Barcelona The gateway to Spain

Barcelona, ​​in northeastern Spain, is the capital of Catalonia. A modern and busy city on the Mediterranean Sea is considered by many to be Europe’s gateway to Spain. It is bilingual since Catalan and Spanish are its official languages ​​and it enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

Particularly famous for the unique and radical architectural style of Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona has also produced great notable artists. Among them Pablo Casals, Josep Carreras and Joan Miro whose work is celebrated in the park that bears their name. Pablo Picasso, although a native of Malaga, spent a lot of time here and his works can be seen in the Picasso Museum to the northeast of the magnificent port. This collection focuses on his early work.

The port itself can be seen from Barcelona’s seafront hill, Montjuic, which was also the main site of the 1992 Olympic site. Montjuic with its Magic Fountains and its amusement park can be accessed by cable car from the port. The hill attracts many visitors not only for the distant views, but the old fortress, the Museum of Catalan Art, the Archaeological Museum, the Miró Foundation and the Spanish Village (Poble Espanyol) are very popular.

From Montjuic you can see the Column of Columbus at the foot of Las Ramblas. This famous mile-long tree-lined pedestrian street is the center of Barcelona. You can spend hours wandering its length passing book vendors, beautiful flower stalls, and all kinds of street vendors along the way.

La Rambla is divided into sections and has many meeting places along the way. A popular spot at the foot of the Rambla is Plaça Reial, where there is a colorful collection of cafes and bars. Enjoy a beer with a tapa of calamres (squid), patatas brava (spicy, spicy potatoes) or whatever you want. A word of warning, this is not a good place to be at night and beware of thieves at all times.

Moving on, the Rambla del Center is where you will find the Liceu, the famous opera house and in front of another popular meeting place, the Café de l’Opera. With plenty of time on your hands, it’s worth a little detour to the Placa del Pi. The surrounding small alleys and side streets are lined with antique, art and craft shops. Pass the mural on the floor of Joan Miro (it appears everywhere) and you enter the next section of the Ramblas.

Barcelona’s main market, the spectacular Boquería, borders one side of this part of the Rambla de las Flors, while opposite is the Palau de la Virreina. La Boquería is a huge open market full of life, fragrances and color. Countless types of meats, fish, fruits and vegetables are sold every day from the crowded stalls to the incessant crowd of noisy customers. This is a wonderful experience.

Las Ramblas del Estudis is for the ever popular booksellers. The competition is intense, so the prices are very reasonable, but it would be difficult to find much for sale in any language other than Catalan or Spanish. The Palau Moja and the Church of Betlem are located in this area and are worth examining.

The final part of the Rambla includes the Font de las Canaletes, where fans gather to discuss the plight of their beloved Barcelona soccer team. Café Zurich at the head of the Rambla is a great place to rest if you have walked here. The subway station is conveniently located here for your outward or return journey!

To get away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, the Ciutadella Park is where the Barcelona Zoo, the Aquarium, the botanical gardens and the Museum of Modern Art (Museu d’Art Modern) are located. The Ciutadella Park is a large quiet area northeast of the port.

To the south of the park is Barceloneta, which has a somewhat small city feel as you walk under the billowing clothes hanging out to dry. Being so close to the port and the coast, the aromas of fresh and cooked fish mix in the salty air. The once abandoned beaches of Barcelona are here and now restored, they are very popular again.

When visiting Barcelona it would be a shame to miss the most famous work of the most famous son of the city. Antoni Gaudí’s work can be seen all over Barcelona, ​​but to the north of the city is Parque Greull and the incomplete cathedral, El Temple Expiatori de la Sanrada Familia (The Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family). The park’s colorful mosaic entrance is highly photographed as are the sculptures found there, and the cathedral is a spectacular monument to its creator.

Barcelona’s restaurants are as varied as the locals and the visitors themselves. Apart from typical regional dishes, you can find exactly what your heart desires, from Japanese to Mexican, from pizzerias to haute cuisine. Of course, Catalan dishes are prominent and Basque dishes are recommended for large diners. Pair this with the wide selection of wines from the region and you are ready to experience Barcelona’s lively nightlife.

When booking hotels or “hostels” in Barcelona, ​​be sure to check the area, as some are slightly less desirable than others. You can get more information through one of the Barcelona travel guides. Note that a ‘hostal’ in Spain is a hotel, but it is usually a family establishment. You will still find good accommodation and meals, so don’t think it’s a youth hostel!

The weather in Barcelona is reliably warm from spring to fall with summer temperatures averaging 25 ° C. Occasionally a strong wind can come in and a sudden downpour can drown you, but generally these phenomena do not last long and it returns to the sunlight. sun pretty quickly.

Once you have your tickets for Barcelona, ​​you will arrive at the dynamic El Prat Airport, Barcelona International Airport. It is located 13 km from the city and if you use a rental car, go to the Autovia C-246 of Castelldefels. A taxi to the center of Barcelona costs around 15 euros and the travel time is approximately 15 minutes. Barcelona airport transfers can be arranged in advance or, alternatively, train and bus services are regular and reliable.

Barcelona is chaotic, cosmopolitan, charming and Catalan. Enjoy! … enjoy!