Visiting Barcelona

Second largest city in Spain, Barcelona is a Mediterranean city not only due to its geographical situation but also because of its history and traditions. An open city to the world and to innovation, its creation dates back to the third century BC.

Barcelona Port

Both Catalan and Spanish languages are spoken in Barcelona. The city itself accounts for around 1,5 million inhabitants, but “Grand Barcelona” would see this figure grow to as high as 4 million. The city faces the sea on one side and it is limited by the neighbouring mountains on the other side. The old Gothic quarter is a maze of narrow streets that contrasts with the XIX century planned enlargement, where the streets are perfectly organised

Barcelona experienced a deep transformation during the XIX century, and some of the most remarkable buildings date back to the flourishing of Catalonian modernism.

Getting around in Barcelona is easy. The subway is probably the easiest way to move around. You can check the lines and timetable at www.tmb.net

Barcelona also counts with a good bus infrastructure. You will suffer from the traffic, but you will profit from sightseeing…

Taxis are easily recognised: they are black and yellow and will show a green light when they are free. Taxis are stopped flagging your hand. They all have a meter system so will see how much your journey costs.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Art and Architecture in Barcelona

Barcelona offers many an opportunity to the visitor wishing to enjoy architectural and artistic monuments. Some of Modernist Gaudi’s masterpieces include La Sagrada Familia, Parque Guell, Casa Batlló and the House of La Pedrera which holds a museum. Barcelona also offers interesting art museums such as the Museo Picasso, La Fundación Miró or the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

Neighbourhoods and main streets

La Rambla is probably the most famous street in Barcelona. There is always something going on at La Rambla (also known as Las Ramblas), be it mimes, people selling flowers or birds singing in its bird market. Always noisy, always full of movement, always full of life, La Rambla is the heart of Barcelona, and it is also reflection of its cosmopolitan spirit. Leaving its unique atmosphere aside, La Rambla also offers a lot of interesting buildings and attractions nearby, starting with its pavement decorated with Miro’s mosaics. El market of La Boquería (Mercat de la Boqueria) is near La Rambla, and it is a must for people that want to enjoy local products and specialities. The Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house is nearby.

Parque Güell

Not far from La Rambla, the visitor finds The Barri Gotic, which holds medieval Gothic buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries (including its amazing cathedral) in a maze of small streets and squares, where the Plaça de Sant Jaume stands out, with the Ajuntament (The City Hall) and the Palau de la Generalitat (Regional Government) facing each other

Avinguda Diagonal is of one of Barcelona's most important avenue (Passeig de Gràcia, Its name is due to the fact the avenue cuts the city in two diagonally.

You will find important stores and shopping centres as well as famous-brand establishments. Also an office and business center, the avenue is full of restaurants and cafeterias.

The Plaça de Catalunya is the city centre and some of the city's main streets end here: Passeig de Gràcia , Rambla Catalunya ,or the Rambla. The square is a major centre for bus and metro.

The Olympic Port area is one of Barcelona's most popular leisure areas and it has added a lot to Barcelona's seaside, where up to 4 kms of beaches will delight the visitor (Sant Sebastià, La Barceloneta...).

Montjuic
Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, parks, the “Spanish Village” as well as the 1992 Olympic sites..

Tibidabo
Is the highest hill in the backdrop to Barcelona, it offers good views over the city and is home to Barcelona’s amusement park.

Food in Barcelona

Catalunya produces some of Spain's finest, healthiest cuisine. The cuisine is very varied and it is based on its high quality local products, especially seafood, fish and vegetables. Catalan food makes good use of different sauces to accompany fish or meat like sofregit (fried onion, tomato and garlic); allioli (garlic with olive oil and often with egg yolk to make a mayonnaise) or romesco (a tomato, almond, olive oil, garlic and vinegar sauce).

Pa amb tomaquet – sliced bread, rubbed with tomato- is a must and it is usually eaten for breakfast or during the day as an appetizer or to accompany main dishes.

We do not recommend you drink tap water.

Wine accompanies almost every meal. Traditionally, Catalunya's whites were better than its reds, though today this is not the case any longer. Barcelona is very close to Penedés, the largest cava producing region, and In Catalunya consumption of this sparkling wine is higher than elsewhere in Spain.

Some traditions:

Sardanas: it is a traditional dance, and it can be enjoyed on Sundays in front of the Cathedral.

Castellers: these are impressive human towers of up to 9 levels: original from the region of Tarragona, they are also popular in Barcelona, mainly during the Mercé.

Saint George (Sant Jordi): On this day Catalans offer roses to women and books to men as gifts to celebrate the patron Saint.