Walking down the Ramblas and understanding what the people were hearing and feeling in those mad days in Barcelona Nick really brings the streets alive. For me, Barcelona will never be the same after this. It was the highlight of ourweek, which puts it ahead of Miro and Picasso. On top of this, however, Nick Lloyds multi-media walking tour added a valuable dimension of further intensity. I shouldnt have worried Nick explained everything simply and the use of photographs and film clips made the subject come alive. From wiki: Between August 24 and September 7, 1937, loyalist Spanish Republican and rebel General Franco's forces in the Spanish Civil War fought the Battle of Belchite in and around the town. Very good tour compliments the museum of Catalonia very well. What happened during the Spanish Civil War? The tour also provides an excellent opportunity to visit historic parts of the city which touristsmight otherwise overlook. I would recommend Nicks Civil War Tour to any visitor to Barcelona. He is knowledgeable and his enthusiasm hooked me through facts, pictures, music and personal stories, and his engagement with questions from everyone on the tour made the three hours fly past. To view our data privacy policy, click Spanish Civil War Tour, Barcelona: See 1,518 reviews, articles, and 222 photos of Spanish Civil War Tour, ranked No.79 on Tripadvisor among 1,330 attractions in Barcelona. Francoism: repression, restistance and exile. Dont hesitate to book onto the tour. Spanish Civil War tours around Barcelona visiting some of the key sites in the city between 1936-1939. It all happened right there, a tragic story that is still very relevant today, wonderfully told by a dedicated historian. Nicks love of the city and all its attributes is catching, Jan Carr,Program Management Consultant and Document Writer, Melbourne Australia. In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by the focus on the anarchists of the CNT who were the driving force for the political as well as social revolution in Barcelona. It was not only highly informative but Nick delivered the content using photographs, video clips and even a recording of one the anarchist revolutionary songs which made it both fascinating while bringing this turbulent period of Spanish history alive and back to the streets of Barcelona. Manchester United's 1-0 win against Real Sociedad on Thursday was not enough to earn Erik ten Hag's side top spot in Group E, and the Red Devils now face a Europa League play-off next year. Even my teen age daughter who came reluctantly ended up enjoying it. We were therefore very pleased that we went on your tour and that you focussed on key incidents in Barcelona to explain why it was such an important place of resistance. Excellent! From the start I admired Nicks sure touch in dealing with this complexly turbulent , much misunderstood and misrepresented time. Our website uses cookies to personalize your experience, perform analytics, and tailor ads. As a retired high school History teacher, I highly recommend this tour which was also quite a bargain pricewise. Jim Casey.General Secretary, Fire Brigade Employees Union, Australia. It was really one of the highlights of our trip to Spain. We contacted Nick, the tour leader, at the last minute and we are so happy we were able to join the tour. This was in fact the second tour that Ive done with friends with Nick in Barcelona, regarding the history of the Spanish Civil War. to imply any of it was fiction). The bunkers at guinard were an anti air raid battery used during the Spanish civil war. Up to 1,300 people were killed and at least 2,000 were wounded. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, Spanish Civil War in Barcelona- OUTSTANDING, We did this tour with Catherine. Wehope this is a different way of looking at the city. Thanks, Wonderful morning spent in Nick's company. This is a typical itinerary for this product Stop At: Placa Catalunya Important place during the Civil war Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: La Rambla Various Civil War related sites Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: Gran Teatre del Liceu a cursed building-- or so locals say Duration: 5 minutes Stop At: Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi Old church with a hidden connection to the Civil War For anyone interested in this fascinating (and ultimately tragic) period in recent modern history, I very highly recommend this tour. George Orwell & the Spanish Civil War is a specialized tour for ToursByLocals only! At Nicks suggestion, I re-read George Orwells on the flight over, and the tour brought key sections of the book to life, chapters in which Orwell described both the Spanish Civil War and the lesser-known Catalonian revolution. Where? The fee is very reasonable and well worth the time and money. A museum in a suitcase is preserving Spain's civil war memories still a bitterly controversial subject A tour, offered online during the pandemic, explores the complex legacy of the conflict.. The Spanish Civil War, fought in Spain between 1936 and 1939, is often seen as a dress rehearsal for WW2. Nick is an excellent historian and educator and his passionate yet clear portrayal of the revolution and the history surrounding Spain before, during