Barcelona's old city is, without doubt, one of the nicest and most romantic of Europe. Its small streets, shops, the air you breathe, everything invites you to wander around, getting to know every place of this charming area. Even if we propose you a route, our best tip is to walk haphazardly around, without rushing, guided by what you see.
Barcelona Locations…

La Sagrada Familia
It’s a world wide symbol of Barcelona. The monumental church El Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Family) is Gaudí's most famous work and the finest example of his visionary genius. The architect undertook the task in 1883 on the site of a previous neo-Gothic project begun in 1882 by F. del Villar. Gaudi dedicated his life to carrying out this ambitious undertaking which due to his sudden death was left unfinished.

Gaudí became obsessed with the church to the point that not only did he focus all of his creative energies into it, but he set up residence in his on-site study as well. On June 7, 1926, Gaudi was hit by a street car while crossing the Gran Vía at Gerona. Three days later not having regained consciousness, Gaudí died at the age of 74.

Work continued on the church, however, until it was interrupted in 1936 when the crypt and Gaudí's study holding his notes and designs were burnt by Spanish Civil War shelling. The project was resumed in 1952 using drawings and scale models as a base although the continuation of the work gave rise to much debate. From 1954 to 1976, the facade and the four towers of the Passion (Western side) were completed. The sculptor Josep. M. Subirachs joined the project team to work on the sculptures on the Portal of Passion in 1987. Today, the constructed part is open to visitors as well as the small Museu del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família with scale models and drawings showing the construction process. The towers can be climbed and offer incredible sights of the city.

Park Guell

Gaudí's patron, Eusebi Güell, planned a suburban "city." His property was high above Barcelona, northwest and some distance from the city. More than 60 housing plots were allocated although only two homes were built on the property. The project was radical for its time and, as a real estate project, was a failure. The Barcelona City Council bought the property in 1922 and in the following year converted it to a municipal park.
Gaudí avoided levelling the grounds so that the park has a network of twisting roads which follow the contours of the land. The lowest point is the entrance, from which a double staircase leads to the hypostyle chamber, the ceiling of which serves as the floor of the huge public square. Outlying areas have imaginative viaducts and colonnades, which in their design evoke natural forms.


Passeig de Gracia
Passeig de Gràcia was from the beginning designed to be Barcelona’s Grand Avenue. It is Barcelona’s most elegant avenue and one of the best architectural walks in the city with lots of Modernist buildings, many of which house fine shops (jewelry, fashion, gifts) at street level. The quality and quantity of modernist buildings is unrivalled. It’s origins can be traced back to Roman times when it was a path that linked to the Via Augusta. In medieval times the city’s door to this road was the Portal dels Orbs (blind people’s gate), today the Portal del Angel pedestrian shopping area.
La Pedrera was the last great work of Gaudí before dedicating all his time to the construction of La Sagrada Familia. It is one of Gaudí’s finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. It is a perfect example of Gaudi’s conceptual synthesis. The chimneys of Casa Milà recall knights wearing visors. Casa Mila, also called “la Pedrera” (the quarry), has undulating balconies and fantastic metalwork. Make sure to visit the interior and the rooftop, now open to the public after extensive restorations. The building was started in 1906, but in 1909 Gaudi’s disagreements with the owner, Pere Milà came to a head and the building’s interior was finished in 1911 by Gaudi’s collaborator Josep Maria Jujol.
Avinguda del Tibidabo
On both sides of this avenue there is a Modernist urban development from the beginning of this century, which was created by the chemist Dr. Andreu. There are some very interesting villas by several different architects. The so-called "Tramvia Blau" (blue tram) goes up this avenue and is the only one of its kind left in Spain. There is a magnificent view over Barcelona.
The Cathedral “ catedral de la Santa Creu” Construction began in 1298. The cathedral faces onto the Plaça de la Seu in the center of the Barri Gòtic area of the old city and is surrounded by other remnants of Barcelona's past - notably some Roman remains and various medieval structures. The main facade is dominated by the massive main door and the central spire. Oddly sited, the spire is placed to the front of the building instead of the more usual position over the crossing of nave and transepts. To either side of the building are two simple towers which are only visible from the sides and rear of the cathedral. Access to the roof can be from the northern transept via a small lift. There are excellent views over the city as well as a close-up view of the central tower. The interior of the cathedral is suitably impressive with a fine nave and soothing cloister.
La Plaça Sant Jaume
Back in the Roman period this square was (and still is) where important government buildings were found. On one side there is the Palace of the Generalitat (the government of the Autonomous Community of Catalunya) and on the other stands the City Hall. This square has been witness to some of the most important events in recent Catalan history, such as the proclamation of the Catalan State in 1931 or the return of Josep Tarradelles from exile in 1977. On Sunday mornings, people come to dance the Sardana, the national dance of Catalonia
The Ramblas
The word “Las Ramblas” is the Arabic word for “dry flowers”. It is the most animated artery of the city. It is divided in five sections. Rambla Canaletes, Rambla dels Estudis It is also called La Rambla dels Ocells ( Avenue of the Birds) as it is a traditional site of a bird market. Rambla de Sant Josep it is also well-known as the Rambla de les Flors (Rambla of the Flowers). In the 19C this was the only place in Barcelona that flowers were sold. The flower market now stands alongside great kiosks selling all manner of books, magazines and newspaper from Spain and abroad. Rambla dels Caputxins and Rambla de Santa Monica. This is the place where people from Barcelona meet. Stoll under the threes, admire the street artists, look at the alive statues. A great pleasure day or night.

