School Trips to Spain

The Picasso Museum houses a collection of over 4000 works by this most famous of Spanish artists. Established in 1963, the museum is located in a series of medieval palaces dating from the 13th and 14th centuries.  Although Picasso was born in Malaga, he spent some of his formative years living in Barcelona in what is referred to as the Blue Period during which his art drew on austere themes such as poverty, blindness and prostitution couple with the use of blues and greens to create a sombre appearance.

Toledo is one of Spain's most magnificent cities and one day here is never enough. It is known as the ‘city of three cultures’ due to the influence of its successive Moorish, Jewish and Christian rulers.  Today it is still the religious seat of the nation and its historical and cultural heart.  Toledo can be reached from Madrid in about an hour by road or 30 minutes by high-speed train. Don’t miss the spectacular Alcazar Fortress and the historic Toledo Cathedral.

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts is an art academy which has seen the likes of Goya, Dali and Picasso study here. It is also an art museum which is home to works by Goya, Zurbaran, Ribera, Murillo and others.

The iconic Cathedral of Sagrada Família is Antoni Gaudí's best-known work and has become the symbol of Barcelona. The foundation stone was laid as long ago as 1882 and Gaudí who devoted himself to the project until his death in 1926.  The Cathedral is nearing completion, which is expected to be by 2026. The cathedral is characterised by its soaring towers on each façade represent the 12 Apostles. You can go up the towers on foot or using the lift and enjoy a breath-taking view across Barcelona.

Dali was one of the twentieth centuries principal exponents of surrealism and his melting clocks and burning giraffes are instantly recognisable. The Catalan town of Figueres was his birthplace and during his childhood he would regularly visit the theatre here.  It later exhibited some of his early pieces. During the Spanish Civil War, the theatre was burned down, but in the 1970’s the town decided to build a museum to house the works of their most famous son. Today it has the largest Dali collection anywhere in the world.  Dali himself chose to be buried under the dome of the Dali Theatre at the museum.

Casa Batlló was designed by Antoni Gaudi as a commission for the wealthy Spanish aristocrat Batlló family and is widely regarded as one of his most impressive creations. The building is situated in the centre of Barcelona and is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The stunning façade has a fairy-tale quality with intricate patterns suggesting an almost religious iconography, interspersed with balconies full of curves and colours. The interior has a similar magical quality. Although the building dates from 1877, it was deemed unsatisfactory at the time and Josep Batlló originally asked Gaudi to demolish it and begin again.  However, over a period of several years at the turn of the twentieth century, Gaudi reformed the façade and interior into the exhuberant result we see today.  Today Casa Batlló is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Parc Güell is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona.  It was commissioned by the Spanish philanthropist Eusebi Güell who wanted to create a stylish park for the enjoyment of the Barcelona aristocracy.  Güell collaborated with Antoni Gaudi and the park was largely created between the years 1900 to 1914 although it did not formally open until 1926, the year in which Gaudi died. The Park is situated on the top of a hill in an elevated position with great views across the city and contains an eclectic fusion of housing and art in the typical Gaudi style.

The contemporary Spanish artist and sculptor Joan Miro was born in Barcelona and spent most of his life in the city.  His art is inextricably linked with the city and can be seen at various locations including the airport.  The eponymous Foundation at Montjuic Park is situated in a stunning white modernist building designed to showcase some of his work. A visit here can easily be combined with Montjuic Park which lies on a hill with a spectacular view across the city and which can be reached using the small gondola cable car which ascends to Montjuic Castle.