Marilyn Foster: For the love of art and architecture, think Spain for 2023
Barcelona’s La Sagrada Familia is the yet unfinished Gaudi work of architecture, one of the many highlights of the Chamber tour of Spain in February 2023.
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Now that we are feeling better about the waning of the pandemic, travel seems to be on the minds of many as more and more of the onerous restrictions are being lifted, especially for those looking to travel internationally. One of the places sure to lift your spirits in 2023 is Spain. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Spain and the only city I saw was Barcelona, one of Spain’s greatest cities. Even though it was long ago, I can clearly remember one of the most remarkable churches that captivated me even more so than the Notre Dame in Paris. Barcelona is the last stop on Collette’s 10-day tour of Spain, and they’ve saved the very best for last, for it is here we tour the La Sagrada Familia, the still unfinished architectural masterpiece by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Still under construction today, Gaudi started his dream in 1882 and died on June 10, 1926. Work is continuing and is currently being planned to finish the structure in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. Other Gaudi structures we will visit in Barcelona on our last day in Spain besides the amazing cathedral are the Batlo House and Casa Mila Building, considered to be one of the most exceptional UNESCO sites in the world. I’ve also seen his work in Vienna. Quite fascinating! While a trip to Barcelona alone is worth the trip, there are many amazing stops to captivate you from the moment we land in the capital city of Madrid where we will spend three nights allowing us to successfully recover from any jet lag. There’s a tour of the city where our love of art and architecture begins. We spend a day in the walled city of Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the medieval capital of Spain, Toledo is considered the most representative of Spanish culture and is known as the “city of three cultures” for the mosques, Catholic churches, and synagogues all within the walled borders. For those who love jewelry, it’s here you will find Moorish damascene jewelry – made of steel inlaid with gold and/or silver. Then two nights will be spent in Seville. You’ll have the option to travel via high-speed rail or take the motorcoach to Cordoba where we will spend a day enjoying yet more religious sites and walk through the famous historical Jewish Quarter. Then on to Seville, Spain’s cultural capital where the next day we will take a boat ride and then visit another UNESCO site, the largest gothic church in the world – the Seville Cathedral. Here Christopher Columbus was entombed. After all the church viewing of the past few days, we’ll spend an evening to liven things up by enjoying an authentic flamenco show. Day 7 will be a tour and overnight in Granada, the last great capital of the Moors in Spain. On Day 8, we travel to Valencia to spend two nights, enjoying amazing scenery along the way. Known as the “City of Arts and Sciences,” this bustling city is full of scenic sites. We’ll visit a fisherman’s home for lunch and learn how to make (and eat) authentic paella. Our last two nights will be in Barcelona, the cherry on this amazing cake. There will be time to explore on your own as well. Spain is home to the third most UNESCO heritage sites in the world, and you will see six of the 45 cultural sites. The departure date is Feb. 3, coming home on Feb. 14, making this a great Valentine gift! The price of $3,748 per person includes roundtrip air from Reno, airport transfers, 10 nights hotel, 16 meals, all touring, luggage handling, and more. Spain has become the “hot” international destination and promises to be another great Collette Vacations trip. Check out the Chamber Travel Club page on the home page by logging on to www.carsoncitychamber.com to check out the full brochure and other travel offerings. Or call 775-882-1565. At 93 years young, Marilyn always has her suitcase at the ready.
