellite/ cable TV, Internet access, a minibar, a double or twin beds and a safe. The heating can be individually adjusted and the air conditioning is centrally regulated.
There are two kind of rooms in terms of decoration: classic (picture) and contemporary, but both are equipped equally.
General facilities:
The large reception is manned 24 hours a day and the hotel also has a safe, a currency exchange and lift access. Further facilities include a piano bar and an à la carte restaurant. Business guests may take advantage of the conference facilities with Internet access, WLAN access points, communication possibilities and secretary and hostess services. Guests can additionally make use of the room and laundry services, as well as a garage and an open car park. Roof top terrace with swimming pool
We have contracted similar hotels in all central areas in Barcelona: Gothic quarter, Ramblas and Eixample like Granados 83, Barcelona Catedral, Petit Palace Barcelona etc
ACCOMMODATION IN PRIORAT
In the center of the Priorat built over the old abbey of Torroja del Priorat, a construction of over 400 years old.
The hotel is located in the Torroja del Priorat, the Priorato's geographical center.
You will have the chance to know the Priorato, a region that will surprise you by its marvelous landscapes, the combination of lush forests with vineyards and olives. You will also find possibilities of enjoying cultural visits, adventure sports as well as a wine and olive region with Priorato qualified Designation of Origin.
Our Chef’s professional experience in other regions and countries has filled our traditional and typically Priorato cuisine with innovative touches and diverse culinary options.
Rooms:
Suites, double rooms, single rooms and rooms suitable for handicapped guests.
General facilities:
Panoramic views, air-conditioning, 24-hour access to internet, background music, hair dryer, 12-hour room service, wine list and coffee service.
The PUB of the hotel is placed in the low part of the abbey where they were finding the guardianships and warehouse of the former abbey.
In this space we will find a cosy place to take a few glasses with good music in a few comfortable sofas.
Hotel Hall: It includes different rooms with coffee service.
Conference Room, Wine-tasting Room, Wine Club, Restaurant, Wine Store
