Parc de Ciutadella – the largest and the greenest Barcelona Park
Barcelona, like most large cities, has beautiful parks where people can go to escape the “hustle-and bustle” of city life and just relax. Parc de Ciutadella is a good example. It is the largest and greenest park in all of Barcelona, a pleasant place to visit and it is centrally located, as well. Once the only park in all of Barcelona, Parc de Ciutadella actually stands on the site where the Spanish King, Phillip V, built a huge fortress during the War of Spanish Succession for the express purpose of watching over his reluctant subjects and the entire city, too. The ...
10 Tips on Booking an Apartment for Your Vacation in Barcelona
Here are 10 tips on booking an apartment for a vacation in Barcelona, and also some general holiday advice which I would strongly recommend to anyone considering booking a short-term apartment rental. In no particular order, here are my top ten tips for checking that your apartment will not disappoint: 1. Carefully study the photographs and dimensions of the apartment you want to choose. Admire the photographs of your accommodation by all means, but also check the measurements of the rooms. Many pictures are taken with special lenses which appear to magnify the room, leading you to assume the space is larger ...
Barrio Gotico - the most complete Gothic quarter on the Continent?
Barrio Gótico district (Gothic Quarter) is the oldest part of Barcelona, it lies between the Las Ramblas and Via Laetana and expands from Plaça de Cataluña till the Paseo of Colon. It used to be the ancient fortified Roman village and years later when the city started growing considerably it converted in one of the most valued districts of Barcelona, much of which is pedestrianized. Nowadays Barrio Gótico represents a mixture of new and old: because of constant modernization quite trendy new buildings share the scene with ancient houses which bear features of Romanesque and Gothic style. Thus for example, ...
Montjuic – Mount of Museums and Cultural Half of Barcelona!
Montjuic is one of the most spectacular areas of Barcelona. Although the meaning of Montjuic is in some doubt, either from Mont Jueu (Jewish Mountain) or Monte Jovis (Jupiter's Mountain), there is no doubt whatever about the impressive nature of this area. Known primarily for its cultural opportunities, it affords spectacular views and arresting scenery as well. Montjuic's primary heritage comes from two very significant events which occurred here in the last century. The International Exhibition of 1929 made sure the area became prominent on the world map, and then again in 1992 the eyes of the world were once again ...
La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi
The extraordinary unfinished church designed by a world-known architect Antonio Gaudi is a symbol of Barcelona. The majestic Temple of the Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Holy Family) was started in 1882, though Gaudi was not the first architect to work on this project. The temple was conceived as a conventional Gothic-style church, but when Gaudi at the age of 32 started to work on it (at the end of 1883), he was given free rein and his unconventional ideas changed the building considerably. By the time Gaudi died only one bell-tower had been completed and 10 years after architect’s death during ...
Barcelona – One Of Europe’s Favourite Destinations
Introducing Barcelona, Spain’s bustling Catalan capital, a city that has become increasingly popular with travelers from every part of Europe and vacationers from North America, as well. Frequently referred to as Spain’s “most European-like metropolis”, Barcelona is quickly developing a reputation as a city that has to be seen and experienced. In fact, Barcelona has much to offer and interest everyone who comes to visit – business travelers and vacationers, as well. Consider …Today, Barcelona is prosperous, youthful, fun-loving … a city with excellent restaurants and cafes featuring the finest in Mediterranean cuisine. It is also a proud city, comfortable with ...
If You Like the Beach – You will Love Vila Olimpica.
Barcelona is a great city for visitors and locals alike, people who enjoy sun, surf and fun. There are several beaches to choose from, all of which are easily accessible. And, as is true for most cities, some beaches are a little nicer than others. In fact, one of Barcelona’s best and nicest beaches may be in Vila Olímpica district. Facing the city’s port area and the spectacular Mediterranean Sea, Vila Olimpica didn’t even exist before the 1980s. This part of town was essentially overlooked and forgotten while most of the interesting sites and things to do remained in the center ...
Barcelona …It’s a Great Place to Visit for Sightseers.
From spectacular Modernista architecture to more than 55 museums of every type … from chic art galleries to fun-filled theme parks and more, much, much more - Barcelona has something to please every taste. And it all begins right in the center of the city … Start your personal sightseeing tour in Ciutat Vella. Cuitat Vella, Barcelona’s “old town” is right in the middle of the city … a perfect starting place to begin your personal tour. This area, which long ago was separated from Barcelona’s other villages by ancient Roman walls, includes four districts (Barrio Gotico, Raval, El Borne and Barceloneta), ...
A “Must-See’ for Art Lovers – MNAC … The National Museum of Art of Cataluña.
