| Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of | | | | parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic |
| Catalonia (a Spain's province), is situated | | | | sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental |
| on on the shore of the Mediterranean sea and | | | | gardens with water features and is the most |
| bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. | | | | popular destination in Barcelona on |
| Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain | | | | Sundays.Tibidabo - is the highest hill in the |
| after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has | | | | wooded range that forms the backdrop to |
| a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million | | | | Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole |
| including suburbs. The varied, eventful | | | | of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a |
| history of the city dates back 4,000 years to | | | | family fun park Parc d'Atraccions with |
| the first settlements by ancient farmers. | | | | old-style rides offering breathtaking views. |
| Later it became a Roman colony, the | | | | A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) |
| Visigoth's capital city, then it came under | | | | up to a visitors' observation area at Torre |
| Moorish rule. It went through sieges, | | | | de Collserola telecommunications |
| destructions and occupations, finally to | | | | tower.Modernisme - spectacular modernista |
| become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city | | | | architectural creations dotted around the |
| has always played an important role in | | | | city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his |
| political and cultural life of Spain and it | | | | contemporaries.Camp Nou - home of F.C. |
| is well reflected in the variety and quality | | | | Barcelona, one of Europe's leading soccer |
| of historical buildings, museums, many other | | | | teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 |
| tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one | | | | spectators.The Seu Cathedral - Built in |
| of the most diverse european cities with | | | | medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, |
| unique culture and rich traditions. You can | | | | La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings |
| find here a formidable balance of the | | | | in Spain.Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona's |
| traditional things and the avant-garde. A | | | | favourite park and a Sunday afternoon |
| cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords | | | | rendezvous for families, friends and ducksThe |
| visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being | | | | Sardana - traditional Catalan dance, |
| aknowledged worldwide as one of the best | | | | performed outside the cathedral and at |
| tourist-friendly cities in Europe.Barcelona's | | | | national festivals, with everyone encouraged |
| organisation of the 1992 Olympics provided | | | | to join in.MUSEUMS - The Barbier-Mueller |
| regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a | | | | Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum |
| fresh start to its infrastructure | | | | in Europe devoted exclusively to |
| development.WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE:POINTS OF | | | | Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic |
| INTEREST - La Rambla is a tree-lined | | | | palace, its collection is one of the finest |
| pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, | | | | of its kind and gives visitors an insight |
| living statues, mimes and itinerant | | | | into the rich world of the earliest cultures |
| salespeople selling everything from lottery | | | | on the American continent. This tiny museum |
| tickets to jewellery. Pavement cafes and | | | | contains one hundred pieces, including wood |
| stands selling craftwork, street performers | | | | and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, |
| surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird | | | | jade, often found in international |
| market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand | | | | exhibitions and prestige publications. The |
| 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teatre | | | | exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, |
| del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera | | | | Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations.Palau |
| house- these are all colourful parts of La | | | | de la Musica Catalana - one of the world's |
| Rambla's mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty | | | | most extraordinary music halls, it is a |
| Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and | | | | Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome |
| the harbour.Barri Gotic - also known as | | | | ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant |
| Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the | | | | Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of |
| city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic | | | | Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the |
| from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and | | | | Palau is the flagship of Barcelona's |
| lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter | | | | Moderniste architecture.Museu Picasso - is |
| is situated on the right hand side of the La | | | | Barcelona's most visited museum. 3,500 |
| Rambla, it contains a concentration of | | | | exhibits make up the permanent collection. |
| medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th | | | | Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in |
| century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is | | | | Barcelona, and this collection, is |
| home to much of the city's nightlife.La | | | | particularly strong on his early work. |
| Sagrada Familia - La Sagrada Familia is one | | | | Displays include childhood sketches, pictures |
| of the most famous and magnificent among | | | | from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and |
| Barcelona's landmarks. The life's work of | | | | the famous 1950s Cubist variations on |
| Barcelona's famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, | | | | Velazquez's Las Meninas |
| the magnificent spires of the unfinished | | | | (Ladies-in-Waiting).Gaudi Casa-Museu - Gaudi |
| cathedral imprint themselves boldly against | | | | lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house |
| the sky with swelling outlines inspired by | | | | from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum |
| the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each | | | | of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, |
| facade there are four towers, 12 in total, | | | | drawings, and portraits and busts of the |
| which are dedicated to the Apostles. The | | | | architect. |
| tower in the center, the tallest of all at | | | | |
| 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around | | | | Fundacio Miro - it was a gift from the |
| these there are the towers of the four | | | | famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. |
| Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is | | | | The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one |
| dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted | | | | of Barcelona's most exciting showcases of |
| with a tangle of sculptures that seem to | | | | contemporary art.BEACHES - One of Barcelona's |
| breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in | | | | greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful |
| 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and | | | | beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and |
| since then, controversy has continually | | | | Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time |
| dogged the building program. Nevertheless, | | | | from Barcelona, there are also several nice |
| the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost | | | | beaches over 4 km long within the city |
| done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is | | | | boundaries, we will list just several of them |
| progressing.La Pedrera - Casa Mila (Mila | | | | here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic |
| House) is an apartment building, the last | | | | marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of |
| example of Gaudi's civil architecture.It is | | | | rough golden sand is great for food goers. |
| one of his finest and most ambitious | | | | There are three perfect beach bars and two |
| creations, extraordinarily innovative in its | | | | very popular restaurants on the promenade |
| functional, constructive, and ornamental | | | | (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and |
| aspects. Visitors can tour the building and | | | | countless bars and restaurants are just a |
| go up to the roof, where they can see | | | | short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is |
| spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor | | | | twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and |
| below the roof is a modest museum dedicated | | | | fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect |
| to Gaudi's work. | | | | for jogging, roller blading and cycling. |
| | | | Three large informal restaurants on the |
| Montjuic - the largest open space in the | | | | promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila |
| city, its main attractions are the Olympic | | | | Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona's |
| installations, the Spanish Village and the | | | | only naturist beach close to a peaceful park |
| hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill | | | | - good for a picnic or siesta under the |
| overlooking the city centre from the | | | | trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a |
| southwest, is home to some fine art | | | | traditional and popular stretch with locals, |
| galleries, leisure attractions, soothing | | | | crowded, noisy and very jolly. |