THE CATALAN, THE BASQUE, AND THE MADRILENIANS: ART AND CULTURE IN CONTEMPORARY SPAIN

Faculty-led trip summer 2013
Dates: July 6 to July 20, UH 380 (3 credits)

BARCELONA-VITORIA-GASTEIZ-BURGOS-MADRID

July 6, 2013 to July 20, 2013

 

Northern Spain Summer 2013: an Honors College Faculty-led Program by K. Andersen

 

Brief Description of Program:
Spain is a country/nation/culture in tremendous flux. Its ancient history, varied and multicultural, still finds its way into a modern cauldron of artistic and cultural expression: the traditional, sacred pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago in contrast to the city of Barcelona’s cacophonic secularity and the stylish, royal reserve of the political center of Madrid. The Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz encompassing religious tradition and contemporary organization having served as The European Green Capital 2012. In the confluence of the religious and the secular springs in Spain artistic traditions second to those of no other culture anchored in historical architecture and ornamentation, museums of art and history. Each of the cities included in the itinerary excels in such presentation, from the Catalans of Barcelona, to the Basque of Vitoria-Gasteiz, to the Castillians of Madrid. It is the purpose of this course to actively expose students to the artistic and cultural expressions of these vibrant cultures in a hand-on ‘classroom,’ up-close and personal. See itinerary below for travel details. The itinerary includes such contrasting experiences as a day’s hike of the Camino de Santiago trail, tours of the World Heritage Site Burgos Cathedral and the same city’s cutting edge Museum of Evolution. Total program costs: approx. $3500 (excluding most meals) depending upon number of participants. Course requirements: This is a graded course. Preparatory meetings during spring semester 2013; students will complete a 12-page research paper on an aspect of art/culture, the topic chosen in conjunction with the instructor, in addition to a 20-page travel journal following the trip. No Spanish language requirement.

 

Itinerary:

Day 1     Saturday, July 6                 Departure Seattle
Day 2     Sunday, July  7                  Arrival Barcelona. City walking tour. Las Ramblas, Cuitat Vella
Day 3     Monday, July 8                  Museu d'Història de la Ciutat, Museo Picasso
Day 4     Tuesday, July  9                 La Sagrada Familia, Montjuïc
Day 5     Wednesday, July 10         Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona
Day 6     Thursday, July 11              Train to Vitoria-Gasteiz. City walking tour. Plaza de España
Day 7     Friday, July 12                    ARTIUM Vitoria, Catedral de Santa María
Day 8     Saturday, July 13               Palacio de Bendaña, Museo de Arqueología de Alava
Day 9     Sunday, July 14                  Train to Burgos, City walking tour, Catedral Burgos
Day 10   Monday, July 15 Museo de la Evolucion, Monasterio de Las Huelgas, Museo de Burgos
Day 11   Tuesday, July 16 Camino de Santiago hiking excursion
Day 12   Wednesday, July 17         Train to Madrid. City walking tour. Plaza Major    
Day 13   Thursday, July 18              Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofia
Day 14   Friday, July 19                   Palacio Real, Templo de Debod, Farewell dinner.
Day 15   Saturday, July 20               Departure Madrid, arrival Seattle


Barcelona: Hotel Lleó | C/ Pelai, 22-24 | ES-8001 Barcelona - Spain | Tel. +34 933181312 Fax +34 934122657
http://www.hotel-lleo.com/
Vitoria-Gasteiz: Hotel Silken Ciudad de Vitoria
, Portal de Castilla, 8 Vitoria 01008 – España, Teléfono: +34 945 141 100, Fax: +34 945 143 616, http://www.hoteles-silken.com/hotel-ciudad-de-vitoria/   
Burgos: AC Hotel Burgos, Paseo de la Audiencia 7 · Burgos, Burgos 09003 Spain 34-947-257966 Fax: 34-947-257967 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/rgsbu-ac-hotel-burgos  
Madrid: Hotel Convencion Calle de O`DONNELL 53, 28009, Madrid, Spain (34) 91 221 40 60 Fax: (34) 91 574 56 01 http://www.hotel-convencion.com/accommodation-en.html  

 

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On the escalator towards Parc Guell, Barcelona - & waiting in line (1:20 hrs) outside Sagrada Familia: Julia, Kathryn, Bree, Beth (hidden), Payden, Carmen and Rose.

La Sagrada Familia, A. Gaudi

City Museum of Barcelona: Roman ruins, 'Barcino.'

El grupo - stunning ice creams on sticks: Rose, Sarah, Julia, Bree, Payden, Beth and Kathryn.

Carmen in the art tunnel - the truth about art (in ARTIUM, Barcelona).

Bocadillos con calimocho y agua mineral - reconstruction survey crew in the old cathedral, Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Getting ready for the train to Burgos - La Catedral de Burgos.

Outside the Cartuja de Miraflores monestary, Burgos (23 monks in isolation and contemplative silence 24/7) - their ancestor, Museum of Evolution, Burgos.

Another hot chimp - Museo de la Evolucion Humana http://www.museoevolucionhumana.com/es

La Teoria - humanoids contemplating.

Ancient artefacts - Burgos scenery.

Ancient monument to the toro, Burgos City Museum - shade outside Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Kathryn and Julia blending in outside the Reina Sophia Art Museum, Madrid - El Palacio Real con grupo.

Last night outside Templo de Debod, Egyptian temple, gift from Egypt to Spain.