Tapas, Taverns & History Tour Guide Script

Tour Logistics and General Information

• Walks Agency Limited Details: 114 Baggot Street Lower, D02YX75, Dublin $2$, Ireland.
• Tour Start Times: $11:00$, $16:30$, $17:30$, $18:30$, $19:30$.
• Arrival Requirement: Guides and guests arrive $15\,\text{min}$ prior to the start time.
• Group Size:
  • $10$ pax: $17:30$, $18:30$, $19:30$
  • $11$ pax: $11:00$, $16:30$
• Tour Duration: $3.5\,\text{hours}$.
• Meeting Point: Palau de la Balmesiana, in front of the large, ornate door.
• End Points:
  • AM Tour: Plaça Reial.
  • PM Tours: Pl. de Sant Jaume.
• Tour Materials: Tour Script, Visuals folder, Devour Bag, Nametag, and QR Code.
• Highlights and USP (Unique Selling Points):
  • $2$\text{-in-}$1$ experience: Delicious tapas at $3$ distinct styles of bars combined with an after-dark walking tour.
  • Covers the Gothic Quarter.
  • Follows the steps of Christopher Columbus.
  • Features authentic Spanish tapas (e.g., local sausage) and regional spirits (Cava, sweet vermouth).
  • Functions as a dinner substitute.

Tour Itineraries and Timing (Spring $2026$)

• $11:00$ Route Note: Some tours may run at the old start time ($10:45$). If so, the first stop is Pineda, and all timings push forward $15\,\text{min}$.
• AM Timings:
  • $11:30$: Espai Quera ($25\,\text{min}$ stop); Pineda on Mondays.
  • $12:45$: La Plata ($20\,\text{min}$ stop).
  • $13:15$: Thonet ($1\,\text{hour}$ stop).
• Evening Routes (Wednesday \u2013 Saturday):
  • Multiple routes may run simultaneously (Group $1$/A and Group $2$/B).
  • ETA $16:45$ / $17:45$ / $18:45$ / $19:45$ ($25\,\text{min}$ stop):
    • Group $1$: La Pineda (Monday), Espai Quera (Tues, Wed, Sun), Bar del Pi (Thurs \u2013 Sat).
    • Group $2$: Bar del Pi (Wednesday), Espai Quera (Thursday \u2013 Saturday).
  • ETA $18:15$ / $19:15$ / $20:15$ / $21:15$ ($20\,\text{min}$ stop):
    • Group $1$: La Plata (Mon\u2013Sat), Bodega la Vasconia (Sunday).
    • Group $2$: Bodega la Vasconia.
  • ETA $19:00$ / $20:00$ / $21:00$ / $22:00$ ($1\,\text{hour}$ stop):
    • Group $1$: La Palma (Mon\u2013Sat), Thonet (Sunday).
    • Group $2$: Thonet.

Detailed Vendor and Stop Information

• General Payment: All stops are paid via PayHawk card except for La Palma (sign registro).
• Bar del Pi: Located at Pla\u00e7a de Sant Josep Oriol, $1$.
  • Order: Jamon, Fuet, longaniza, manchego, tortilla de patata, pan con tomate, vermut, and cava.
  • Cost: $15.75\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: Call between $09:30$ \u2013 $10:15$ for AM or around $15:00$ for PM.
• La Pineda: Located at Carrer del Pi, $16$.
  • Order: Tabla de embutidos with pan con tomate (every $4$ pax), tabla de quesos with pan con tomate (every $4$ pax), and vermut.
  • Cost: $14.50\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: WhatsApp Devour y Pineda group by $15:00$ with pax and dietaries.
• Espai Quera: Located at C/ de Petritxol, $2$.
  • Order: Tabla de embutidos with pan con tomate (every $4$ pax), tabla de quesos with pan con tomate (every $4$ pax), cava, and water.
  • Cost: $14\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: WhatsApp morning of tour.
• La Plata: Located at Carrer de la Merc\u00e8, $28$.
  • Order: Fried boquerones, botifarra, tomato salad, house red wine, and porr\u00f3n of white wine.
  • Cost: $7.50\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: WhatsApp with pax and dietaries.
• La Palma: Located at Carrer de la Palma de Sant Just, $7$.
  • Order: $2\,\times$ croquetas (pea+mint and jamon), bravas, canelons ($1$ per person), and crema catalana.
  • Cost: $23\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: WhatsApp by $12:00$.
• Grill Room Thonet: Located at Carrer dels Escudellers, $8$.
  • Order: Gazpacho, $1$ chicken croquette, $1$ mixed meat canelones, cremoso de chocolate with salt and olive oil on toasted flat bread. Drinks: $1$ vermouth, $1$ wine, water.
  • Cost: $23\,EUR$ per person.
  • Notification: WhatsApp morning of tour.
• Bodega La Vasconia:
  • Order: Albondigas ($1$ racion/$4$ pax), Bravas or ensaladilla ($1$ racion/$5$ pax or $2$ raciones/$6\text{-}$11 pax), Pimientos del padron ($1$ racion/group), ca\u00f1a, or vino.
  • Dietary sub: Champi\u00f1ones al ajillo.

