Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city characterized by its rich culture, ravishing architectural designs and delicious food. This Catalan capital is by the Mediterranean Sea with the old part of town blending well with the newer part. If you are dreaming of visiting Barcelona, be ready that you will have a chance to have an extraordinary and enchanting travelling experience which will impress you from the viewpoint of the senses as well as from the cultural point of view.
The Enchantment of Gaudí
That is why your trip to Barcelona will
not be as complete as you want if you do not make visit the work of Antoni
Gaudí. Some of his structures can be found all over the city and every
structure is a clear testimony to his creativity.
Sagrada Familia: It is impossible to overlook the amazing works of Gaudi and the most significant project left unfinished by him, the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. For its enormous size and for the fact that it remains a construction that is still, at the present date, incomplete, the cathedral has a predilection for Gothic style and Art Nouveau. Its exterior and interior designs are elaborate with sharp touch on facades and tall towers while the interior, graced with stained glass windows is ethereal.
Park Güell: Park Güell is another of Gaudi’s wonder located in the working class of Barcelona which is like walking into a fairy tale. The beautiful mosaics, the curvy bench and the cute sculptures harmonize with the flora, where one can enjoy breathtaking views of the city.
Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera): The two buildings on Passeig de Gràcia are examples of buildings that belong to Gaudí’s style of architecture. Casa Batlló with its amazing roof with a look of a dragon and colorful ceramic tiles спеці is opposite to the stony wavy façade of Casa Milà. These both are emerging from their shells as great examples of Modernisme (Catalonian Art Nouveau) and can be visited.
Wandering Through Historic Quarters
Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic): The Gothic Quarter is an area consisting of numerous twisted medieval alleys, beautiful plazas, and important architectural sights. Barrel through the Reial Plaza, the imposing Barcelona Cathedral or get lost in the narrow clustered lanes that echo the history of the city.
El Born:
El Born is another cosmopolitan district which is located close to the Gothic
Quarter and is considered to be bohemian. It has small alleys that house small
shops, artists’ studios and small specialized and cozy café businesses. Skip
the Picasso Museum, which is in a series of medieval palaces and comprises of
Picasso’s early paintings.
Relaxing by the Mediterranean
The beaches of Barcelona, are the best
places to get the feel of a complete retreat from the concrete jungles.
Barceloneta Beach is the most famous one of Barcelona and fully equipped with
golden sand and a busy promenade. Feel free to take a walk, swimming in the sea
or even sunbathing.
If you want something less crowded, than
you should go to Nova Icaria Beach or Bogatell Beach. The Euston station is the
original and this St. Pancras is of the same network but is less crowded, and
more relaxed.
Culinary Delights
Cities are vibrant and so is the food;
therefore, let us learn more about food in Barcelona. High quality fresh food,
street markets and everything in between ranging to gourmet restaurants are
available to choose from.
La Boqueria Market:
La Boqueria is situated along La Rambla: all your senses will be delighted
here. The fresh products, fruits, and delicious food are displayed in this
rather lively and colorful market. Just take some food from one of the stalls
or just come and watch the variety of colors and creations.
Tapas and Paella: Savor Spanish ‘tapeo’ or ‘pinchos’ including the famous tapas like patatas bravas, croquetas, and jamón ibérico among other. Of course, no visit is complete without sampling a delicious paella; it relies on rice and saffron and different forms of poultry. If you want to taste more traditional dishes Can Solé or La Mar Salada is where you should go.
Michelin-Starred Dining:
If that is still not your cup of tea then one may go out and eat at any of the
Michelin star restaurants that are available here in Barcelona. El Celler de
Can Roca and abac restaurant are world famous as the owners boast of offering
unique and creative menu, as well as professional and friendly staff.
Cultural Experiences
It will be remiss not to mention that
Barcelona hosts a stunning amount of artistic events. Visit the Palau de la
Música Catalana’s, it is a musical which is well known for hosting modernist
architecture. For theaters lovers the Teatre Liceu has an interesting list of
operas and classical concerts.
Visit the Fundació Joan Miró we discover
more about the talented artists of Catalonia and also visit the Museu Nacional
d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) where a great deal of art pieces of different period
can be viewed.
Practical Tips
Getting Around:
Public transport in Barcelona is good and there are many ways of getting around
using the trains and the buses. The metro, buses, and trams are available to
travel in and connect the travellers to several major attractions. If you want
a different mode of transport you can hire a bicycle or go for a walk, this
will afford you a better view of the area.
Accommodation:
Barcelona, like any other tourist destination, boast of a number of hotels that
clients can book to keep themselves comfortable. It is recommended that the
traveller should select hotels in Gothic Quarter or Eixample, both of which are
near to most attractions.
Language:
The best known and most used languages are Catalan and Spanish though English
is widely spoken especially in the areas that are major receiving points for
tourists.
Safety:
The city of Barcelona is relatively safe for tourists although like in most
large cities in the world, visitors should be careful of pick-pockets
especially in certain areas.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona is a city that mesmerize and
enchants with the presentation of old- world charm in combination with the
current world setting. From walking around the city and site-seeing the
architectural wonder by Gaudí, to strolling through the historic cities, sun
bathing at the beach, to wine and dining, Barcelona offers an experience that
stays with the visitors even after their leave.
Therefore the call to pack up your bags
and let Santiago whisper stories into your ear, every stone and every house has
a tale to tell in Barcelona – a city that is alive and waiting.
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