Ah…San Sebastian – a place like no other in Spain. Enjoy two days in this lovely Basque city on our Spain tour in June.

In San Sebastian, we will be:
* Cooking with a Basque chef at San Sebastian Food Cooking School
* Touring the local Brexta Market with our chef as he/she buys ingredients for the meal
* Learning about Basque cooking techniques and local foods
* Enjoying the fruits of our labor in our shared feast!

Read about San Sebastian Food Cooking School and view their videos about this experience and their beautiful city…

San Sebastian Food Cooking School

 

For those who love the ocean, we will be spending time on two of Spain’s most beautiful coastlines – one on the Mediterranean Sea and the other on the Bay of Biscay along the northern shores of Spain.

The Costa Brava, Catalonia

The Costa Brava or the ‘wild coast’ is the coastal region of of northeastern Spain and is one of its true paradises. The Costa Brava’s mild Mediterranean climate combined with crystal clear turquoise and green waters, rocky cliffs, hidden bays and sandy beaches invite guests to ‘exhale’ – surrounded by peace and calm.

We will take some time to slow down while on the Costa Brava and get our toes in the sand. We’ll also visit one of its charming fishing villages, Cadaques, home of Salvadore Dali. There, we will see why Cadaques so inspired him that he spent most of his adult life working there.

San Sebastian, Basque Country

“It is said that nothing is impossible. This is wrong. It’s impossible to lay eyes on San Sebastian and not fall madly in love.” ~ The Lonely Planet

Put simply, San Sebastian is stunning. The first sight of the shimmering scallop-shaped bays with crescents of golden sand and turquoise waves, will sweep you off your feet. It is a city set on the the Bay of Biscay that is cool, cultured and sophisticated. San Sebastian loves to indulge, with what seems like Michelin stars ‘falling from the sky’ onto its 5* restaurants and its pintxo bar culture. It is a city unmatched anywhere in Spain.

San Sebastian is divided by the Rio Urumea. On each side of the river lies a pristine curved bay with a beautiful stretch of sand. Playa de la Concha is the largest bay with glistening water, golden sands and a promenade along its shoreline. Throughout the summer months, there is almost a fiesta-like atmosphere for strolling the promenade, taking in shops, art galleries, music and trendy restaurants.

The bay is calm and safe for beachgoers, swimmers and those who just want to doze. We will take time to do just that.

We will visit San Sebastian as a group. You will also have time to discover the city with its old town and beaches during free time on your own or with new friends.

 

San Sebastian has been given the honor of the European Capital of Culture – 2016. Some compare it to Nice or Monte Carlo.

However, it is truly the center of Basque nationalism.

The Salvadore Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres, Catalonia

Salvadore Dali was born in Figueres, Catalonia in 1904. Although his childhood home was in Figueres, he spent much of his childhood at his family’s nearby summer home in the small coastal village of Cadaques on the Costa Brava. Today, the Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres houses a collection of works from this eccentric icon. Our guests will enter the wacky world of Salvadore Dali in Figueres and Cadaques.

Dali lived from 1904-1989. During his lifetime, he became a hero of the Surrealist art movement and remains so today. His passions were painting, drawing, sculpture, writing and film. His once said he attributed his ‘love of everything that is gilded and excessive, his passion for luxury and his love of oriental clothes’ to his Arab lineage. He claimed his ancestors were descended from the Moors who invaded Spain in AD 711. Dali was highly imaginative and enjoyed indulging in eccentric and grandiose behavior throughout his lifetime.

In the 1920‘s, he went to Paris to interact and collaborate with artists such as Picasso, Miro, Matisse and others whose influence can be seen in his work. Few artists have had a greater impact on 20th century art than Salvador Dali. Among Surrealism’s most important contributions was his invention of new artistic techniques that tapped into the unconscious mind.

Not only is the Dali Theatre-Museum building a work of art in its own right, it contains the largest and most diverse collection of works by Salvador Dali, many of which are from the artist’s own collection. He painted the exterior of the building crimson and stuck loaves of bread to the walls (made from plaster). The roof is lined with large eggs and gilded sculptures. Dali lived in the tower of the Theatre-Museum, where he died in 1989. He was laid to rest in the crypt under the museum’s geodesic dome.

We’ll experience some of his well-known paintings, sculptures, collages, jewelry and ‘accessorized’ rooms. Can we get a glimpse into Dali’s ‘genius’?  Maybe…

 

“I don’t do drugs. I am drugs. Take me – I am hallucinogenic.  

~ Salvadore Dali

 

 

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Basque Country

The Guggenheim Museum is a modern art museum designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. The museum, built along the Nervion River that runs through the city of Bilbo to the Cantabrian Sea, is one of several museums belonging to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. It features permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists.

The building itself is one of the most admired works of contemporary 20th century architecture. It represents “a rare moment when critics, academics and the general public are completely united”.  The building has been hailed as one of the most spectacular buildings in the world. Made of titanium, limestone and glass, Gehry designed a spectacular sculpture-like structure integrated with Bilbao’s urban pattern and surrounding areas. The result is a visual impact that has now become an icon of Bilbao throughout the world.

Once inside the hall, visitors access the Atrium, the heart of the museum. With curved designs and large glass walls, the Atrium is a space flooded with light from the glass ‘curtains’ and covered with a great skylight. Three levels of the building are organized around the Atrium and are connected by curved walkways, glass elevators and staircases. The Atrium, a gallery in itself, also serves as an axis for 20 additional art galleries.

This museum is a must-see when in the Basque country. Our guests will have a guided tour of the museum which will include the architecture of the building as well as an introduction to the works on display. We will stay in Bilbao in very close proximity to the museum where views of the museum can be seen from the hotel.  Join us on our Spain tour and experience both of these exceptional art museums!