Barcelona and Valencia: Treasures of the Spanish Seaside

May 8 and 21

Sweeping up from the sandy shores of the western Mediterranean and melting gracefully into a panorama of mountainous Montserrat scenery, the unmistakable skyline of Barcelona greets us as we begin our Catalonian travels. We gather at the stately Hotel Alma, an elegant oasis of classic style and serene gardens just steps from perhaps the most chic street in Spain: the Paseo de Gracia. An introductory lecture by accomplished cultural travel expert Sofia Barroso orients us to the region’s history and unique decorative arts traditions before we step outside to enjoy an introductory walking tour. After returning to the hotel for a brief respite, we depart by coach to visit a private collection followed by a festive opening dinner at El Circulo Equestre, one of the city’s most exclusive and historic private clubs. Housed in a stunning Neo-Gothic mansion designed by architect Joan Josep Hervàs i Arizmendi in 1910, this retreat in the heart of the city is the perfect place to begin our Spanish reverie.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: D

May 9 and 22

In the morning, we depart for the Gothic Quarter, where Roman ruins and Medieval monuments mingle. This enchanting neighborhood’s winding, labyrinthian streets are dotted with peaceful squares (plaças) where you can take in the city sights in the shade of urban greenery. Inside the Grand Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major), once the residence of the counts of Barcelona and later the kings of Aragon, the Mares Museum awaits. Sculptor and avid collector Frederic Mares bequeathed his collection to the city of Barcelona in 1944 and dedicated the latter part of his life to the restoration of statues and buildings damaged during the Spanish Civil War. His staggering gift to the city includes statuary from the pre-Roman 3rd and 4th centuries through the first half of the 20th century, with a particular emphasis on Baroque and Renaissance Christian art. After enjoying lunch at the home of a private collector, we continue onward to the Disseny Hub Barcelona. Designed by Oriol Bohigas, a Spanish architect and urban planner known for his work in the modernization of Barcelona, the second floor of the building cantilevers out over a park below, conserving precious public space in an impressive feat of engineering. The Hub contains the collections of several museums, bringing traditional decorative arts like ceramics, furniture, and glasswork together with costumes, carriages, and graphic arts in expansive, state-of-the-art exhibition spaces. An independent evening allows time to explore Barcelona’s celebrated culinary scene at your leisure.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B, L

May 10 and 23

Just outside our doorstep awaits Casa Milà, where we are introduced to the work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudi. Influenced by Neo-Gothic and Modernist styles, Gaudi pioneered a unique design approach within the regional Modernista movement, and his influence can be seen throughout the city. Casa Milà is popularly known as La Pedrera, meaning the stone quarry, in reference to its undulating stone façade and twisting wrought iron balconies. A walking tour of Paseo de Gracia brings us to additional Modern masterpieces, including the Casa Lleo-Morera with its ornately carved balustrades, figural sculptures, and pink marble columns. The nearby Casa Batiló, another of Gaudi’s works, is a rich confection of intricate tracery, irregular oval windows, and sculpted stonework with sinuous forms. There are few straight lines, and much of the façade is decorated with a colorful mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles in Gaudi’s signature technique called trencadís. Lunch is served at Restaurant Tragaluz, a spacious, modern eatery with an inviting glass-roofed conservatory. We continue to the most monumental of Gaudi’s works: La Sagrada Familia. Construction began in 1882, but the church just reached its final height in February 2026! The golden sandstone exterior is richly ornamented with carved biblical scenes and organic forms, while the forest-like interior is bathed in shifting bands of color from the brilliant stained-glass windows. On a nearby hill overlooking the city, Güell Park was also designed by Gaudi, combining elements from the Arts and Crafts movement with the forms and techniques of 20th-century Modernism. After drinking in the afternoon’s delights, we return to the hotel for a tapas dinner on a rooftop terrace.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B, L, D

May 11 and 24

A scenic drive along the coast brings us to Gerona, where we are greeted with coffee and a stroll through the city’s historic center. Settlement here extends back into antiquity with the Iberians, and later the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. Begun in the 11th century, the towering Cathedral of Saint Mary is a rich architectural palimpsest of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque design. Inside awaits the cathedral’s Treasury Museum with its famous Creation Tapestry, a richly embroidered tableau of biblical scenes, symbols, allegories, and sacred history which has been preserved since its completion in the 11th or 12th century. We continue to L’Estartit for lunch at the Catalan farmhouse of Mrs. Carmen Mascort. After enjoying a leisurely afternoon examining her extensive collection of Spanish ceramics and 18th-century Catalan furniture, we return to our lodgings in Barcelona.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B, L

