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