Historical Background: $2000$ Years Overview

• Founding of Barcino: Established by the Romans roughly $2000$ years ago.
  • Cuisine Connection: Romans introduced olives and grapes to the Iberian peninsula.
• Wilfred the Hairy ($9\text{th}$ Century): The founding father of Catalonia; he established a dynasty that ruled for over $500$ years.
  • Flag Story: Legend of the four red bars of the Catalan flag.
  • Moorish Influence: Introduced rice, citrus, dried fruits, and nuts (the base of most Spanish desserts and Paella).
• Crown of Aragon: Between the $12\text{th}$ and $15\text{th}$ centuries, Barcelona was the center of a Mediterranean empire.
• Christopher Columbus ($1492$-$1493$): Met King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in Pla\u00e7a del Rei upon his return.
  • Cuisine Connection: Introduced potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate, peppers, tobacco, and coffee to Europe.
  • Impact: Shifted trade focus to the Atlantic, causing Barcelona's decline.
• St. Felip Neri and the Civil War ($1936$-$1939$): Marks of shrapnel on walls from a $1938$ bomb dropped by Mussolini's planes, killing $42$ people, mostly children.
• General Franco: Dictator from $1939$ to $1975$. During this time, Catalan tongue was banned.

Introduction and Company Mission

• Mission: Connect visitors with local culture through food; supporting local, family-run businesses for $12\,\text{years}$.
• The "Story of the Tour": Barcelona is ancient and modern; it is the home of tapas but not geographically its origin; the Gothic Quarter's history is the lens to understand the cuisine.

Cultural and Historical Stops in the Gothic Quarter

• Roman Aqueduct: A section discovered in $1988$ during demolition. It consists of $4$ arches and $5$ pillars. Replicas exist at the northern gate built in $1958$.
• "The World Begins With Every Kiss" Mural: A mosaic created in $2014$ by Joan Fontcuberta for the $300\text{th}$ anniversary of $1714$. It contains over $4000$ consumer-submitted photos.
• Barcelona Cathedral: Constructed between $13\text{th}$ and $15\text{th}$ centuries. The facade is Neo-Gothic ($1888$ International Expo facelift) rather than the original austere Catalan Gothic.
• Pont del Bisbe: Built in $1928$ by architect Bellver. It contains a hidden skull with a dagger which legend says serves as a warning or grants wishes if passed while walking backward.
• Roman Columns: Located at Mont Taber (highest point of Barcino). Original site of the Temple of Augustus from the $1\text{st}$ century. Columns were once incorporated into residents' living rooms.
• Barcelona Shoreline: The shoreline was at Pla\u00e7a Sant Jaume $600$ years ago. The current beach was created in $1890$, with significant modernization for the $1992$ Olympics using sand from the Sahara and palms from Egypt.

