Described as the “Paris of Spain” by Hans Christian Andersen, Barcelona is rather like its French cousin - a city of great beauty, immense charm and considerable cultural significance. An evening stroll down one of Barcelona’s old streets, flanked by cafés and bars, is a delightful experience. Situated along the Mediterranean coast, with towering mountains as a backdrop, the city is the capital of the province of Barcelona, as well as that of the autonomous region of Catalunya. Barcelona’s a major commercial and industrial centre, an important transport hub, and a city bursting with good museums, galleries, medieval monuments and more. And, as if that isn’t enough, Barcelona is also the gateway to some of the region’s hottest tourist spots: the Costa Brava, the Balearic Islands, the Roman city of Tarragona and the Costa Dorada territory. But even if you don’t step out of Barcelona, rest assured you’ll find plenty to entertain you, within the city itself. Whether you’re looking for Art Nouveau museums, busy markets or traditional Catalan cuisine, this is where it’s at its best: Barcelona.
Where to Stay in Barcelona |
Barcelona offers a wide range of accommodation facilities from posh hotels as well as hostels, pensions, and cheaper inns. Although tariffs tend to be higher than virtually anywhere else in Spain, they’re at least lower than some other European cities. Elegant old hotels, restored palaces and the like, form the most expensive accommodation around the city centre. Somewhat cheaper is the Eixample district, and cheapest of all are the Barri Gòtic (the Gothic Quarter), and the area around Ramblas, both of which have a large number of cheap hotels and hostels. Do take care, though - these areas are rather seedy and tend to be unsafe at night, so make sure you’re in your room by nightfall. Barcelona also has a huge number of campsites, all along the coast, where you can stay cheaply. These, however, are outside the city - the closest is some 7 km out - so keep that in mind, as you might end up spending quite a bit on transportation. |
Best Time to Visit Barcelona |
Barcelona has good weather through out the year, with a comfortable summer and a cool winter. In order to enjoy the Mediterranean sun without scorching your skin, the ideal time to visit and sight see would be May, June, September and October. The tourist season normally experiences its peak between end of March and early October. |
Things to do in Barcelona |
SightseeingBarcelona can be a walkers’ paradise, with its charming green walks and architecturally rich boulevards. Be sure to steer clear of the crowded, congested and polluted areas of the city. You can ramble through the Rambla de Catalunya , one of the most captivatingly colourful boulevards. To absorb some splendid architecture, trace a route through Barcelona’s numerous plaças or squares. These wide-open spaces, many of them historic and beautiful, will transport you back to the days of yore. Palau Reial or the Royal Palace, is one of Barcelona’s landmarks. This palace is a fine example of medieval architecture. The building has an exceptionally beautiful wood-panelled banquet hall, with a series of porticoed galleries rising five stories above it. Once the home of the counts of Barcelona, the palace later became the royal residence of Aragon. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand received Christopher Columbus here after his voyage to the New World, and also met a Native American within these walls. Attached to the Royal Palace is the Museu de Història de la Ciutat , a museum that traces the history of Barcelona from its days as a Roman colony to the present. Housed in a 14th century villa, the museum has an impressive collection of Roman and medieval artefacts. Among the best-known squares are the Plaça del Rei , supposedly the oldest in the Barri Gótic, where Columbus was received on his return from his historic voyage, the Plaça Rius I Taulet, renowned for the beautiful clock tower which stands in its centre and the popular Plaça Reial. The last-named is a lovely and colourful square, surrounded by apartments owned by the rich and famous - including Nobel laureate author Gabriel García Marquez. Sunday morning sees the Plaça del Reial at its liveliest, with people trading and selling coins and stamps. Barcelona is home to some splendid museums and fine buildings. The Museu Picasso is situated in the picturesque Carrer de Montcada quarter of town, an area of lovely old buildings, painstakingly restored and redecorated. The Museu Picasso is Barcelona’s tribute to one of the world’s greatest painters. The museum contains an excellent collection of Picasso’s work - definitely the best in Spain, and also among the best in the world. Besides the permanent displays, there are also regular temporary exhibitions held throughout the year. The museum is open from 10 am to 8 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and from 10 am to 3 pm on Sundays. The entry fee is waived on the first Sunday of the month. The mount of Tibidabo , named after a verse from the Bible, forms the northwestern boundary of Barcelona. This is a mountain that soars up to 1745 ft and offers a stupendous view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, it is said that you can actually see as far as the island of Mallorca, and even Montserrat and the Pyrenees. At the peak of Tibidabo is an amusement park