Ever since I read La Catedral by Blazco Ibanez I’ve always wanted to see Spain. Now, La Catedral is based on the cathedral in Toledo, but Barcelona is home to some of the best preserved medieval architecture, and hence we head there. Barcelona is a real Spanish gem proudly sprawled on the Eastern shores of Catalonia. Catalonia definitely has its stamp on the city – just look at the signs, all in Catalan language – it’s carrer instead of calle, placa instead of plaza and passeig instead of paseo; so don’t be surprised if it’s not exactly the Spanish you are accustomed to. It’s no sleepy beach town, it’s a real party town on the Mediterranean, perhaps the liveliest in Spain. Architecture in Barcelona is truly outstanding – a mix of gothic and modern, with amazing works by Gaudi and Miro. From quaint neighborhoods and delicious tapas to gorgeous architecture and museums, from parks and art on the street to beautiful waterfront, let’s get to know the amazing city of Barcelona.
Las Ramblas
What is Las Ramblas? It’s where those living and visiting Barcelona like to take a stroll. You have to visit this long and vivacious stone-paved promenade if you are here – it’s a perfect mix of shops, restaurants and people watching. You can start at the Placa de Catalunya square and walk down to the port. Port Vell (literally old port) is beautiful, especially in the early evening – stroll down the marina and take a boat ride or linger at a cafe or restaurant outside. Taste some of those famous Spanish tapas. Or stay up late at Fellini – one of Barcelona’s popular night spots. Don’t forget to take a drink at the lamppost with a drinking fountain – Font de Canaletes. If you drink from it, the legend says you’ll return to Barcelona. A fun attraction at the port is the Barcelona Acquarium. It’s one of the best in Europe with a huge collection of sharks, tropical fish and plenty of activities for kids.
If you are here in the morning, it’s the best time to visit Mercat de la Boqueria – one of the liveliest markets this side of Europe with a beautiful glass and iron roof. Another interesting stop down here at Placa de la Boqueria is the mosaic on the sidewalk by Joan Miro. At the end of La Rambla you’ll see the monument to Columbus (he was welcomed home here in 1492). Take the elevator up to the top and get a great view of the city. At the bottom you will find the recreation of the famous Santa Maria ship Columbus traveled on. My suggestion is to come to La Rambla in the morning, have your breakfast and coffee here and walk up to La Sagrada Familia and the rest of Barri Gothic from here.
Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter)
This is where you find the most famous cathedral in Barcelona – Antoni Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia, built in 1882. It’s unfinished and yet completely mesmerizing. Antoni Gaudi worked on it for 40 years but was killed in a tragic accident before the work was completed. Other architects carried on but still it’s not done. There is a museum here showing how Gaudi (who’s buried here in the crypt) intended the building to look at completion. It’s majestic and mysterious at the same time. The unfinished roof makes it seem like there is a meaning to it. It is the medieval heart of the city. If you walk south from the Cathedral to the water, you’d run into a quaint little neighborhood – La Barceloneta – this is where you can get a perfect snapshot of the real life in Barcelona. Small narrow streets, palm tree passages, hanging laundry, the chatter of locals – this is real town. But let’s get back to why we came to the Gothic quarter – all that medieval architecture.
Start at the Cathedral square (Placa Nova) and stroll down Carrer del Bisbe Irurita. You will see the beautiful Episcopal Palace and the Portal del Bisbe dating back to the Roman times. You will also pass the Cathedral cluster. Everywhere you go, there is an architectural marvel. The block between Career Consell de Cent and Carrer Arago is called Manzana de la Discordia (Disagreeing Block), because it looks like the buildings are trying to outdo each other too much.
Walk down Carrer Llibreteria and you will reach the History Museum (Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat). This museum contains parts of the old royal palace. It also has some interesting history for the Americans, since this is where (in the Gothic hall) Columbus reported to the Spanish king and queen about his first voyage. But most importantly, this museum owns the largest underground excavation of any European city. It’s really something to walk on glass ramps to look at an old Roman town.
Stop by at Casa Batllo – one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. It actually reminded me of Alice in Wonderland with its wavy facade, twisted tile chimneys and even more unusual interiors. Another Gaudi landmark further down the street is Casa Mila (also known as La Pedrera). You will again be amazed at the groovy exterior, twisted chimneys and unusual tilework.
Picasso Museum and area
Picasso Museum is a must. It houses the largest collection of Picasso (over 3500 works) in two adjoining Gothic buildings. Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona from the age of 14 to 21, so the museum focuses on his early years; it includes his Parisian early years and the famous Blue Period. You can see Picasso’s growth as an artist (who started at the age of 9) and look at many interesting sketchbooks in addition to the art on the walls.
Not far from the Picasso museum is Parc de la Ciutadella (Citadel Park). It’s a vast space for your little ones or for you to walk around. Citadel Park is home to a palace, a zoo, tropical gardens, a lake (where you can rent a boat), and, most importantly, the fountain – Cascada, one of Gaudi’s early works. There are also kids play areas and bicycles for rent.
Also not far from Museu Picasso is La Ribera neighborhood – it’s an old town area with more medieval architecture. It’s a nice place for a stroll and many picture opportunities!
If you are a chocoholic like me, you won’t want to miss Museu de la Xocolata (Museum of Chocolate). It tells the story of how chocolate was brought here from the New World. There is a cooking school and plenty of chocolate to taste at the shop.
Montjuic
This area is situated on a hill overlooking the city, so my suggestion is to come here last, so you can witness the beauty of Barcelona from above. One of the most famous and also the oldest landmarks in Montjuic is the Castle (Castell de Montjuic). It is sitting on the remains of a 17th century old fort, so understandably, it houses the Military museum. At the top of the hill is Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya with an extensive collection of Roman, Gothic and local art.
Since Barcelona hosted Olympic games in the summer of 1992, this is where you will find the Olympic Ring (Anella Olympica) – a row of sports facilities built for the games. The Olympic Stadium exterior actually dates back to the 30s, since Barcelona was the runner-up (to Berlin) to host the 1936 Olympics, but it was certainly redone for the 1992 games.
For nature lovers, stop at the Botanic Gardens (Jardi Botanic), with a giant collection of plants, open year-round, or the nearby Jardins de Mossen Costra with a quirky collection of cacti.
We’d like to thank the following FlickR members for their beautiful photography of the city: Frank Kovalchek, Dave Hamster, Serge Melki, Andy Wright.