If you love and appreciate fine art, you have to include a visit to the Museu Nacional D’Art de Cataluña (the National Museum of Art of Cataluna – MNAC). Here, you will find some of the most treasured artwork in Barcelona, perhaps in all of Spain. The museum, itself, is housed in the Palau Nacional, Barcelona’s new baroque palace which is centrally-located on Montjuic Hill and was long ago conceived by Josep Puig i Cadafalch to be the centerpiece of the 1929 International Exhibition. The museum’s ground floor is divided into three main sections – Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance and Baroque. The ...
Els Quatre Gats - legendary bohemian Barcelona restaurant
If you’re a visitor interested in a memorable dining experience, you may wish to stop at the legendary restaurant Els Quatre Gats for lunch or dinner. Located amid the gothic maze of Barrio Gotico’s narrow, twisting streets, the restaurant serves traditional Catalan and Mediterranean cuisine. And, while it is highly-regarded for the preparation and presentation of its dishes, it is also well-known for its remarkable history. In fact, Els Quatre Gats origins date back to the late 19th century. At that time, a local businessman, Pere Romeu, became impressed with the charm and ambience of a Parisian café-restaurant with cabaret named ...
La Boqueria Market - the largest indoor market in Spain
Barcelona has many indoor and outdoor markets that can provide locals and tourists alike with enjoyable shopping experiences. La Boqueria, located right at the Las Ramblas, is probably the most popular market. La Boqueria, which is also known as Mercat de Sant Josep, is a large indoor market specializing in the sale of fresh produce, including a wide variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Fresh meat and seafood is also available. The market has a long, long history, dating way back to around the year 1200. In fact, during the period from 1200 to 1700, La Boqueria was actually an outdoors, open-air ...
Las Ramblas Barcelona
Las Ramblas is definitely a must see in Barcelona. This 1,2 km long tree-lined avenue is broken up into five different ramblas (pedestrian avenues, each one differently named) and runs between Barrio Gotico (Gothic quarter) and El Raval – two of the four districts of Ciutat Vella (old city). Las Ramblas is certainly one of the best known symbols of Barcelona and Cataluña. It starts at Plaça de Cataluña with its first section of Rambla de Canaletes and ends at the port with Rambla de Santa Monica. The word rambla is derived from the Arabic term ramla, which means sandy river bed ...
Park Güell by Antoni Gaudi - Barcelona’s most magical park
Park Güell situated in the north of the city in the district of Gracia was declared a universal monument by UNESCO in 1984. Gaudi´s patron Count Eusebi Guell entrusted him to build the park, which at the beginning was conceived as an English-style ¨garden city¨ for the rich Barcelona´s bourgeoisie. The construction of the park commenced in 1900, but in the event the project was not a success. Count Eusebi Guell planned to divide 15ha of the park territory into 60 plots, between 1000 sqm and 2000 sqm each one. By purchasing a plot, the buyer should have signed a contract which prohibited ...
F.C. Barcelona - A Footballing Tourist’s Dream
Fútbol Club Barcelona, commonly known as FC Barcelona or simply Barça, is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from La Liga, and after Real Madrid is the most successful Spanish football club ever. In fact, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Barça has been the most successful football club in the world between 1991 and 2008. The club's stadium is the Camp Nou (Nou Camp to the English), officially known as the Nou Estadi del Futbol Club Barcelona, and is situated in Avinguda Aristides Maillol, s/n, 08028, Barcelona. It can be reached by ...
Montserrat- Catalonia´s Most Sacred Mountain
A trip to Barcelona isn’t complete without a day trip to Montserrat. This is easily one of the most popular day trips for tourists, which is not surprising given that it provides an opportunity to explore nature and experience history while enjoying the fabulous views of Catalonia. Montserrat is the name of a mountain and means “jagged (serrated) mountain” in Catalan. Its unique rock formation is recognizable from great distances and it is the site of Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine Abbey, which makes it a popular location for locals and tourists alike. There are several ways to arrive to Montserrat ...
Accommodation
7 Reasons For and Against Renting an Apartment in Barrio Gotico Barcelona
If you like history and tradition, then renting an apartment in Barrio Gotico Barcelona...
Apartment Rentals vs. Hotels - Two Good Options … One Great Choice.Travelers to Barcelona always face several very good choices about where they will...
The Benefits of Short Term Rental Barcelona Apartments
There is a large variety of short term rental Barcelona apartments available, both...
How to Find a Reputable Apartment Rental Agency in Barcelona
Choosing a reputable apartment rental agency in Barcelona isn’t too hard,...
Choosing the right Barcelona accommodationChoosing the right Barcelona accommodation for your short-term vacation in Barcelona...
10 Tips on Booking an Apartment for Your Vacation in Barcelona
Here are 10 tips on booking an apartment for a vacation in Barcelona, and also some...
