Within the Young Historians of Europe – ERASMUS+ programme, opportunities are provided for students and teachers to undertake a cultural tour abroad. This October, a group of four students and two teachers from the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary located in Gozo had the opportunity to experience a week-long mobility placement in Barcelona.
All Erasmus partners from Turkey, Portugal, Greece, Italy and Malta were welcomed by the La Roureda school. The school is situated in the picturesque town of Sant Esteve Sesrovires. It is very close to the famous metropolitan city of Barcelona and a stone’s throw away from Montserrat and its spectacular mountain views of Catalonia, amongst other historical landmarks, museums and parks.
Our students were hosted by some lovely Spanish families who apart from providing great hospitality, accommodation and food, they served as a fount of knowledge in relation to Spanish culture, local attractions, language and historical questions that the students posed. They also provided the students with the opportunity to indulge in local food, experience local sports and games and socialize with family members, neighbours and local kids.
The Spanish school was very welcoming. They prepared a very interesting and varied programme for both students and teachers. The activities and events organized were targeted according to the ages of students and in line with the aims of the Erasmus + programme. The students had the opportunity to be active participants in different workshops including cooking classes with a particular focus on traditional food items. They had the opportunity to learn the basics of Catalonian folklore dances and express their fearlessness of building human towers better known as the Art of Castells. A formal welcoming activity was organized by the school where all partners involved had the opportunity to meet the mayor, where we were given a brief overview of the history and cultural milestones of the town of Sant Esteve Sesrovires. Numerous meetings, lessons and presentations were held throughout this week, where pupils from different countries had ample time to showcase their host countries, present a local hero and discuss cultural questions which emerged as the days passed by.
In order to get acquainted with some of the cultural, historical and artistic beauties contributing to Barcelona’s status as one of the major global cities, some tours were organised to this capital. All teachers and students were able to visit Placa Catalunya, which is a lively square in the heart of Barcelona, mainly comprising of shopping centres, department stores, sculptural groups and monuments as well as outdoor exhibitions. We had the chance to walk along the busy streets of Las Ramblas which forms the boundary between the Gothic Quarters and El Raval. About halfway down Las Ramblas, all Erasmus teachers and students paid a visit to Mercado de La Boqueria which is the oldest and most famous food market in Barcelona worldwide. It was the ideal venue to venture through the numerous food stalls selling inspiring selections of fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood and sweets whilst having a taste at some high-quality Catalan cuisine. The 2000-year-old mysterious Gothic Quarter was surely an experience full of charm and history for all stakeholders involved. Everyone simply enjoyed stumbling upon squares and enchanting alleyways whilst observing old synagogues, lovely cafeterias and bars. We also had the chance to pay a visit to Teatre Liceu and Placa St. Jaume which is popular due to the numerous political buildings of Barcelona and Catalonia, namely the City Hall and the Government of Catalonia. The students had an amazing time at Camp Nou Stadium which is the home to the world-famous Barcelona Football Team.
Throughout the week, we had the occasion to visit a number of the marvellous work by Antonio Gaudi. We were able to appreciate his highly individualized, one-of-a-kind style and admire the details of his creations including the ceramics, stained glass, ironwork and carpentry. One of the World Heritage Sites we visited was The Basilica de la Sagrada Familia which was inspired by nature and faith, and has been under construction since 1882. We passed along Casa Mila, better known as La Pedrera, which is well known for its unconventional rough-hewn appearance, as well as Casa Batllo which is a modernist style building known for its dragon-back design. We admired the grandeur of Torre Agbar which is one of the main icons of Barcelona’s skyline and strolled along Port Olimpic to admire the scenery, beach and boats. We also enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Park Guell which is a public park composed mainly of greenery, gardens and architectonic elements. Along the guided tour, we also had a look at the Arc Triomf which is a gateway to Parc de la Ciutadella and Montjuic that is a prominent hill overlooking the Barcelona harbour.
A short hiking activity was also organized along one of the trails of Montserrat. Despite the bad weather conditions, we had the opportunity to visit the Montserrat Monastery, visit the Black Madonna, know as La Moreneta and listen to the outstanding voices of one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe known as The Escolania.
This Erasmus mobility was a fruitful and pleasant experience for all students and teachers involved. We feel that our lives have been enriched with so much cultural and educational experiences, that we can disseminate with other personnel and students within our school. Surely an experience, which can’t be forgotten!
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