The city of Barcelona in Spain has much to offer the visitor from historic monuments to exciting nightlife, from shopping to beaches.The city was the home of the famous Modernist architect Antoni Gaudi whose influence can be seen everywhere you go. Here is a brief guide to the must see parts of Barcelona in Spain.
Barcelona as the city
Arguably, the most impressive city in Spain, Barcelona is certainly the most visited. It appeals to those searching for old architecture and history, with its Old Quarter containing the beautiful Gothic cathedral of Saint Eulalia. It is surrounded by narrow streets with tiny shops and interesting restaurants. It also appeals to those looking for lively culture and nightlife plus everyone in between.
Gaudi's buildings
Antoni Gaudi's buildings, such as Parc Guell, Casa Mila with its ornate chimneys and the Casa Battló are very much on the must see list. His incredible and still unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral is also important as it is on which he started work in 1883.
Gaudi spent 43 years of his life working on the cathedral only to die tragically in a tram accident in 1926. His body is laid to rest in the cathedral crypt. Work continues on the cathedral to this day.
Barcelona's views
La Rambla is the main place to be seen in Barcelona. The wide pedestrianised walkway is central to the city, leading down to the sea front and is where you will find all the trendy restaurants plus flower stalls and all kinds of entertainment.
Unfortunately, it is also where you will find gangs of pickpockets working so one needs to be very careful of your personal possessions. At the sea end, you can see the famous monument to Christopher Columbus and cross over to the Maremagnum shopping and entertainment mall, that flows out into the sea.
For shopping, the street you want to visit is Avinguda Diagonal which has all the main designer shops, plus lovely little boutiques and the main L'Illa shopping mall.
Transport facilities
Barcelona has an excellent and easily negotiable transport system with a metro, buses, trams and even a cable car. It connects the Maremagnum with Montjuic mountain where you will find the main art galleries and sporting facilities from the 1992 Olympics.
Hence, If you have a 'bucket list' of places you want to see before you die, make sure that Barcelona in Spain is right near the top.
