Capital of Catalonia and beating heart of SpainBarcelona is synonymous with art, entertainment and culture. From museums to unique squares in the world, from streets full of life to the unmistakable works of Gaudi and Picasso, thanks to the mild climate, is the perfect city for a vacation or a long weekend all year round, especially from autumn to spring.
Su lively and long tradition makes it a place full of surprises and places to see, framed by a horizon full of lights and colors from the early hours of dawn until late at night.
There are many things to do in Barcelona - the city is fast-paced and rich in history, and choosing what to see may not be easy. If you don't know what places to visit In Barcelona here you have an itinerary with the must-see places.
The historic center of Barcelona: the Old Town
The soul of Barcelona finds its most complete expression in the streets of the historic center, or Ciutat Vella, "old city", where wide squares, lively neighborhoods and historic streets known throughout the world alternate. The old city extends between the neighborhoods of the Gothic Quarter, the Rambla, the riverbank and the Raval.
Il Gothic Quarter takes its name from the concentration of Gothic monuments, including the splendid Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi and the majestic Cathedral of the Seu. The Gothic Quarter is located between La Rambla and Via Laietana, and is the oldest part of the city with buildings dating back to medieval and Roman times. It is easily accessible by metro L4 or L1, just a few minutes walk.
The neighborhood of Avenue It consists of a large, busy street that connects Termfrom Catalonia with Port Vell, the old port of Barcelona. Walking along this large and important artery of the city about a mile long you will find several attractions, including human statues, dancers and musicians, street portrait artists, flower stalls and animal peddlers. La Rambla is a must-see for all visitors and is always packed with tourists from all over the world.
Walking through the Ribera neighborhood, or the born, you will be able to experience first-hand the most non-conformist and bohemian part of the city, where you will find many attractions, art, music and much more. Between the 13th and 15th centuries it represented the economic center of the city. He Palau de la MĂşsica,'Arc of Triumph, Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar y Picasso Museum They are some of the main attractions of this extraordinary neighborhood.
The Raval Finally, it is a less elegant neighborhood than the others, but with its own charm due to the authenticity of the area. It is located to the right of the Rambla and in recent years it has been the subject of redevelopment of the territory considered to be in decline. It is a neighborhood where you will find very popular areas decorated with frescoes and many trendy nightclubs, but it is preferable not to go out at night. This is where the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona and the famous Boqueria Market, a food market with Spanish aromas and flavors.
In the footsteps of GaudĂ
Anton Gaudì is the architect who most represents the city, appreciated throughout the world for his creativity and the particularity of his creations. Barcelona was strongly influenced by his works, which outlined his forms to the point of representing a distinctive feature of the city among European cities.
La Sagrada Familia It is one of GaudĂ's most impressive and evocative architectural works, as well as a symbol of the city throughout the world. GaudĂ took charge of the construction of the church in 1883, giving it an Art Nouveau style with a Catalan modernist air. He worked on this project for over 15 years, designing a splendid vertical temple complete with towers. To date this work still remains unfinished. To visit the spectacular internal environment, it is advisable to hire a private tour with an audio guide, which will provide you with all the historical and architectural information related to this magnificent work.
Casa BattlĂł and Casa MilĂ They are two masterpieces created by the genius of GaudĂ and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for their unmatched originality. These buildings are unique in the world for their design of internal and external spaces, and visiting both is undoubtedly one of the things to do in Barcelona.
Casa Battlò is located at number 43 Passeig de GrĂ cia and initially appeared as an old, long and narrow building, acquired by the bourgeois textile entrepreneur Josep Battlò in the modernist and elitist neighborhood of Eixample, Battlò was not satisfied with the purchase and entrusted it to GaudĂ, who renovated it in 1907, completely changing the façade and adding two more floors. The building acquired its unmistakable exuberant and unconventional touch in every corner of the building, becoming a true work of art. Seeing is believing!
Casa MilĂ , also known as the stone (“the quarry”), is considered one of GaudĂ's masterpieces along with the Sagrada Familia. Its toothed façade is one of iconic symbols of Barcelona, Built with limestone rock blocks that resemble a cave. The building was built in 1906 by order of Pere MilĂ , after whom it takes its name, and was highly criticized for its extravagant shapes and distance from those of a traditional house. The interiors also follow the wavy structure of the façade and are characterized by bright colors and round floors.
If you prefer to visit them together you can visit both houses with a single private guided walking tour.
GaudĂ's unmistakable shapes are also visible in the Park GĂĽell, a wonderful garden complex situated on a hill, with the architect's colorful statues poking out among flowers and plants. The park fully represents the author's artistic ideas that merged well with the forms present in nature, according to the characteristics of theArt Nouveau. From the top of the hill it is possible to enjoy a splendid view of the city in all its beauty. The park can only be visited with a guided tour, which can be purchased online, for an unforgettable experience among the colorful shapes of the sculptures.
The museums of Barcelona
As you have seen so far in Barcelona what to do is not a problem, but due to the numerous attractions it is always better to reserve time to visit the main museums.
The most famous museum in the city is that of the painter Pablo Picasso, an exhibition space located in five medieval buildings in the El Born neighborhood. He Picasso Museum It contains more than four thousand works dating from the late 19th century, when the artist moved to the city in his youth. The rooms are organized according to the periods of the painter's life, and if you want to go deeper into the visit you can book various tours, accompanying the stop at the museum with a walking tour of the city.
In the Palau Nacional of Barcelona there is the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, or MNAC, which houses an incredible collection of Romanesque art with some works from the Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Modern eras. The spectacular journey to reach the museum on MontjuĂŻc hill is worth as much as the view of the works themselves!
The Barcelona Aquarium
Among the places to visit in Barcelona you cannot miss the Aquarium, the largest space in the world dedicated to underwater life: a succession of 35 tanks with eleven thousand fish of 450 different species.
The aquarium is located in the old port, an area of ​​the port used for entertainment, and is divided into aquatic areas that reproduce different marine environments including tropical and Mediterranean. The largest tank is the Oceanarium, a long 80-meter tunnel where you can observe marine fauna in 360 degrees. The aquarium is also home to more than ten sharks, with which the bravest have the opportunity to dive and swim with for 10 minutes.
An encounter with Spanish tradition: fI regret and tdad
To end your tour of Barcelona on a high note, I recommend you completely immerse yourself in the Spanish tradition, rich in sounds, flavors and colors that its inhabitants have always expressed in their artistic and culinary tradition.
Walking through the streets of the city you can easily find yourself flamenco dancers, the quintessential Spanish art that combines singing, music and dancing, but to fully enjoy this experience I recommend entering one of the different nightclubs in Barcelona, ​​​​in the spanish nightlife.
A glass of Bleeding and a taste of the famous Tapas, small snacks from Spanish cuisine, and you can say that you have participated in one of the traditional rituals: going for tapas, or tapas! If you want to organize a flamenco and Spanish cuisine themed evening in one of the best venues in Barcelona, ​​you can also easily purchase them online and enjoy an authentic, high-level show.
These are just some of the many things to do in Barcelona, ​​a city soaked in art, architecture and history wherelively atmosphere and happy.
If you have the opportunity to stay several days you can continue the visit according to your preferences: discovering the city by bicycle or from the heights by helicopter, or by cable car, or choosing the one you prefer among the activities to do in Barcelona. City tours are also worth visiting: the Costa Brava and Montserrat are just a stone's throw from the city. Have a good trip!