A visit to the Market of la Boqueria is advisable to enjoy an incredible contrast between colours and activity, ideal to discover why Mediterranean cuisine is internationally known due to its ingredients. The best products from Catalonia in one place

The famous Gran Teatre del Liceu was built in 1847.Considered by many to be one of the finest opera houses in Europe, it burnt to the ground tragically in 1994, the auditorium and stage were destroyed. The new Liceu was inaugurated in the year 2000, keeping the original facade and greatly expanding the facilities. Here, the finest operas of the international repertoire have been staged, and leading operatic stars have performed, among them several Catalans including Montserrat Caballé, Josep Carreras and Jaume Aragall.

MUSEUMS

Museum of the History of Barcelona

To learn everything about the development of Barcelona from Roman times through Medieval to the present day. Within the museum you can see part of the original Roman foundations of the city and part of the walls which surrounded the city


Museo Marítimo - Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is located in the medieval Drassanes Reials (Royal shipyards) of Barcelona, the largest civilian gothic building in the world that make you feel like visiting a cathedral more than a shipyard. Needless to say that the museum tell the long story of Barcelona with the sea, all kind of instruments and interactive and audio-visual explanations..
It is housed in preserved mediaeval shipyards. They date from 1378 and are the biggest and most complete Medieval dockyards in the world. They currently house a big exhibition including model ships, drawings, replicas, paintings, figureheads and an interactive exhibition, "The Great Adventure of the Sea"

Picasso Museum

Maybe “the” museum to visit in Barcelona. For the artist and for the building. Imagine in Montcada street, in the Gothic area, five medieval palaces linked together to make a museum. So charming to visit and a very fast immersion in Catalan’s ambient. Concerning Pablo Ruiz Picasso the museum is indispensable for understanding its formative years. The genius of the young artist is revealed through the more than 3,500 works that make up the permanent collection. It also reveals his relationship with Barcelona: an intimate, solid relationship that was shaped in his adolescence and youth, and continued until his death.. You will remember corrida drawing. You will appreciate the open-air terrace café restaurant and the bookshop.

Fundación Joan Miró

One of our favourite museums in Barcelona. Be there once is an obligation. The building designed by Josep Lluís Sert offers you a moment of calm and beatitude: experience of light and beautiful spaces. Among the trees, you will have a stunning sightseeing of the city and a particular moment to see again or discover the work of Miró who throughout his life took a particular interest in the diversity of materials, forms and colours. It led him to explore and experiment with different art forms such as painting, sculpture, printing techniques, ceramics, theatre and tapestry. A central work exposed in this permanent collection.

MNAC (Catalan National Art Museum) Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Catalan National Art Museum is housed in the magnificent palace overlooking the fountains of Montjuich. You will found there Catalan works of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance arts from 11th to 18th century. Very interesting museum even though quite long to visit.

MACBA - Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona

Combining straight lines and curves in a continuous dialogue between the interior spaces and the light outside, the building, inaugurated in 1995, is a work by Richard Meier. It’s about what is more interesting in this museum… MACBA is dedicated to works from the second half of the 20th century. There are few works in the permanent collection and once in a while interesting temporary exhibitions


Barcelona's location on the shores of the Mediterranean means that it enjoys a warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year round. Between the Barceloneta district and the River Besos, the city has over four kilometres of perfectly equipped beaches which are frequented by its residents during most of the years. Barcelona also has an Olympic harbour which provides excellent conditions for water sports.

Rainfall is often heavy, with levels of around 1,000mm per year. This helps to maintain the many green areas around the city.

In any season of the year, Barcelona basks in the sun. You can eat in open-air restaurants or have a drink on the terraces, by the shores of the Mediterranean sea.