Must see!
Barcelona is the hearty, passionate capital of Catalonia and is an unforgettable city of art, culture and beauty. It is the second largest city in Spain in both size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain. There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish. Barcelona, more than just a single city, is really a collection of multi-faceted and diverse cities. The visitor unfamiliar with its history might be surprised that such a modern and enterprising city preserves its historic Gothic center almost intact, or by the curious contrast between the maze of narrow streets and the grid-like layout of the Example, the urban planning “Enlargement” project of the end of the 19th century.
What To Do:
SIGHT SEEING. You have to see Gaudi’s still unfinished SAGRADA FAMILIA to marvel at architecture like no other. Take in some more great art at the MACBA MUSEUM or go enjoy a classical or jazz concert at the PALAU DE LA MUSICA CATALANA, one of the world’s finest halls. Ramble along the RAMBLAS to enjoy the phenomenal shops and street musicians, living statues, hustlers and just plain loonies. Hop onto the TRAMVIA BLAU for a rickety tram trip up to the top of TIBIDABO and take in the magnificent sights of the city below.
NIGHTLIFE. Have a sunset drink at one of the chiringuito bars on the sugar sands of Barcelona’s beaches, then after dark, join the locals for pub crawling at the BARRI GOTIC for a huge selection of tapas bars, wine bars, cocktail lounges and even Irish pubs! Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, head for EL BORN where you’ll find the finest in New Catalonian cuisine, if you can keep out of the innumerable fine fashion boutiques in this neighbourhood. SHOPPING. • Barcelona Glòries – Avda Diagonal 208, Eixample. There’s a seven-screen cinema (films are mostly dubbed into Spanish) and over 220 shops, including a Carrefour supermarket, an H&M, a Mango and a Disney Store, facing on to a large, café-filled square decorated with jets of coloured water. Family-oriented attractions include a free pram-lending service, play areas and entertainment such as bouncy castles and trampolines. • Adolfo Domínguez – C/Ribera 16, Born – Men’s tailoring / Metro Barceloneta. Open 11am-9pm Mon-Sat.
Where To Eat:
• Agua / Passeig Marítim 30. Let down by some front-of-house chaos that means a long wait even with a booking, Agua is otherwise one of the freshest, most relaxed places to eat in the city, with a large terrace smack on the beach and an animated sunny interior. The menu rarely changes, but regulars never tire of the competently executed monkfish tail with sofregit, the risotto with partridge, and fresh pasta with juicy prawns. Scrummy puddings include marron glacé mousse and sour apple sorbet. • Alkimia / C/Indústria 79. A great way to explore what this Michelin-starred restaurant has to offer is to sample the gourmet menu, which offers four savoury courses, including complex dishes that play with Spanish classics – for instance, liquid pa amb tomàquet with fuet sausage, wild rice with crayfish, strips of tuna on a bed of foamed mustard – and a couple of desserts. An excellent wine cellar adds to the experience. • Andaira. Dishes include succulent lamb baked for 24 hours and served with mint and spinach jus; eggs poached – like the lamb, at the gastronomically modish temperature of 65º – and served up with sea urchins and chickpea broth, and monkfish paired with bergamot mayonnaise. The restaurant itself has a relaxed minimalist look, with pale grey pinstripes and flickering tealights, but the best tables are on the terrace overlooking the beach.
Where To Stay:
Banys Orientals. C/Argenteria 37. Banys Orientals remains one of the best deals in town. It exudes cool, from its location at the heart of the Born to the deeply stylish shades-of-grey minimalism of its rooms, and touches such as free mineral water on the landings. The downside is the smallish size of some of the double rooms. Plans to create a luxurious new service by tapping into the eponymous thermal baths that lie underneath the hotel are in the pipeline. Casa Camper. C/Elisabets 1. Another of the Mallorcan footwear giant’s diversification ventures, this is a holistic concept-fest of a boutique hotel where Mediterranean simplicity meets contemporary cool. High-tech features (including plasma TVs, DVDs and CD players) and quirky touches (a healthy snack and breakfast included in the room rate; hammocks; and specially designed bicycles available for rent at €15 / day) are underscored by functionality and environmental awareness, though the starkness of its rooms won’t be to everybody’s tastes.
When To Go:
| Cultural | |
| Dining | |
| Photography |
References:
http://www.aboutbarcelona.com/ , http://www.timeout.com/barcelona/
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