Spain Travel Guide
Barcelona
Capital of Catalonia and a major seaport, this is a very busy place. The architecture is stunning; many of the best examples are either by Antoni Gaudi or inspired by his style.
The people expend their energy in many ways, they are the definition of a people who work hard but play harder.
There are several good museums and many of the roads and other facilities are bang up to date thanks to the 1992 Olympics. Barcelona is a city that has rediscovered its strength and therefore its charm and character. Many areas of the city have either been made over or are about to receive the treatment.
If the city gets too much there is always the seafront where again much work has been done to improve the quality; the grim old waterfront has become a stretch of sandy beach once more.
Where to Go and What to See
The Ramblas
This self-styled 'most famous street in Spain' is an excellent place to begin any stay in the city. The Ramblas is a street that can act as an introduction to the personality of the locals who view it with the same enthusiasm as first time visitors. The street runs through the heart of Barcelona's old town and it is possible to dive off into other areas of interest all along it.
Les Ramblas is a true slice of street theatre with a myriad of street performers mingling amongst the bird market stalls and those of the Mercat de la Bouqueria (a food market). There are Roman ruins and peep shows, whilst cafes and restaurants line the wide streets and the whole place buzzes from early in the morning until past midnight. One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment.
Barri Gotic
Some of Europe's finest 14th and 15th century buildings are in this, the old heart of the city. Most of the buildings are from Barcelona's Golden Age before it was absorbed into the kingdom of Castile.
The north end of the area tends to be where the quaint, chic shopping is found. As one travels south, the quality begins to decline into a somewhat seedy atmosphere.
Highlights in the area include; La Seu, Barcelona's magnificent gothic Cathedral and the Placa de Sant Jaume. This is the main square where the Palau de la Generalitat can be seen. This is the former seat of political power in Catalunya. Elsewhere there are Roman ruins, various chapels, a small museum and some ruins from the time of Visigoth occupation. This is also the place to witness performances of the Sardana, Catalonias national dance.
Around the Placa del Rei is the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat; this is a series of fine old houses, all of which are open as museums. Well worth a visit.
The Museu Picasso
Barcelona's biggest attraction. Picasso was fond of the city where he spent his formative years and donated 2500 pieces to the museum in 1970. The museum is situated in two stunning medieval palaces. Some visitors express disappointment because although this is the largest collection of Piccolo's work it does not include many of his most famous paintings or very much from his most famous periods. Some of the pieces are however fascinating and show how the young Picasso honed his emerging talent.
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
This is devoted to the work of Spanish, specifically, Catalan artists and is one of the countries finest museums. The collection has particularly good examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance works of art. Soon to be added as part of a major refit is a section of more modern works. This is to be found in the Montjuic area.
Montjuic and Tibidabo Mountain
Montjuic is a hill overlooking the city, it is a huge public park but in the twenties, it was host to an international exhibition. Many of the buildings used to house exhibits have remained. Apart from the wide-open spaces and views over the city, there are landscaped gardens and 5 museums. Amongst the museums are the Museu Etnologic and the Museu Arquelogic. Overlooking the whole site is the Castell de Montjuic an 18th century edifice.
Mount Tibidabo is 550 metres high and affords even better views of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Modernisme
Check out the work of this school of architecture. The work of its most famous exponent, Gaudi, is everywhere. The one not to be missed is the 'La Sagrada Familia' but there are many examples of the work of others that is worthwhile looking at too.
Eating, Drinking and Sleeping
There are bars, cafes and restaurants all over the city that caters to all tastes. The bodegas, or wine bars, are the places to go and try Cava, a delicious Spanish 'champagne'.
As Barcelona has become more popular in recent years, so the price of hotels at the top end has risen dramatically. For all that, there is still good availability in all price ranges.
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