With gorgeous art, beaches, buildings and people, Barcelona is a not-to-miss destination for vacationers looking to escape everyday life. Among the notable sights: Picasso’s art, buildings by Antoni Gaudí, one of the greatest remaining 13th century neighborhoods and miles of sandy beaches. Because Barcelona is a port city, visitors will find a wide range of people, restaurants and shops, always with something beautiful nearby. The obvious place to start during a trip to Barcelona is the city center, home to a variety
of neighborhoods and sights. The most
famous street in Barcelona, La Rambla, can be found here. At almost one mile long, this pedestrian boulevard is packed with entertainers, flowers, newspaper stands and more. La Boqueria, a traditional market, is one of the must-see spots along the route, and a great place to pick up some local produce, or just take colorful snapshots. Other interesting sights include the Gran Teatre del Liceu, an opera house, and a circular mosaic created in the pavement by Spanish painter Joan Miró. Look at the mosaic carefully, and you might find the tile signed by the artist. La Rambla runs from Plaça de Catalunya, a large square sometimes called the heart of Barcelona, down to the port, where you will find a monument to Christopher Columbus. An elevator ride to the top of the Columbus monument provides
the best view of Barcelona’s harbor, and a 15-minute walk from the
base brings you to Barceloneta Beach. Like all of Barcelona’s beaches, Barceloneta was cleaned up in preparation for the 1992 Olympics, and is now a great place to try tapas, or small plates—a Spanish favorite, get a drink at a beach bar or just people-watch and take in the view of the Mediterranean Sea. Other beaches along Barcelona’s three-mile stretch include Icaria Beach, Bogatell Beach and Mar Bella Beach.
While strolling along the beaches, in addition to people watching, you will see Port Vell, a formerly obsolete harbor that was renovated for the 1992 Olympics. Located here are Barcelona’s aquarium, the largest in Europe; and some of the best seafood dining in the city. Continue walking on the Rambla de Mar—a pedestrian bridge—and you’ll pass the neighborhood of Barceloneta (with the beach on your right). Between Barceloneta and Icaria beaches you’ll find Port Olimpico, with its two towers and Frank Gehry’s famous sculpture “Golden Peix.” Only in Barcelona can you find fashionable souvenirs next to works by Picasso. Head inland from the beaches to
Barcelona’s beaches are busy much of the year, as the city experiences mild temperatures year-round.
Photo by J. Trullàs.
the El Born neighborhood—a great place for browsing or buying designer clothing and housewares. Follow
your shopping spree with a visit to the Museu Picasso,
a museum that encompasses three mansions, and is filled with Picasso’s works from his early years through later works he created in Cannes.
Barri Gòtic, or the gothic quarter, contains many 13th- to 15th-century buildings, including reminants of old Roman walls and the Catedral de Barcelona, the city’s main cathedral. Photo by Espai d’Imatge
Keep heading north and you will soon find Parc de la Ciutadella. In this area of the city not only can you experience a piece of Barcelona’s history—this park was the site of the World’s Fair in 1887-88, and the Arc de Triomf (the grand entrance for the fair) is still standing—but also you can be witness to a moving art form in traditional dance. In addition to the Arc de Triomf, Parc de la
Ciutadella is home to the Museu de Ciències Naturals. This museum of natural sciences was created in 2000, when the geology and zoology museums merged. The park also has a lake, with rental boats available, a large central fountain and plenty of trails and benches. Just west of Parc de la Ciutadella you’ll find Plaça Sant Jaume, a square where people gather Sunday afternoons for traditional Catalan dancing. Barcelona’s City Hall is also at this square. For architecture lovers and history buffs, a must-see neighborhood in Barcelona’s city center is Barri Gòtic,
or the gothic quarter. This section of the city offers some of the best examples of 13th- to 15th-century buildings
in the world. Included among the government buildings, guild houses, old Roman wall ruins and small churches
is Barcelona’s main cathedral, the
Catedral de Barcelona. Construction of the cathedral started in 1298, and the Western Face was not finished until 1890. One of the highlights of the cathedral is the cloisters, which house orange and palm trees as well as a central pond and fountain and a gaggle of white geese. Northwest of Barcelona’s city center are three true Barcelona masterpieces. These famous buildings were designed by Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s beloved architect. Consider walking along Passig de Gracia to Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, two of Gaudí’s buildings. Passig de Gracia has some of the best shopping in the city, and along the way you’ll first come to Casa Batlló, the most colorful of the three buildings. Casa Batlló was built in 1905 and had a design studio on the second floor and apartments above. Some say it was
created to represent St.
George—the patron saint of Catalonia—as the roof looks like a dragon’s back; the balconies, the dragon’s victims; and the spire, St. George with his lance. Casa Batlló is open to the public, and Gaudí-designed furniture is scattered throughout the house.
Continuing on Passig de Gracia will bring you to La Pedrera, or Casa Milà. While parts of this building are still private homes, it is open for tours. There is also a small museum, and those on a tour can access the roof for outstanding views of the city. North of La Pedrera you can find Gaudí’s famous La Sagrada Família. This “Church of the Holy Family” was started in 1882 and is still not complete. It was originally commissioned by the Josephines, a faction of the Catholic church whose views were in line with Gaudí’s, as an atonement temple. Gaudí died while working on the church, and only saw a fraction of it finished, namely, the Nativity Façade at the front of the church. The rear
of the church includes the Passion Façade,
La Pedrera, or Casa Milà, is
just one of Antoni Gaudí’s buildings.