Read More Posts From This CategoryBarcelona City
Poble Nou - Urban redevelopment in action
Poblenou means “New Village” in Catalan and was given the name as it was not...
Diagonal Mar- Barcelona´s newest neighborhood
Diagonal Mar is part of the district of Barcelona known as San Martí. Until recently...
The Gràcia District of BarcelonaThe districts of Barcelona are known as ‘Barrios’, and the barrio Gràcia...
Barrio Borne – once the wealthiest district of Barcelona and the trendiest one nowadays.
Barrio Borne is one of the more interesting districts in Barcelona, home to narrow,...
El Raval - Barcelona’s Fascinating Multicultural Neighborhood.
There are many interesting areas to stop, look at, walk through and enjoy throughout...
Sants District of Barcelona - Great for Business Accommodation and Spanish quiet vacationsThe Sants district of Barcelona is a good choice if you are looking for business...
Read More Posts From This CategoryWhat to see
Poble Espanyol - a Country within a Village
El Poble Espanyol (The Spanish Village) is an open-air museum that was built in 1929 for the International Exhibition. It is meant to allow visitors the opportunity to experience Spain using full-scale reproductions of the country´s most important places and buildings. To achieve this, 117 buildings, streets, and squares were reproduced to scale... [Read more of this review]
Jardí Botánic - Get back to nature without leaving the cityThe Jardí Botánic (Botanical Garden) of Barcelona is the ideal way to escape the sometimes overwhelming crowds, traffic, concrete, and tall buildings of the city. Located in the mountain of Montjuic, 173 meters above the city center, the garden offers the opportunity to return to nature without ever leaving Barcelona. Botanical gardens have always... [Read more of this review]
Catedral de la Seu - Barcelona´s most impressive example of Gothic architecture
Catedral de la Seu is one of the most visually stunning sites in Barcelona. It´s official name is Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia (Catalan for Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulàlia). The commonly used name La Seu refers to the status of the church as the seat of the diocese, and also to the plaza in which it´s located. It is... [Read more of this review]
Quadrat D’Or- A stroll through the modernist movement
The Quadrat d’Or (Golden Square) is an area of the Eixample neighborhood that is famous for being full of modernist buildings designed by well-known architects. It is located between Carrer Aribau, Passeig Sant Joan, Plaza Catalunya and Avinguda Diagonal. The majority of the buildings are apartments which were built from 1860 onwards and commissioned... [Read more of this review]
The Magic Fountain of Montjuic - One of the most dazzling fountains in the world
The Font Mágica (Magic Fountain) is one of the most emblematic sites in Barcelona. It is a dazzling light and music performance that takes place at the fountains at the bottom of Montjuic. The largest fountain lights up with different colors and the jets are synchronized to the music which can range from classical to pop and which gives the impression... [Read more of this review]
F.C. Barcelona - A Footballing Tourist’s Dream
Fútbol Club Barcelona, commonly known as FC Barcelona or simply Barça, is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from La Liga, and after Real Madrid is the most successful Spanish football club ever. In fact, according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Barça has been the most successful football club... [Read more of this review]
Palau de la Musica Catalana - a superb example of Modernista architecture
Translated in English as the Palace of Catalan Music, the Palau de la Musica Catalana is a must for any visitor to Barcelona. It is located in the narrow street Carrer de Sant Francesc de Paula, north of the Calle Princesa in the El Borne district of old Barcelona, which means that it is difficult to get an overall view of the outside without craning... [Read more of this review]
Manzana de la Discordia - Casa Batllo, Casa Amatller and Casa Lleo Morera
Manzana de la Discordia (Apple of Discord or Block of discord; manzana in Spanish means both block and apple) is a set of three adjacent buildings standing side by side on Passeig de Gracia. Designed by three masters of Modernism, these contrasting buildings are indisputably a vivid sample of different approaches of the architects. The three buildings... [Read more of this review]
Casa Mila better known as La Pedrera - quirky creation of Antoni Gaudi
Casa Milá better known as La Pedrera (the Quarry in Catalan) in the district of Eixample is one of the most outstanding creations of Antoni Gaudi. It is situated on the corner site of Passeig de Gracia Avenue and you can hardly take your eyes off this amazing building with its almost wavelike pattern of the stone façade imitating a sand-dune. Its... [Read more of this review]
MACBA Contemporary Art MuseumMACBA (Contemporary Art Museum) was opened to the public on November 28th in 1995 and forms a part of an ambitious project of urban renewal of the entire district of El Raval. In 1990s El Raval was in desperate need of reform and at the same time Barcelona was looking for an appropriate place to construct a first-class museum of contemporary art. Thus... [Read more of this review]
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