At the beginning of September, senior students of our school went on a multi-day school trip to Spain and France, accompanied by their teachers. The goal of the trip was to learn about the culture, architecture and history of these countries, but also to spend time together outside the classroom, learning and socializing. Our main destination was Barcelona, the city of the famous architect Antoni Gaudí, but along the way we also visited many other interesting cities and landmarks. So let’s go back and take a look at those amazing days!
Day 1 – The journey and arrival in Lloret de Mar
The journey started in the afternoon. We took a bus from Rijeka to Zagreb Airport and then flew to Spain from there. After a long but exciting trip, we arrived in Lloret de Mar, a tourist town on the Costa Brava coast. As we had arrived really late we checked into a hotel and went to bed to rest for our upcoming visit to Tossa de Mar the next day. Tossa de Mar turned out to be a beautiful small town. We took a tour of the city and then spent our free time roaming the picturesque streets or simply relaxing on the sandy beach. Upon returning to the hotel, we had dinner and got ready for our first night out in Lloret de Mar.
Day 2 – First meet with Barcelona
After breakfast the bus took us to Barcelona. The beauty of the city and its colourful architecture impressed us on the spot. Our first stop was La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s most famous masterpiece, a magnificent basilica that has been undergoing construction for more than a hundred years. Then we visited some other famous landmarks: we walked down La Rambla, a vibrant promenade in the centre of the city and through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter. We also visited the Barcelona Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, where we saw sharks and many other sea creatures. One of the most memorable places we went to was la Boqueria, a market in the very heart of Barcelona offering a varity of food. Our schedule on this first day of sighseening Barcelona was really packed and we were exhausted but it was worth it. We also had some free time to explore the city on our own before returning to Lloret de Mar.
Day 3 – Continuing to explore Barcelona
The third day was entirely dedicated to Antonio Gaudi, one of the world’s most renowned architects whose works defined today’s Barcelona. First we took extensive tours of Gaudi’s two buildings, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera), famous for their unusual shapes and colorful facades. We also walked along Passeig de Gràcia, a popular street filled with luxury shops and cafés, in which both of these buildings are situated. In the afternoon we visited Park Güell, a huge complex designed by Gaudí, recognizable for its bright mosaics and imaginative figures. Back in Lloret de Mar we had dinner, rested a bit and then went clubbing.
Day 4 – Discovering more of Barcelona
The fourth day was our last day in Barcelona so we tried to make the most of it. First we visited one of Gaudi’s least known masterpieces, Casa Bellesguard and then the CosmoCaixa Science Museum, where we learned about nature, physics, and the universe. At this point we had seen enough of architecture so we were really looking forward to our next stop. It was Camp Nou, the legendary stadium of FC Barcelona, where we were delighted with the club’s museum and the souvenir shop. Our evening started with a trip to a traditional Spanish flamenco show and then continued in Lloret’s clubs far into the night.
Day 5 – Montserrat and the Basilica
The fifth day was a bit more relaxing. We were given free morning which most of us used to sleep in and rest. In the afternoon we went to Montserrat, a mountain monastery about a two-hour drive away from Lloret de Mar. There we visited the Benedictine Monastery and saw the famous Black Madonna, the patron saint of Catalonia. The view from the mountain was breathtaking. After returning to the hotel, we got ready for our last night in Lloret de Mar.
Day 6 – Dalí Museum and the road to France
After breakfast we said goodbye to Spain and headed for France. On the way, we stopped in Figueres to visit museum dedicated to the artist Salvador Dalí, whose unique works some students found a bit bizarre. We then continued to Avignon, a beautiful town in Provence known for the magnificent Papal’s palace as it was the Pope’s residence in the 14th century. Even though it was really hot outside, we had some warm tea in Avignon to recuperate our sour throats after days of singing and air conditioning on the bus. Our journey continued toward Cannes, the city famous for its Film Festival and the La Croisette path. We enjoyed a panoramic drive, admiring the luxurious hotels and yachts, and then arrived in Antibes, where we checked into the hotel and had dinner. Some of us still had some energy left, so we went to a nearby amusement park before going to bed.
Day 7 – Monaco and the return home
The seventh day was reserved for exploring Monaco. We visited the Prince’s Palace, St. Nicholas Cathedral, where members of the royal family are buried, and the Oceanographic Museum. In Monte Carlo, known for its luxurious casino and Formula 1 races, we went on our final shopping spree before boarding the bus and heading back to Croatia. The return to Rijeka was bittersweet – it marked the end of a trip we had been looking forward to since the beginning of high school. Although tired, we came back happy, full of impressions, memories and new friendships.
This trip was one of the most beautiful things we’ve experienced throughout our education. We saw incredible buildings, learned about the works of the great architect Gaudí, visited world-famous cities like Barcelona, Monte Carlo and Cannes and discovered new cultures. Above all, the time we spent together made this trip unforgettable and truly special.
Written and photographed by: Anamari Bevanda, class 4D
Edited by: Sanja Bura
October, 2025