It is open for tours, and contains a small museum. Photo by L. Bertran
and the entire thing is covered with religious symbolism. Tours go into the structure, including a trip up the towers. North of La Pedrera you can find Gaudí’s famous La Sagrada Família. This “Church of the Holy Family” was started in 1882 and is still not complete. It was originally commissioned by the Josephines, a faction of the Catholic church whose views were in line with Gaudí’s, as an atonement temple. Gaudí died while working on the church, and only saw a fraction of it finished, namely, the Nativity Façade at the front of the church. The rear
of the church includes the Passion Façade, and the entire thing is covered with religious symbolism. Tours go into the structure, including a trip up the towers.
Another Gaudí work that is a bit farther than the rest
is Parc Güell. Originally created for a friend as a model garden city community, it is now a public park. Wander around the park for fantastic views, landscaping, sculptures and the Casa-Museu Gaudí, a museum with furniture designed by Gaudí,
his drawings and other personal items.
Casa Batlló, another building by Gaudí, was built in 1905, and is said to represent St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia. Photo by Stacy Booth
It seems art is everywhere in Barcelona, as even the soccer stadium features an art gallery. The stadium, Estadi del Futbol Club Barcelona, or Camp Nou, is home to FC Barcelona, and
is the largest stadium in Europe, seating almost 100,000 people. In addition to its art gallery, the campus also has a museum about the soccer club’s history, an exhibit of soccer memorabilia, a smaller sports hall and an ice-skating rink. The complex is west of city center and just south of Avinguda Diagonal. Before leaving Barcelona, one last must-visit is Montjuic, home of Font Màgica (the Magic Fountain), Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) and the Estadi Olimpic (Olympic Stadium). Start at Plaça d’Espana, where Gran Via and Avinguda Parallel meet. Here, you will see two identical towers that mark the start of the fountains. Follow this to the base of the steps of MNAC, and see the largest fountain. It was created in 1929 for the World’s Fair, and at night gives a spectacular light show, set to music. The water “dances” to the music, and lights inside the fountain make the water appear
to glow. Nighttime shows occur Fridays and Saturdays all year long, with additional shows on Thursdays and Sundays during May through early October.
While you’re waiting for the fountain show to start, check out the museum, home to Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque artwork, as well as a large collection of Catalan art. A 10-minute walk south of the museum will bring you to the Estadi Olimpic, site of the 1992 summer Olympic games. Here you’ll find the clock tower, the Olympic torch and the track-and-field stadium, which seats 80,000 people. Inside the stadium is a museum that contains photos, costumes and other memorabilia. Scattered throughout the grounds are art installations and tree-lined walkways, making this a great spot to visit if you have extra time on a nice day. Even wandering around the city is worthwhile, as there are many unique buildings, beautiful squares and small restaurants and shops off the beaten path. For more information about Barcelona, visit www.barcelonaturisme
.com, www.barcelona.com or www.bcn.es.
Barcelona is the second largest city—in size and population—in Spain, located on the Mediterranean, and
is also the capital of Catalonia, one of the Autonomous
Communities that make up Spain.
Catalonia’s history includes occupancy by the Greeks and then the Romans, who eventually fell to the Visigoths. In fact, in some places in Barcelona, parts of the old Roman walls can still be seen. More than once in the region’s history Catalan has been
Traditional Catalan dancing often takes place at Plaça Sant Jaume. Photo by Gena Reebs
banned as a language, but Barcelona has emerged as
a fantastic city with residents proud of their culture.
The current population is more than 1.5 million people, and if outlying areas are included, it surges to more than 4 million. There are two official languages in Barcelona: Catalan and Castillian Spanish. Most residents speak both languages.
At one end of La Rambla you’ll find this monument to Christopher Columbus. Take the trip to the top for a fantastic view of the city. Photo by G. Foto
Because Barcelona is on the Mediterranean Sea, it has warm temperatures year-round. When it rains, the rainfall can be heavy, but it is typically sunny through the year. The hottest months are July and August with temperatures around 77 degrees and the coolest months are December through March with average temperatures in the low- to mid-50s. Residents of Barcelona tend to eat later than the rest
of Europe—and definitely later than in the United States. Most people eat lunch around 2 p.m., with shops outside of the city center closing from 2 to 4:30 p.m. City center shops tend to stay open at lunchtime, and most shops are open until 8 p.m. or later. Barcelona has tourist offices located throughout the city that will help with directions, activity suggestions and more. In addition to smaller booths around the city, larger offices are located at Plaça de Catalunya, at the Columbus monument, at Plaça Sant Jaume and at
La Rambla. Look for signs with a white “i” in a red circle.
Barcelona has a number of celebrations throughout the year, and the city is known for its fiestas. Some of these include: ST. GEORGE'S DAY, APRIL 23 St. George (Sant Jordi) is the patron saint of Catalonia, and on this day the
celebration involves offering a rose or book to the saint. You’ll find a lot of book stands along the streets of the city.
Font Màgica, or the Magic Fountain, is another not-to-miss sight in Barcelona. Photo by Espai d’Imatge
EVE OF ST. JOHN'S, JUNE 23 Barcelona’s residents celebrate the summer solstice on this day with bonfires, firecrackers and fireworks. Make sure you also try the traditional pastry “Coca de Sant Joan.” LA MERCÉ FESTIVAL, WEEK OF SEPT. 24 This festival celebrates the patron saint of Barcelona, and the city comes alive with various events, parades, a pyrotechnic show at the Font Màgica and fireruns—called “correfoc”—an event where costumed fire-breathing devils race
around the streets.