May 12 and 25

We venture to the scenic Pedralbes neighborhood for a guided visit to the Monastery of Pedralbes. A Gothic complex with a fragrant garden of orange trees ringed by elegant cloisters and cobblestone walkways, the monastery houses a rich collection of pottery spanning from the 13th century onward that features a variety of wares for domestic and apothecary use. Lunch awaits at Absis, an upscale Mediterranean eatery within the Museum of Catalan Art (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, or MNAC). The museum is housed in the Palau Nacional, a sprawling Classical building designed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition. Explorations of the museum include an immersive display of Romanesque frescoes, installed by architect Gae Aulenti, and world-class collections of Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture that complement the Modernista gems of the city. After a brief respite at the hotel, we visit Barcelona’s top antique dealer, who shares his impressive collection of textiles and decorative arts before hosting us for a convivial tapas dinner. 

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B, L, D

May 13 and 26

Taking our leave of Barcelona, we chart a course southward for Peñiscola, a charming historic town on a peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean. Once a Phoenician seaport, the castle and fortified walls were built by the enigmatic Knights Templar between 1294 and 1307. Winding streets fronted by alabaster façades with red rooftops provide the perfect place to wander and revel in the quiet life of coastal Spain. We enjoy an unforgettable seaside lunch at Casa Jaime before continuing on to Valencia. A showcase of uniquely Spanish style, the city is a dazzling mosaic of the earthy red and tan hues of Gothic and Baroque provincial architecture and the crisp blues and grays of cutting edge material and design. Our lodgings at the Palacio Santa Clara are situated comfortably in the heart of the city, just off the bustling commercial street Carrer de Colón. Dating to 1916, architect Francisco Javier Göerlich’s design is brimming with Art Deco flair, curving Modernist lines, and organic motifs. Upon arrival, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Overnight: Valencia
Included: B, L, D

May 14 and 27

We greet the morning with a visit to the Mercat Central, Europe’s largest fresh produce market housed in a soaring, polychrome masterwork of Valencian Art Nouveau architecture. In the heart of the city awaits La Lonja, once a bustling silk exchange. One of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture built for a civilian purpose, the Lonja brings us back in time to an era when the city was a key hub of international trade. A walking tour of the Old Town takes us to the c. 13th-century Cathedral with dazzling paintings by Francisco Goya and an impressive treasury, which boasts possession of the Holy Grail. The nearby Church of St. Catherine also dates to the 13th century with its striking Baroque bell tower and three-nave Gothic interior. As an interlude to our explorations, we visit the historic Horchateria Daniel to sample horchata (a sweet beverage flavoured with spices), fartons (Valencian cookies), and ice cream. A fresh Mediterranean lunch awaits at the distinguished Casino de Agricultura Club, after which we visit the Palace of the Marquis of Don Aguas. This stately mansion was the property of the Marqueses of Dos Aguas and currently houses the González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts. The 16th-century Real Colegio-Seminario de Corpus Christi is he city’s most splendid example of Renaissance architecture and houses the Patriarch Museum with its dazzling assortment of paintings by Caravaggio, El Greco, Van Der Heyden, and others. The evening features a drinks reception at the home of a private collector.

Overnight: Valencia
Included: B, L, R

May 15 and 28

In the morning, we tour the Bancaja Foundation, a private institution and pillar of cultural heritage with a rigorous schedule of exhibitions, workshops, and conferences. The collection of works by Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla is world-renowned, and we enjoy a guided look through the artist’s eyes at the bright air and sunlit water of Spain. Returning to the city, we enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava’s work. The Palau de les Arts, an opera house and performing arts center, sweeps across Valencia’s skyline in the shape of a feather, springing from a reinforced-concrete pylon located on the access footbridge. A traditional seafood paella lunch at a cozy eatery along Malvarrosa Beach awaits. Nearby, the Museu de les Ciences and L’Oceanografic cuts a more avant-garde, skeletal figure appropriate to its focus on the maritime world. We gather to reflect on our shared experiences over a celebratory farewell dinner, raising a glass to the decorative arts, architecture, landscapes, and camaraderie that have defined this memorable Mediterranean journey.

Overnight: Valencia
Included: B, L, D

May 16 and 29

Guests depart from the Valencia airport for stateside connections or continue to Palma de Mallorca for the Optional Extension (Tour 1 only).