and after the war was incomparable. MyguidebookForgotten Places:Barcelona and the Spanish Civil War is now available in print and on Kindle. This time you will discover here in the city of Barcelona the story of the Civil War in Spain. He is a solid historian. The Bombing of Barcelona was a series of airstrikes led by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany supporting the Franco -led Nationalist rebel army, which took place from 16 to 18 March 1938, during the Spanish Civil War. Im very happy I was able to join the tour and his charge of 20.00 seemed more than reasonable. I was so satisfied and I must say surprised what a guided tour out of the normal can be, that I booked the next week the tour of Raval, Poblesec and Montjuc. He explains how anarchism took hold of working-class Spain and why. Valerie Collins, Barcelona, co-author of In the Garlic. What took place there has been described as the greatest experiment in workers self-management the world has ever seen. In preparation for a visit to Barcelona, by chance I came across Nicks tour, and it fitted my needs perfectly. A three hour tour ended in a great pub, where folks were free to go their own way. Not only did we walk and look and listen, but we experienced those horrendous times almost in the flesh, thanks to Nicks storytelling skills and his use of images and music: he brought it all to life. This 3-hour walking tour explores the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona and follows Orwell's footsteps during the 1937 May Revolution, described in the author's classic book. The total opposite of a dry lecture, Nicks knowledge, readings from OrwellsHomage to Catalonia, photographs, stories and anecdotes brought to life a multi-dimensional picture of a Barcelona absent from most guidebooks, all tailored to our existing knowledge. City sights and Orwell tours. He wasnt taking me on a set tourwe could have walked in any direction and I would have been confident in his ability to relate a story about a bomb hitting this building, and a fugitive anarchist hiding out in that church. We will visit the Gran Teatre del Liceu, where you will learn about the attempted assassination of the Spanish King in 1896 before making your way to the Plaa Sant Josep Oriol to see the only surviving public recognition of those who lost their lives in the war. Once I made the connection and found out his approach, it got to be the single most anticipated event on my trip. Meeting the others in the group was also really interesting, a real friendly bunch with varied interests. 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This tour, which begins at the Plaza de Catalunya and continues down La Ramblas and through the Gothic Quarter,makes the events of the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona come alive for tourists, students, history buffs, local residents, or anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain. As a licensed museum and monument guide, he specialized in History, Art and Architecture (Gaudi, among other masters), as well as in the Jewish Heritage in Catalonia and Spain. Nick is a very personable guide and certainly wants to ensure that everyone takes with them what they want from the tour. Thanks, Wonderful morning spent in Nick's company. Nick is doing an essential job in reclaiming this history for the people. also cannot he understated) on WWII, and the countrys reckoning since. He made us feel like we were there when the revolution by the workers took hold. He is very open to questions and dialog. I highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in learning about the Spanish Civil War. His expertise and knowledge on the International Brigades and the Spanish Civil War is sought after by historians and visitors curious to understand this confusing yet fascinating period of Spanish hidden history. Six people died . to imply any of it was fiction). The visit to the cemetery on Montjuic was chilling andmoving. at Placa de Catalunya he wanted to get across as much information as he could before moving onto the next stop. I got the clearest and most articulate descriptionof Spanish anarchism I have ever heard. Dates, times and booking:Mornings. Key memories for me were the bombsite at Sant Felip Neri Square, and the discussion in the pub afterwardsbut the whole thing was excellent, delivered with enthusiasm, knowledge and passion. Nick has a deep knowledge and passion for describing the Revolution in Barcelona. So, if youre visiting the area and areprepared to spend a little time finding out what the guidebooks dont always tell you, get in contact with Nick. Finally, Nick himself is genuine and thoughtful, and takes the time to make you feel part of the experience. The tour covers themes such as Anarchism, the International Brigades, George Orwell, the realities of daily life and bombing. Not only are they not to compare with ordinary touristic tours, on the contrary Nick is never talking your head full even though he has a lot to tell, the experience is rather one of an interesting exchange. 