Tapas Stop Deep Dives

Stop #$1$: Aperitif (Bar del Pi, La Pineda, or Espai Quera)

• Bar del Pi Context: Family-run for $3$ generations. Founded in $1927$, it notably stayed open $24/7$ for $10$ years, even during the initial Civil War raids when its shutters were stuck.
• Cava Science and History:
  • Traditional method (m\u00e9thode champenoise) with second fermentation in the bottle using liqueur de tirage.
  • Grapes: Macabeo, Xarel\u00b7lo, and Parellada.
  • Aging: Minimum $9\,\text{months}$ on the lees/yeast.
  • Sweetness Levels: Brut Nature (driest), Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Seco, Seco, Semi Seco.
  • Origin: First produced in Sant Sadurn\u00ed d\u2019Anoia, Pened\u00e8s, in $1872$.
• Vermouth Basics:
  • Aromatized, fortified wine (approx. $15\%\,\text{ABV}$) flavored with botanicals like wormwood (Wermut).
  • Traditional "hora del vermut" (vermouth o\u2019clock) usually happens at midday after Sunday mass or early evening.
• Charcuterie Definitions:
  • Jam\u00f3n Ib\u00e9rico de Bellota: From black-hoofed pigs fed acorns (bellota) for the last $4\,\text{months}$, rich in oleic acid.
  • Fuet: Named "whip" in Catalan; white exterior is edible fungi.
  • Llonganissa: Higher quality pork sausage with black pepper, typically bigger than fuet; the Llonganissa de Vic is a medieval standard.

Stop #$2$: Traditional Taverns (La Plata or La Vasconia)

• Bar La Plata: Operating since $1945$ with only $4$ tapas. Manager Pepe has been there since age $13$.
• The Porr\u00f3n: A communal wine jug used without touching the lips. Instructions: Be bold ("sin miedo"), tilt head back, and finish with a flick of the wrist.
• Tapas Origins: Legend states they covered drinks to avoid flies/sand. Historical reality: In $16\text{th}$/$17\text{th}$ century Seville, food could not be legally served with alcohol, so bread and salt were used as placeholders for patrons to place their own food on top.
• La Vasconia: Founded in $1905$ by Don Alluitz Velasco. Located at Carrer Gign\u00e0s $13$. Previously frequented by Picasso.

Stop #$3$: Sit-down Tapas (La Palma or Grill Room Thonet)

• Bodega La Palma: Wine shop since $1935$; restaurant since $2005$. Former owner Maria accepted art in exchange for wine (including works by Picasso).
• Wine Regions of Catalonia: $12$ Denominaciones de Origen.
  • White: Garnatxa Blanca (Terra Alta).
  • Red: Syrah (Montsant) aged $5\,\text{months}$ in French oak.
• Food Standards:
  • Patatas Bravas: Fried potatoes with alioli (garlic and oil) and spicy pepper sauce.
  • Canelons: Traditionally eaten on Boxing Day (St. Esteve, Dec $26$) to use Christmas leftovers.
  • Crema Catalana: Mentioned as early as $14\text{th}$ century in cookbooks. Differs from Cr\u00e8me Br\u00fbl\u00e9e because it uses milk and cream, is served cold, and is flavored with lemon and cinnamon (rather than vanilla).
• Grill Room Thonet: Originally Bar Torino, opened in $1902$ as the first vermuteria in Spain by Flaminio Mezzalama. Refurbished in $1916$ by Ricard de Capmany.

Questions & Discussion

• Guest Engagement: Guests are asked their name, origin, and interests (food to try, history to learn).
• Politics and Identity:
  • The Flags: Discussion on the Senyera (official Catalan flag) vs. the Senyera Estelada (independence flag with a cube-inspired star).
  • Language: Distinction of Catalan as a separate language, not a dialect. Useful words provided: Bon dia, Merci, Moltes gracies.
• Practical Tips: Defining what a 'bar' means in Spain vs. other cultures, the Spanish eating schedule, and how to order beer/wine.

Final Summary and Closing

• Closing locations: Pla\u00e7a San Jaume (La Palma route) or Pla\u00e7a Reial (Thonet route).
• Recommended Readings:
  • Barcelona by Robert Hughes.
  • Victus (Spanish War of Succession).
  • The Cathedral by the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones.
• Feedback Mechanism: Scanning QR code for TripAdvisor and tip prompts.