Europe is arguably one of the best destinations for art lovers. For those visiting Spain, the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona and Hotel Ritz, Madrid have partnered together to create the From Goya to Gaudí four-night cultural tour. The experience, which will take guests to two iconic Spanish landmarks, will provide travelers with luxury accommodations and exclusive visits to Barcelona’s Casa Batlló and Madrid’s Museo del Prado.
Starting in Barcelona, guests can visit the Casa Batlló, the city’s modernist museum refurbished by architect Antoni Gaudi between 1904 and 1906. Originally the home of the Batlló family, he replaced the building’s entire façade to redesign it to look like an animal’s back. The roof was covered in a mosaic using colored glass and ceramic discs to emulate iridescent scales, while the inside was given panoramic windows and an upgraded skylight. It was opened to the public in 2002 and in 2005 was included in UNESCO’S list of World Heritage Sites.
Built in 1785 by Juan de Villanueva, the Museo Nacional del Prado was originally constructed to house the Natural History Cabinet, but soon after its completion was appointed to be the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. It opened to the public as the Museo Nacional del Prado in 1819 and originally housed over 1,500 paintings from the royal collection including The Pearl by Raphael, The Three Graces by Rubens, and The Family of Carlos IV by Goya. Today over 2,300 paintings have been added to the original collection.
Guests of the From Goya to Gaudí package will enjoy two nights in a Mandarin Junior Suite at the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona and breakfast at the hotel’s BistrEau restaurant. An exclusive experience at Casa Batlló is included, as well as transfers to and from each of the hotels to the AVE train station. In Madrid, visitors will stay at the Hotel Ritz, Madrid in a one-bedroom suite and enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant before setting out on excursion to the Prado Museum.
The package is available year-round and is priced at € 3,400 (approx. USD $3,684) for two people.
