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A former convent and theatre, the Liceu hasn't always resembled the opera house we see today. Its history is full of ups and downs and mysteries that make this cultural icon a key venue which we invite you to discover on a guided tour of the building. You'll walk through its most representative areas, starting with the historic lobby, in the eclectic Catalan Renaixement style. From there, you'll continue to the auditorium, an exact replica of the impressive horseshoe-shaped hall designed by the architect Miquel Garriga i Roca in 1847. You'll go up to the Hall of Mirrors, an imposing room with a ceiling decorated with allegorical paintings and texts referring to art and music. You'll discover the new foyer, the area where people used to relax during the interval and currently a multi-purpose room which hosts small-scale performances. You can also visit the Cercle del Liceu, a private club and one of the most important examples of Catalan and Spanish art nouveau.
Kensington Palace, Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey: Our tour begins with a panoramic drive up to Kensington Palace, former home of Diana, Princess of Wales. Well see the Royal Albert Hall and Albert Memorial before heading down to Trafalgar Square, along Whitehall, past the Prime Minister's Residence at Downing Street and around Parliament Square, where we'll see Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and, of course, Westminster Abbey. Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard: We head to St James' Park and Buckingham Palace to see the colourful ceremony of the Changing of the Guard. Accompanied by a military band, a detachment of the Queen's Foot Guard march to Buckingham Palace in their bearskins and red tunics, and a change with the Old Guard. The tour finishes at Trafalgar Square at around 12.00pm. Your guide will be happy to give you suggestions for lunch and transportation back to your hotel. Alternatively, why not visit the site of the last great Royal Wedding, St Paul's Cathedral - join our afternoon City of London tour, departing Trafalgar Square at 1pm. Occasionally there may not be a Changing of the Guard, on these occasions we will visit Horseguards Parade.
YOU SHOULD BRING: Swim wear Towel Closed and secure shoes for the Bungy Warm clothes during winter periods
ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS Blue Line (Daily) Termini railway station Piazza Indipendenza Santa Maria Maggiore Colosseum Circus Maximus Piazza Venezia Vatican/Castel Sant’Angelo Barberini Purple Line Termini Railway Station Santa Maria Maggiore (Sat After -Sundays) Colosseum Porta San Sebastiano – Museo delle Mura Catacombe San Sebastiano, Ancient Appia Caffarella Park Domine Quo Vadis Church Terme di Caracalla Circus Maximus Piazza Venezia
NOTES Please note: a minimum of 6 people is required to operate the tour Includes the fees for 1 wine tasting, whereas the 2ndone is optional at own cost. Children are permitted on wine tasting tours, but you must be 21 or older to sample and drink wine Hotel pickup available in the Downtown area (Union Square, Financial District, Nob Hill, Lombard Street, Embarcadero and SOMA) but need to be booked with reservation request or at least 48 hours in advance via [email protected] Customers must reconfirm the tour with City Sightseeing by calling +1.415.440.8687 no later than 24 hours prior to departure of the reserved tour in order to receive exact pickup time and further details Vouchers must be redeemed with the driver of the tour or with City Sightseeing - 1331 Columbus Avenue (between Beach Street & North Point Street). For further information, please call +1.415.440.8687