Activities in Barcelona
Now the most vital thing about taking part in a studying abroad program is to learn and study the culture and the language , but we also believe that it should be about having a wonderful time and participating in several other events happening outside of the classroom environment.
Due to this there are many free time activities organised as part of the GSS programs. They involve having fun but they are also designed to allow the students to use their Spanish as much as they can. There will be Spanish and foreign students taking part in all of the activities which offers the perfect chance for the students to speak Spanish and also gives them an insight into Spanish youth. Along with the numerous activities that GSS arrange the students can also take part in the activities that the Autonomous University of Barcelona arranges. The students will also be allowed access to all of the facilities throughout the university including libraries, computer rooms and the sports facilities.
The program also consists of a pre-study preparation program in Barcelona. This is to ensure that all the students are prepared and that everyone feels comfortable in Barcelona and that they all possess at least a basic knowledge of the town and the people who live there. The program involves guided tours throughout Barcelona consisting of tourist attraction visits, a brief introduction to the way the Spanish live, dining out in authentic Spanish restaurants and much, much more.
The Autonomous University of Barcelona has a comprehensive array of spare time activities which include guided tours, visits to museums, trips to national parks and many more local places of interest. The cultural activities on offer throughout the city include world famous museums and world class concerts, galleries and there are also numerous festivals throughout each year. There are also 'intercambio' sessions arranged through the language school and these involve the students meeting the locals and swapping languages in a very informal and relaxing manner. Barcelona has a beautiful and picturesque location on the Mediterranean and this means that there are several destinations that always prove to be popular places to visit and which are within a short distance. The trips include:
- The Barcelona FC Football Stadium and Museum
- The Montserrat Monastery
- Sitges and its beaches
- The San Fermín festival in Pamplona
- Weekend Ski trips to Andorra
- Cava Vineyards
- The Garrotxa Volcanic National Park
- Walking tours of Barcelona's various areas
- Visits to the Picasso Museum
- Golondrina boat trips around Barcelona harbour
- The Roman cities of Tarragona and Girona
- The Costa Brava beaches and Tossa de Mar
- Port Aventura Theme Park
- The Dalí Museum in Figueres and the town of Cadaqués
