Barcelona Photography Tour [2 day private tour]

Our 2-Day private Barcelona Photography Tour is an ideal way for travel photographers to photograph a variety of subjects and during different lighting conditions, while learning the technical and creative aspects of photography.

This is a private tour for individuals or small groups.

Day 1:
We will meet you at your hotel lobby at 9.00am. From here, we will head down the iconic Ramblas to visit the Boqueria market – a visual delight for photographers! We will capture the colours and chaos as the locals go about their daily routine in this fantastic market. Exquisite displays of fresh produce in a wonderful variety of colours and textures invite everyone from local chefs to foodies to tourists, and make this one of the most loved food markets in the world. The Mercat de la Boqueria is also one of the world’s oldest markets – dating back to the year 1217. This site is a must-see for street photographers in particular, however photographing the repeating patterns, textures and colours of produce of the food stall displays, as well as an excellent concentration of buyers and sellers, make the Boqueria market a great choice for environmental portraits. Located on the edge of the Boqueria, our itinerary also includes a visit through Barcelona’s oldest district, and also one of it’s most authentic. The Raval is a fantastic neighbourhood to photograph – Modern architecture, washing-clad facades, skateboarders and unusual characters willing to have their photos taken make for great street photography. Wandering towards the heart of the Raval, you will notice how the streets become narrower and the residential apartments become taller and more concentrated. Home to a vibrant multi-cultural community, the hip restaurants, trendy independent shops and cutting- edge street art give this neighbourhood an air of vitality and freedom unlike anywhere else in the city.

Leaving the Raval, we will take the metro or a taxi to the Encants flea market in the modern startup district known as Diagonal Mar. Looking at this ultra-modern structure with its stunning mirrored ceiling, you would be surprised to hear that the Encants flea market has been trading for over 700 years now. A large and open market, this multi-level building allows the street photographer to pick out individual subjects from a distance as well as achieve closer, wide angle shots for environmental portraits of the interesting characters that buy and sell their wares. You will also notice other modern buildings located nearby, such as the Design Hub and the Barcelona Water Company building known as the Torre Agbar. The Diagonal Mar is a unique district of Barcelona, and a total contrast to the historical remnants of Modernist, Renaissance and Gothic architecture displayed in other districts of the city. We will have lunch at around 12.30pm at a local restaurant located nearby to the Encants market. Later, we will take a tram or short taxi ride to photograph the amazing architecture at the Forum. The ultra-modern buildings of this area include the Blue Museum, a unique structure of geometric shapes with contrasting matt and reflective cladding that is ideal for photographing minimalist urban architecture. The Telefonica building and Photovoltaic Plate with it’s solar roof. This enormous structure of 3000 panels covers a surface area of a football pitch and is a representation of Barcelona’s commitment to the advancement of renewable energy. Depending on the pace of the tour, the guide will either end the tour at the Forum, or continue with you by taxi to the next destination.

One of our favourite Modernist buildings, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau underwent 5 years of major renovation, and the results are absolutely stunning. Created by the Catalan architect, Lluis Domenech i Montaner in 1901, the site was created in a series of pavilions between gardens in large open areas. The idea being that patients would recover more easily when surrounded by nature. Even the smallest details in tiles, stone and ironwork were created in natural organic shapes. The hospital is considered one of the world’s premiere examples of Art Nouveau, and is one of Barcelona’s 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From here we will take a pleasant walk down the Avenida de Gaudi as we arrive to the spectacular Sagrada Familia church. We will spend some time in the interior, as the stained glass illuminates the interior with incredible colours as the sun continues to go down. We will also find interesting viewpoints of the exterior, before ending the tour after escorting you back to your hotel.

Day 2:
Today we will meet at your hotel lobby at 3.00pm and start the tour by taking a short walk towards the Plaza Reial. This quaint plaza off of the Ramblas is centred around a beautiful fountain, lined with palm trees, restaurants and apartment blocks. Gaudi’s first commission in 1879 was to create 2 large gas lamps that are located here. Plaza Reial is located within the district of Ciutat Vella [Old City] and emerged from the old walled city. Remnants of Roman architecture can be found dotted around the narrow streets and small Medieval courtyards, where quaint bars and restaurants, designers and fashion houses make for an atmosphere that is as alive during the day as it is at night. The labyrinth of pedestrian streets that feels like a maze was the historical urban hub, but unlike the highly organised infrastructure of the Eixample district, the cramped atmosphere with it’s chaotic vibe means that there are photo opportunities literally around every corner. Continuing towards the seafront, we pass luxurious yachts and historic ships as we circle the old harbour as we arrive to the neighbourhood of Barceloneta – the smallest district of Barcelona. For years, Barceloneta fell into decay due to the decline of the fisheries before renovation began in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games. Containing a mix of narrow streets of concentrated immigrant housing, restaurants and bars dating back to the former fisherman’s quarter, and palm tree lined boulevards by the city’s beaches make for an interesting mix of photographic subjects.

Circling back into the city, we head through the Ciutadella park that continues into the Arc de Triomf – the archway built in 1888 as a gateway to the universal exhibition. This pleasant boulevard is lined with palm trees and huge Modernist street lamps, and is our route into the Borne district. Probably the most hip and lively quarter of the Old City, The Borne contains a number of significant structures such as the Santa Maria del Mar Gothic church, the Art Nouveau Catalan Music Palace, the Picasso museum, Mercado del Borne and the famous Passeig del Borne – the tiny and quaint boulevard that makes up the heart of the neighbourhood. But it is the maze of tiny streets covered in street art and dotted with tiny bars, designer stores and artisan workshops to get lost in that makes the Borne so compelling for photographers. The narrow streets lined with tiny apartments create directional lighting even at midday, and allow for artistic and atmospheric images with a sense of movement due to the low levels of ambient light. We will spend a while in the Borne as this area contains so much to photograph. We will take advantage of the flat lighting between sunset and evening blue hour by taking a break at one of our favourite tapas bars.

Just as blue hour begins and when the street lamps turn on, we will head into the Gothic quarter – our favourite location for night photography. Circling the Santa Eulalia Cathedral, the Gothic quarter has a multitude of locations for photo opportunities thanks to a myriad of old stone streets that stretch on 4 sides from the old Roman road to the Ramblas and the Ronda de Sant Pere to the seafront. Medieval architecture merges with the old Roman wall, while reconstruction during the late 19th century transformed the area from a sombre looking part of the city to one that attracts millions each year. Known as the “Call”, the ancient Jewish quarter is located within and contains Europe’s oldest Synagogue and one of the most important Jewish communities of the Iberian peninsula. The Jewish community settled here from the 7th to 14th centuries. Despite being such a magnet to tourists, the Gothic quarter at night is relatively quiet, likely due to far less restaurants and bars located there. Most of the area is completely closed off to traffic, adding to the calm and quiet. With an electric blue sky, some directional lighting created by the street lamps and fewer people wandering around, photography here at night creates an atmosphere reminiscent to a film set. We will end the tour at 9.00pm and escort you to your hotel where we bid you farewell.