4th edition was published in 2011). Nick Lloyd proved out to be a gentle man, a gifted story-teller but above all a man with a mission. What a great tour. All in all a really enjoyable 3 hours. Always passionate and engaging, never obscure or condescending, he brings the conflict to life for expert and novice alike. Eighty-five years ago, on the evening of February 13th, 1937, an Italian cruiser off the coast of Barcelona fired shells at an arms factory on Passeig de Sant Joan. They captured the Basque northern provinces in the summer of 1937 and then Asturias, so that by October they held the whole northern coast. We took the 7-hour tour on New Years Eve my husband, our two university-aged sons and our older sons girlfriend, a university student from Germany. In the absence of a physical museum for the time being to the Spanish Civil War, specifically in Barcelona, this site is intended as the beginning of a virtual museum, comprising real artifacts from the war and its consequences. We would thoroughly recommend this tour to anybody that wants to learn about Barcelonas history off the usual tourists beaten trail., The Spanish war walking tour through Barcelona manages the task of conveying the extremely difficult historical situation and political history of the Spanish Civil War while bringing it to live in front of your eyes. At the end of every stop he would enthusiastically ask if anybody had any questions, an indication of how passionate and excited he . Particularly captivating is his salutation of the women who fought side-by-side with the men and organised separately for equality. At the end of the walk, in the bar La Llibertaria, Nick points to the wall and the iconic photo of Marina Ginesta with her rifle on the roof of the Barcelona telephone exchange. Nick is such a serious student of George Orwell, in particular the memoir Homage to Catalonia, that he was able to recite several paragraphs entirely from memory. Spanish Civil War By November 1936 the Nationalists had advanced to the outskirts of Madrid. Carlisle. I was primarily interested in this tour off the back of Orwells Homage To Catalonia, but soon realised I should definitely have done the tour first! The otherwise invisible remnants of a forgotten and suppressed history become vividly accessible through the great use of facts, literature, pictures, music and the gems and fossils remaining present in Barcelonas old district. The Be Locals Tours Civil War Free Walking Tour takes you back in time to relive the dark days of the conflict and show you places and monuments still visibly scarred by the fighting. Those who have read Orwells Homage to Catalonia will be familiar with some of the places and events which feature in the tour, and Nickdoes bringit allto life. It was a most fascinating morning and extremely well organised. We even got a burst of A las barracadas from Nicks iPad, which momentarily transformed acrowd of advancing spineless juveniles, gelled up and locked in mutual admiration, into Los hijos del pueblo. On this free walking tour about the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona tour you will come to understand this incredibly important conflict that lead to a 36-year dictatorship. Small group sizeno more than six people. Horta-Guinard. Tour Gallery Nick is extremely well informed and able to answer all manner of questions on the subject. We have both travelled widely to all continents, but only once (in Ireland) have we encountered any living history introduction to a peoples struggle as engaging as yours. And Nick carried through his program to the end despite an approaching cold. He showed us the place where a Christian mob wiped out that Jewish community twocenturies before the great expulsion. Excellent tour, well documented, pictures and antiques along our way. He explains the role of the various military factions. A big thanks to Nick and his wonderful family who we met at the end of the tour! Having first read Homage to Catalonia about 40 years ago, Orwells book and Nicks tour reminded me why a New Left emerged in the 1960s. This passion comes through in his enthusiasm on the tour and the dedicated research he has undertaken to uncover historic elements to the story and rare photos that are presented during the tour. While Orwell is well-known today for his many dystopian works exploring totalitarian ideologies, Orwell initially wrote essays and autobiographical fiction based on his time living and working in Burma, London, and Paris. Bob Fugere, PhD and Jeanne Moffat, Toronto, Canada. Nick was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Highly recommended. Nick took myself and my parents on a trip around Barcelona city centre on a blustery day in October. It really gives more meaning to a visit to Barcelona, as the events of the civil war have had such an effect on the place and the people there today. This tour provides a terrific insight into the Spanish Civil War and its effect on Barcelona. I loved all the multi-media elements which made it quite emotional. As Im doing research on this dark time in recent history for a novel Im writing, I was eager to get Nicks take. The small size of the group allowed us all to keep within close range to Nicks narrative and pictures. Nick, our guide, was great (and still sends on emails with related info and articles). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. He has wonderful archival photo which are weaved into the tour at just the right moments.