CATALONIA LOCATION GUIDE

SPANISH LANGUAGE

Exceptional Tours Expertly Delivered

Our location guide offers you information on the range of visits available in Catalonia. All visits are selected with your subject and the curriculum in mind, along with the most popular choices for sightseeing, culture and leisure in the area.

The information in your location guide has been provided by our partners in Catalonia who have expert on the ground knowledge of the area, combined with advice from education professionals so that the visits and information recommended are the most relevant to meet your learning objectives.

Making Life Easier for You

This location guide is not a catalogue of opening times. Our Tour Experts will design your itinerary with opening times and location in mind so that you can really maximise your time on tour.

Our location guides are designed to give you the information that you really need, including what are the highlights of the visit, location, suitability and educational resources. We’ll give you top tips like when is the best time to go, dress code and extra local knowledge.

Peace of Mind

So that you don’t need to carry additional money around with you we will state in your initial quote letter, which visits are included within your inclusive tour price and if there is anything that can’t be pre-paid we will advise you of the entrance fees so that you know how much money to take along.

You also have the added reassurance that, WST is a member of the STF and our featured visits are all covered as part of our externally verified Safety Management System.

SPANISH LANGUAGE VISITS

Catalonia is a great place for some intensive learning whilst having fun. Students can practise their language in structured environment with a workshop and then have more free flow by practising in the shops or whilst visiting excursions. The aim is that they will come back more confident in all areas, reading, listening and speaking and will increase their knowledge / vocab range.

Language Workshops Students will take part in listening and speaking sessions based around your key topics. They are ideal for preparation and practise in the morning before going out and about in the afternoon to try out their new range of vocabulary. Once a workshop is booked we arrange for the teachers to contact you direct to discuss your students’ ability and study topics to ensure they will match learning objectives of the tour and keep the students attention. A wide range of workshops are available including :

Llorett Calella Barcelona Calafell Salou

LAS RAMBLAS TREASURE HUNT & COASTAL TOWN TRAILS A great way for your students to practise their spoken and written language whilst exploring the Las Ramblas area. Our exclusive, free 90 minute Treasure Hunt along Las Ramblas encourages groups to interact with the street, take photos and have fun together. We also have free town trails for a number of resorts along the Catalonia coast.

THE GAME Your students will divide into teams and with a guide they will discover Barcelona via a series of challenges based around the 5 senses. Challenges include tapas tasting, listening to Spanish tunes and puzzle solving. This can be run in Spanish or in English dependent on your requirements and abilities. The challenge will last for 2 hours and the winning team will win t-shirts.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF PEDRO This is a group activity which takes students through a typical day in the life of Pedro, from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed at night. Each part of the day has a language challenge which they need to fulfil in order to continue to the next moment of the day.

Poble Espanyol Otherwise known as the Spanish Village. Located in the Monjuic area this is a reconstruction of a traditional Spanish village with traditional buildings, craft shops and cafes. Website: www.poble-espanyol.com/pemsa/en.html Metro: Espanya

Markets Markets are a great place to practise language and engage in interaction with locals. La Boqueria market runs Monday to Saturday mornings on the Ramblas or contact us for details of market days in Girona, Tossa de Mar, Sitges and many more.

Spanish Film Night If you want to improve their Spanish whilst keeping them busy in the evening, ask us about arranging a film night at the hotel. Many hotels can supply a range of DVD’s and have a TV in a meeting room that you could pre-book. Please ask us as early as possible about this so we can place you in a hotel which can offer this service. If your hotel doesn’t offer this, don’t worry, you can always go to the IMAX cinema at Port Vell. An ideal evening’s entertainment for A Level students.

CULTURAL BARCELONA

Everybody who visits Catalonia will spend at least one day in Barcelona. Vibrant and cosmopolitan, you have so many opportunities here to soak up Spanish Culture

Las Ramblas Enjoy wandering along this famous street that runs through the heart of the city. Take in the street artists, market stall, shops and cafes.

La Sagrada Familia The iconic landmark of Barcelona, this famously unfinished masterpiece is one the most well known sights of Barcelona. Groups can either do a self guided visit or pre- book a guide. Please note the general entrance fee does not include access to the tower, please ask us for more details.

Metro: Sagrada Familia Website: www.sagradafamilia.cat

Plaza Cataluyna Located at the top of Las Ramblas this is the main hub of the city and packed with shops, department stores and cafes.

Nou Camp The world famous football stadium, home to Barcelona FC. With the ‘Camp Nou Experience’ you will see their trophies on display and learn more about the values, heritage and history of the club. There’s a great new multimedia area with interactive screens and tables and you can even walk through the player’s tunnel. Audio tours only are available here. Metro: Collblanc i Badal, Maria Cristina, Palau Reial and Zona Universitària Website: www.fcbarcelona.com/camp-nou

Montjuic Rising up from the harbour area Montjuic offers superb views of the city. The site of much regeneration for the 1992 Olympics, Montjuic offers a range of visits including the Olympic Stadium, Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village), museums, funicular railway and parks and gardens.

