Places to see in Barcelona |
Barcelona is an evocative canvass of architecture, cuisine and culture, ranging from Gaudí’s quirky Park Güell, tucked into the side of a hill near the outskirts of the city, to the artificial beaches pushed up against the waterfront. In Barcelona, the old mingles with the new, from the ancient churches locked away in El Born and Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter) to the Modernist edifices dotted about Passeig de Gràcia and L’Eixample. There are so many places to see in Barcelona that one is drawn back to the sprawling city to see it all. Starting from Port Olimpic (built for the 1992 summer Olympics), wander down the beaches and promenades toward Barceloneta, a former fishing enclave overflowing with narrow lanes butting up against the edge of the sea. From Barceloneta, head northwest to the Ciutat Vella (Old City) and swing by La Catedral, then stop off in one of the many cafés and pubs next to the small churches hidden in Gotic’s alleyways and squares for some beer, coffee or tea. To the north-east of Gotic, you’ll stumble across El Born and La Ribera, full of quaint cafés, the bustling Passeig del Born, a panorama of boutique shops and the Picasso Museum. Be sure to visit the church Santa Maria del Mar, an outstanding example of Gothic architecture in La Ribera. From El Born, you can wander on over to the Parc de la Ciutadella (farther to the west), the city zoo and the Catalonian Parliament. On the opposite side of Gotic, to the southwest, you’ll find La Rambla, a bustling pedestrian walkway full of tourists and street performers, plus a smattering of open-air markets specializing in pets, plants and novelty items. Keep to the east and you’ll soon be in Raval, a gritty district with some of the best Indian and Muslim food in town. A good portion of Barcelona is devoted to green spaces, including the vast Parc de Collserola in the northern hills, and Gaudí’s famous Park Güell, where some of the architect’s most imaginative buildings and sculptures are on display. There’s also Montjuïc to the south, perched above the city and Port Vell, with its Magic Fountain (at the footsteps of Plaça d'Espanya), art galleries, gardens, museums and remnant Olympic structures. Take a stroll through L’Eixample and the Passeig de Gràcia, just north of the old centre, and you’ll spy some of Gaudí’s better known works, like Casa Batlló and La Pedrera: true monuments to the Art Nouveau. Of course, you’ll never forgive yourself if you miss Gaudí’s La Sagrada Família (Temple of the Holy Family), with its soaring pinnacles and organic-appearing protuberances. Work is still underway on this majestic church, which looks like it’s been carved out of gigantic stalagmites. This is a city where you can read all of the guidebooks, do your research, wander about for days and still not see everything, which is why Barcelona beckons its visitors to come back again and again. |