Included: B

N.B. If only the Extension to Mallorca is of interest, please contact the Trust regarding registration options at programs@decorativeartstrust.org.

May 16

In the afternoon, arrive on the Balearic Island oasis of Palma de Mallorca, just off the eastern coast of Spain. We check into our lodgings at the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular, a grand residence turned contemporary haven with arresting views of Palma’s Old City, before departing on foot to Can Vivot Palace. This privately owned 16th-century palace was once the home of the Counts of Zavella. Today, its magnificently furnished rooms hold a spectacular collection of Spanish and Italian decorative arts. In the evening, we attend a concert followed by dinner together.

Overnight: Palma de Mallorca
Included: D

May 17

We greet the morning with a walking tour of the city’s historic quarter. The Convent of Santa Clara, founded by Franciscan nuns in 1256, is beloved for its centuries-old tradition of baking biscuits and almond snacks, which can be purchased through a small wooden turnstile called a torno. Nearby, the Basilica de Sant Francesc cuts a sharp silhouette in the Palma skyline. The façade of this 13th-century church is quintessentially Mallorcan with its massive, forbidding sandstone wall, delicate carvings, and rose window. We visit the Gordiola Glass Factory to meet with expert craftsmen who preserve traditional glass-blowing techniques before continuing on to the Bartolomé March Servera Foundation. Highlights include a beautiful music room with vibrant paintings by Jose Maria Sert depicting Carnival in New Orleans. The Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca is a dazzling Roman Gothic construction with a spellbinding interior redesigned by Antoni Gaudi. After a quick visit to the tranquil gardens of the Arab Baths, we share lunch at a private manor house. The afternoon brings us to a tempting assemblage of antiques and crafts shops, which we peruse before convening for a chic dinner at the Michelin-starred Marc Fosch restaurant.

Overnight: Palma de Mallorca
Included: B, L, D

May 18

Nestled in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, the picturesque village of Valldemossa awaits, famous for its winding streets and colorful terracotta pots brimming with vibrant geraniums, petunias, and ivy. The town’s Carthusian Monastery dates to the 13th century, when it was constructed as a grand palace complex for King James II of Majorca. Composer Frédéric Chopin and writer George Sand sojourned here in the winter of 1838–39, and we enjoy a Chopin concert at the Palace of King Sancho before concluding our morning with a visit to the monastery’s private rose garden. Lunch is served on the terrace of Sonmo Food Lab, surrounded by fruit and citrus trees with extraordinary views of the valley below. In the afternoon, we continue northward to Son Marroig, the former mansion of Archduke Luis Salvado, which features a rich collection of historic furniture and dramatic ocean views. A scenic drive through the countryside brings us to the village of Deia, home of the late poet and author Robert Graves. We enjoy drinks in the gardens of the luxurious Belmond La Residencia hotel before returning to Palma.

Overnight: Palma de Mallorca
Included: B, L

May 19

Near the northern tip of the island, the town of Pollensa awaits with its charming cobblestone streets, vibrant open-air markets, and verdant mountainous scenery. The family-run textile factory Vicens was founded in 1854 and continues to produce traditional Mallorcan Ikat fabrics (popularly known as roba de llengues). We observe the making of these vivid woven cottons, with a pause for refreshments, the showroom, and the gift shop. Continuing to the beachside town of Alcudia, we visit Sa Bassa Blanca, seat of the Yannick & Ben Jakober Foundation. After a welcome by Director Kika Ossorio and the Jakobers, we explore the estate’s sculpture park and art collection, which includes royal portraits from the 15th century onward. A private lunch with the Jakobers is followed by a visit to the stunning private garden of the Countess of La Coruña, designed by Spain’s top landscape architect, Fernando Caruncho.

Overnight: Palma de Mallorca
Included: B, L

May 20

A scenic coach ride down the island’s southern shore brings us to a private country estate where one of the region’s best interior designers hosts us for coffee and traditional Mallorcan pastries. After a leisurely visit, we continue to Cap Rocat for lunch at a beautifully restored fort situated in the middle of a 74-acre nature reserve, making it one of the Mediterranean’s most private and secluded hotels. Following lunch, we catch our flights to Barcelona, where we check into the Hotel Alma and enjoy a closing dinner.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B, L, D

May 21

Guests depart from the Barcelona airport for stateside connections or enjoy a relaxed morning before joining their fellow travelers for the beginning of the main program in Barcelona.

Overnight: Barcelona
Included: B