Recommended by The Culture Trip as one of the 6 best free tours in Barcelona. From the first it was clear that Nick was an excellent person to be working with as he was extremely accommodating in settling arrangements. History oozes out of the walls and alleyways and it becomes impossible not to be drawn in by his telling of the events that happened here. His telling of the story was unerringly spellbinding and even though parts may be familiar through reading (his homepage is one fine source), in his passionate, yet balanced treatment, and in the actual locations involved, it came magically to life. Nick was full of energy, personalised the talk for our particular interests and answered our questions thoroughly rather than brushing of tricky ones. This tour is fantastic. The tour was relaxed and went at a perfect pace, giving room for members of the group to ask questions, and as it was a small group everyone felt involved. 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 Lloyds excellent Spanish Civil War Tour was the highlight of my four days in Barcelona, which is quite something for a football fan who got to see the Camp Nou! Answer 1 of 6: My husband and I will be in Barcelona the last week of Sept. 2014 and are looking for a guide that is well versed in the Spanish Civil War. The tour weaves many threads of a complex narrativethe Spanish Revolution and the greater Spanish Civil Warthrough a vibrant walking tour. Dont hesitate to book onto the tour. The three hours just flew by; we really could have listened all day. Discover how the Civil War influenced Barcelona into what it is today and hear enriching stories based on real-life experiences. Such an interesting counterpoint to the modern fashionable Barcelona we all see as tourists, and really brought to life with photos and music in each location. All in all, a unique and memorable tour. Nick did not disappoint. The tours cover themes such as Anarchism, the International Brigades, George Orwell, the realities of daily life and bombing. 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It was extremely informative but also delivered in an extremely engaging manner. I strongly recommend:Forgetthe tour bus and spend a few hours with Nick learning (while seeing the venues of key events in the 1930s) some of the essential elements of Catalonian, Spanish, and World history. Urban wildlife and historytourMost days and by appointment. Please modify your search criteria or Overall, his account exposed the simple spine of a hugely complexsubject, locking information into monuments and buildings, and illustrating the story with photographs andanecdote. For example, key buildings were includedsuch asthe hotel George Orwell stayed in when he arrived in Barcelona, the sites of key battles and bombing raids and memorials to notable participants in the conflict. Making use of music, pictures and also encouraging those on the tour to share knowledge they may have of the period made this is a very enjoyable experience and excellent value. He made use of a great collection of photos as well as audio aids, while wewalked on the footsteps of theworkers ofCatalunya and George Orwell, and went deep into the atmosphere of the revolution. The picture material was amazing and the music and documentary film clips very moving (what wizardly handling of the ipad!). Several friends and I, all with differing levels of knowledge about the conflict, took the tour and were very impressed with Nicks presentation and explanation of the war, his passion for the subject, and his impeccable research which filled many of the gaps in our understanding of this pivotal moment in history. Brings much of the frame of Franco Spain into good relief. Jim Casey.General Secretary, Fire Brigade Employees Union, Australia. After this we moved to the Fossar de la Pedrera of Montjuc, the common grave of the victims of Civil War. He has wonderful archival photo which are weaved into the tour at just the right moments. A wonderful complement for a trip to Barcelona is to walk the streets and lanes with Nick Lloyd. Nick has a deep knowledge and passion for describing the Revolution in Barcelona. The tour covers themes such as. 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. Here, we will discuss their attempt to transform Barcelona's social system into a more benign and just means of existence. In the course of explaining the bombing and protective organisation of the city, Nick took us through itsancient Jewish quarter. The tour covers themes such as Anarchism, the International Brigades, George Orwell, the realities of daily life and bombing. The tour is currently 3 hours and a half and costs 30 euros per person paid in cash at the end. Recommended experiences in and around Barcelona. He brought issues alive in a way that only George Orwells wonderful Homage to Catalonia and Ken Loachs Land and Freedom managed to do. The passion he shows for the Spanish Civil war is commendable, Nicks presentation and readings were interesting and educational. 