Metro: Plaza Espanya - From here you can walk along the magic fountain route and go past the Museum Nacional de Arte de Catalunya Paral-lel - From here change to the cable car or walk. Website: www.bcn.travel/destination-barcelona/montjuic-mountain/

Gothic Quarter The old town and historic quarter of the city. You can wander around the small windy streets, shop for souvenirs, admire the architecture and soak up the atmosphere from a pavement café. Metro: Jaume I Website: www.bcn.travel/destination-barcelona/barri-gotic/

Port Vell Located on the harbour this is a recently developed area of Barcelona, with a great range of shops, museums and tapas restaurants. You’ll also find the IMAX Cinema and the Aquarium here. Metro: Drassanes or Barceloneta Website: www.marinaportvell.com/ www.bcn.travel/destination-barcelona/port-vell/

Parc Güell Located to the north of the city this park is packed with samples of Gaudi’s work. There are great opportunities to sketch his pieces, or to sketch the views of the city from its elevated position, or just relax and soak up the atmosphere. For free entrance, schools must book this visit directly. Metro: The closest station is Lesseps Website: www.bcn.travel/destination-barcelona/parc-guell/

The Gaudi Experience This is a unique 4D experience located 5 minutes from Parc Güell. Visitors will take an interactive journey through the creative universe of Antoni Gaudi. Along with the 4D experience, you can also spend time in the interactive exhibition to discover how nature inspired his creations.

Metro: Vallcarca or Lesseps Website: www.gaudiexperiencia.com/

Gaudi Houses – Casa Mila (La Pedrera), Casa Batllo Two of the most famous buildings designed by Gaudi they are instantly recognisable amongst the architecture of Barcelona. They can be viewed from the outside or you can go inside to look closer at Gaudi’s attention to detail. Please note that throughout 2014 La Pedrera is undergoing restoration from the outside so the external view will be limited. Exhibitions will still continue inside.

Metro: Passeig de Gracia Website: www.lapedreraeducacio.org Website: www.casabatllo.es

Museu Picasso This museum is a key visit in understanding the formative years of Picasso, it displays much of his early work all the way up to his Blue Period. You will also learn more about his relationship with the city of Barcelona and his life there.

Metro: Jaume I Website: http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/

Fundació Joan Miró Not just a home for the work of Miró, at the wishes of the artist, it is also used to promote and publicise the work of contemporary artists in all its aspects.

Metro: Paral-lel Website: www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org

CULTURAL COASTAL

You will find a more relaxed atmosphere along the coast with great opportunities to dip into the history and heritage of the region

Girona This beautiful medieval town is great to wander around to soak up the culture, with its old buildings, narrow streets, and gothic cathedral.

Website: www.girona.cat/turisme/eng/activitats.php

Figueres A well known centre of art and culture with the Dali Theatre Museum, the final resting place of Salvador Dali which contains the widest range of his work.

Website: www.salvador-dali.org

Tossa An authentic Spanish seaside town, picturesque location, great to wander around the cobbled streets, pick up souvenirs or walk around the old walled town and up to the lighthouse.

Website: www.infotossa.com/indexeng.php

Montserrat Located inland from the Costa Dorada Montserrat is a religious site famous as home to the Statue of the Black Madonna. Visit around mid-day and you can experience a performance from the world famous boys choir in the Cathedral and take in spectacular views.

Website: www.bcn.travel/destination-barcelona/montserrat-mountain/#

Tarragona A historic roman town where you can view a series of ruins including the amphitheatre and the ‘devils bridge’ aqueduct.

Website: www.tarragona.cat/

Tapas Tasting A must when you visit Spain if you really want to get a feel for the culture, you can try a range of traditional Spanish dishes. Available as an evening activity in all resorts.

Flamenco show A fun evening activity and a true cultural experience. Full of passion, colour and art.

LEISURE

Shopping in Port Vell or Plaza Cataluyna Shops in Spain are open until late and both these areas are well populated with department stores, high street fashion as well the usual souvenir shops.

Imax cinema Located at Port Vell you can watch the latest films in English or in Spanish.

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic An evening highlight in Barcelona, this is a fantastic display of light, colour and water acrobatics. Displays are usually at weekends only and at various times in the evening dependent on the season. Please contact us for times.

Website: www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins/fonts/EN/magica.html

PORT AVENTURA, SALOU Experience a world of adventure with WST at Port Aventura. Students will visit exotic places such as China, Polynesia, Far West, México, and Mediterrània. Discover full-on 135km/h adrenaline coasters, gentle jungle swings and colourful shows from acrobatics to card tricks and magicians. The range of rides and attractions provides something for everyone, and our coastal accommodation or option to visit from a stay in Barcelona are ideal.

Website: Port Aventura

PORT AVENTURA CARIBE AQUAPARK, SALOU Situated within Port Aventura World this water park has a wide range of slides, pools, restaurants and shops. Highlights include King Kajhuna a 31 metre free fall slide (the highest water slide in Europe) and Ciclon Tropical, a multi bump slide of over 100 metres.

Website: Port Aventura Aquapark

WATERWORLD, LLORET DE MAR Located on the Costa Brava, this is one of the best water parks in Spain. You’ll enjoy breathtaking slides, rapids, lagoons and wave pools. Highlights include X Treme Mountain, a 260 ft long ‘water coaster’ and Storm, a new concept of a whirlpool vortex.

Website: Waterworld Lloret

RESTAURANTS

Traditional paella, tapas tasting or a lively evening at Hard Rock Café, make a restaurant meal part of your night out.