that offers lots of great rides and plenty of fun for kids. (Incidentally, if you’re wondering which Biblical verse the mount is named after, it’s `Haec omnia tibi dabo si cadens adoraberis me’- “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me”- Satan’s words to tempt Christ). The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi Museum is the work of Barcelona’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. The Temple is one of Barcelona’s most striking pieces of modern architecture. Although unfinished at the time of Gaudi’s death, the Temple is truly spectacular, with eight spires soaring up to a height of 100 metres (it is believed that Gaudi planned a total of 12 spires, to represent the twelve apostles). Work is currently underway to complete the building, but it is possible for visitors to roam around the premises and to take an elevator to the top of the tower for a view across the city. Inside the temple is the Gaudi Museum, an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the architect; it also includes a history of the Sagrada Familia. Considered to be one of the finest examples of Catalonian Gothic architecture, the Catedral de Barcelona is a fine basilica, built largely between the 13th and 15th centuries. Once described by the historian Cirici as `the loveliest oasis in Barcelona’, this is one building you can’t afford to miss. The cathedral has three wonderfully illuminated naves - high bell towers and beautifully sculptured choirs and Gothic arches. The cloister has a series of vaulted galleries, fabulously decorated with carved vegetation and forged iron grilles. It is also the home of a fine museum of medieval art, which contains some excellent works, including Bartolomé Bermejo’s La Pietat. The Museu Nacional d’art de Catalunya is housed in the Palau Nacional and contains one of the best collections of religious art in Europe. Included in the items on display are a huge number of altarpieces, icons, carvings, frescoes and the like, brought here in the 1920s from churches in the Pyrenees, mainly to save them from destruction. Most of the exhibits are Romanesque or Gothic, and many are fine examples of traditional art. Also included in the museum’s collection are works by masters such as Velazquez, Mirador and Zurbarán. Founded in the early 14th century, the Monestir des Pedralbes is known both for its splendid architecture and for the excellent collection of art which it houses. The convent, set up for the Clarist nuns in 1326, has a lovely chapel with a rose window and impressive murals. The cloister, housed in an unusual three-storied structure, is acknowledged by many to be the best in Barcelona. Within the former dormitory of the nuns (a chamber of elegant pointed arches and high windows) is housed the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, a large selection of works by greats such as Tintoretto, Rubens, Tiepolo and Velazquez. Barcelona has a number of other interesting buildings, both public and private houses, which are known for their architectural excellence. Included in the list are Casa Milá known for its curved stone façade; the Gran Teatre del Liceu , which is said to be the most beautiful opera house in Europe and the wonderfully colourful music hall known as Palau de la Música Catalana. Even if you don’t have the time to specifically go to any of these places, just stroll down areas like the Eixample, and you’re bound to see some interesting sights and some good architecture. |
Shopping
Barcelona is an excellent place to go shopping. It has long been a commercial centre with goods of every type, whether designer jewellery, fashion accessories, clothing, shoes, art, porcelain or woodwork. On the whole, the city, though cheaper than other cities like London and Paris, is still expensive, but you can pick up decent bargains with a little effort. Some of Barcelona’s major shopping districts include the Barri Gòtic (for art); the Passeig de Gràcia and the Mercat de la Boqueriá- the last is full of fresh produce, cheap handcrafted items and the like. The Avinguda Diagonal and the Eixample are also good hunting grounds for avid shoppers, though if you are looking for cheap buys you should try the many flea markets across town. In addition to these, a lot of large stores have special sales in mid January, late July or August, when stock is sold off at heavily slashed prices. Most shops in Barcelona open 9 am to 8 pm, Monday to Saturday, although smaller shops often have a siesta between 1.30 pm and 4 pm in the afternoon.
The best restaurants in Barcelona
Barcelona's best tapas restaurants
Cerveceria Catalana Near the Passeig de Gracia, this restaurant offers a wide selection of tapas of good quality. The tapas are not very expensive. Be aware of rush hours when the restaurant might be too busy. Cerveceria Catalana - Barcelona Tapas Restaurant Carrer Mallorca, 236 08013 Barcelona 932 160 368 Metro Passeig de Gracia - Yellow Line
Barcelona's best restaurants to eat Catalan specialties: El 7 Portes To eat paella, typical Catalan or Spanish food, such as watered or caldos fideua and many other typical dishes of Catalonia, the restaurant el 7 doors in Barcelona is opened from 13 to 1 without interruption.
El 7 Portes - Barcelona Catalan Restaurant Passeig Isabel II, 14 08003 Barcelona 933 193 033 Metro Barceloneta - Yellow Line
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