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Wellesley Education Expedition

Alumnae College in Spain:
Barcelona and San Sebastián
2008
October 16 - 27

This fall, join Wellesley alumnae and friends on an educational adventure across northern Spain. Wellesley Professor of Spanish Carlos Ramos and other experts will guide the way as we travel from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the foothills of the Pyrénées to the Bay of Biscay.

Our journey begins in the modern city of Barcelona. We will walk Las Ramblas, a series of streets that form the emotional hub of the city, and enjoy street performances and local shops. Next, we will visit prominent Modernist architectural sites created by Antoni Gaudí, including the ornate La Sagrada Familia basilica. In Spain’s enchanting Penedès wine country, we will visit Montserrat and a local vineyard, where we will enjoy Cava, the Catalan sparkling wine. From there, we will travel to Zaragoza on the river Ebro, an enchanting mountain crossroads where the kings of Aragón once reigned. Next, we will experience the unique language and culture of the Basque Country, as we drive along the scenic route to seaside San Sebastián on the Bay of Biscay. We will tour the city of Bilbao and explore its renowned Guggenheim Museum, designed by postmodern architect Frank Gehry and featuring both Spanish and international artists. We will experience the sights and sounds of Pamplona, famous for the running of the bulls, but also rich in history reaching back to Roman times.

This exciting adventure through Spain features engaging seminars focusing on topics of regional interest, including the history of Catalonia, Barcelona, and Northern Spain, as well as seminars on the Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, and Hemingway’s Spain. We will also engage with local residents to get an insider’s view of the country.

From the Cristal Palace Hotel in the heart of modernist Barcelona to the Hotel Costa Vasca in seaside San Sebastián, our exploration of Spain features spectacular panoramas that unfold with a warmth and verve few destinations can match. Rich in history and tradition, Spain offers a palette of personality-packed regions and cities. Join us for this extraordinary exploration of the treasures of Spain.

 

Carlos Ramos is an associate professor of Spanish at Wellesley College. He received his Licenciatura en Filologia Hispanica from the University of Barcelona in 1986, and has a master’s degree in mass communication from Emerson College and a Ph.D. in Romance languages and literatures from Boston University. At Wellesley, Professor Ramos teaches courses in post-Civil War Spanish narrative and in the culture and civilizations of Spain. A specialist in 19th- and 20th-century Peninsular literature, his research interests also include the literary and artistic Avant-garde, poetry, cinema, technology, and the cultural history of contemporary Spain. This year marks his third trip to Barcelona with Wellesley students to teach “Barcelona and the Spirit of Modernity: 1859–Present.” Recently, Professor Ramos collaborated with Professor of Art Judith Black to recover and exhibit a collection of never-before-seen photographs from the Spanish Civil War.
More Information Trip Details
For reservation and/or a detailed itinerary of this tour, please contact:

Jayne Lew, Assistant Director of Travel
Phone: 781-283-2389
Email: travelprograms@alum.wellesley.edu
 

Duration: 11 days

Activity Level: Moderate

Cost: $2995 plus VAT $95 (land only)

Deposit: $500

$100 early booking discount if deposit received by April 15