25 November 1938: Soldiers camouflage a car during the Spanish Civil War Hulton Archive/Getty Images. Very informative and well presented. We asked Alan to share information beyond this week throughout the tour but he wasn't able to do so. We covered alot of ground in our three hour tour but the time flew. This is a tour not to be missed it gets to the very heart and soul of Barcelonas recent history and Nick is a modest expert, wanting to bring out the wisdom of the group, not just his own meticulously researched understandings. The bunkers at guinard were an anti air raid battery used during the Spanish civil war. Experience the city during the Civil War on this private tour! here. Secondary School history teacher. I signed up for a private all day Spanish Civil War tour of Barcelona with Nick and he exceeded my expectations at every juncture. Her group is constantly on the lookout for Spanish Civil War memorabilia which also makes things so real. [Note by Nick; I dont think I do!]. Fabulous tour, highly recommended: Nicks tour is thoughtfully constructed and pitched at a level which is both accessible to those who dont have much prior knowledge, and stimulating for those who do. Packed with historical details and images, important sites, and revolutionary music, the tour is a superb example of history presented literally from the ground up. Its rare to be able to access the radical history of a city when youre a tourist. Kristian Gustavussen, teacher Christianshavns Gymnasium, Copenhagen. But its his understanding of, and obvious passion for, the politics of the civil war period that really makes the tour a memorable experience. Nick Lloyd is an incredibly knowledgeable guide who took us on a compelling tour of a largely (and legally) forgotten piece of Spanish & world history. We finished in a bar called La Llibertria, where a final lecture and images brought us to the end of this thought provoking tour. Spanish Civil War Tours by appointment and every Saturday 10am-1pm. Great walking tour. Nick provided a thorough and easy to understand guided tour about the spanish civil war which I enjoyed very much. We hope this is a different way of looking at the city. If youve read Orwells Homage to Catalonia, youll love the tour even more! Thank you Nick! I was worried that a three hour walking tour might be too much, but even with the August heat and humidity the time went by very quickly. Both my husband and I are fairly well informed regarding the circumstances and issues involved in this painful historical chapter and as we were going to be visiting Barcelona, felt it would be interesting to see the actual sites where many significant events occurred. The tour guide was super passionate about the subject and knew so much. Read more Whether youve read up beforehand or not, Nicks knowledge, enthusiasm, and ability to easily digress into other topics when asked, ensure a vivid, enlighteningwalk throughthe history of a fascinating city. Couldn't recommend it enough. And the CNT still exists!! Thoroughly recommended. An amazing and informative tour of the Spanish Civil war in Barcelona. Between 1936 and 1939, a terrible war divided Spain. He showed us the place where a Christian mob wiped out that Jewish community twocenturies before the great expulsion. Payne, Steven: Franco's Spain (1967) Payne, Steven: The Franco Regime 1936-1975 (1988) He adjusts his tour according to the prior interests and knowledge of those he leads and is constantly adding new stories and photos to the background he shares in his tours. It all happened right there, a tragic story that is still very relevant today, wonderfully told by a dedicated historian. As a publisher specializing in books on the International Brigades, he studies the literature, archives, and photographic collections of this period of history, and his research has helped to extensively expand the current corpus of knowledge of the conflict. Join Date: Feb 2009. Clearly Catherine has a passion for the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona. The Spanish Civil War, fought in Spain between 1936 and 1939, is often seen as a dress rehearsal for WW2. Nick provided us a window into the war and into Barcelona- I could actually smell, feel see, taste the Sweet Summer of Anarchy ( when for a short burst of glorious time the anarchist revolution seemed to work) and the subsequent devastation. Nick is an engrossing, generous and solicitous host on this in-depth journey to uncover the locations, political scenario and starting points triggering the Spanish Civil War.He paints a vivid picture of its highlights and tragic conclusion but was keen to point out the activist parallels with the resurgent Catalonian independence movement embodying parts of Spain today. Im writing to highly recommend Nick Lloyds Spanish Civil War Tour. Do yourself a favour! Spanish Civil War Tour, Barcelona: See 1,520 reviews, articles, and 226 photos of Spanish Civil War Tour, ranked No.78 on Tripadvisor among 1,332 attractions in Barcelona. The walk inspires you to find out more, and theres brilliant hand-out to help you do this. I had read George OrwellsHomage to Catalonia, but Nick Lloyds lively comments on locations, his broad knowledge about the historical facts and also the fascinating stories were a real experience on site. Six people died . Join us on our new tour as we look at some of the key battlefields from this important conflict. Once I made the connection and found out his approach, it got to be the single most anticipated event on my trip. The tour lasts three hours and is for groups of between 3-8. She really brought the war in Barcelona to life. Our Spanish Civil War guided walk with Nick added context and depth to our trip to Barcelona, and we cant recommend ithighly enough.