Discover the sights and sounds of beautiful Barcelona
La Rambla
La Rambla is an iconic and busy street in central Barcelona, popular with both tourists and locals alike. A 1.2 kilometer-long tree-lined pedestrian mall in the Barri Gòtic, it connects Plaça Catalunya in the center with the Christopher Columbus monument at Port Vell. Usually full of street theatre, cafés and market stalls, it serves as the emotional hub of Barcelona.
La Rambla can be considered a series of shorter streets, each differently named, hence the plural forms Las Ramblas (Spanish and les Rambles (Catalan).
When walking down La Rambla one can visit its many small shops or enjoy watching the various performances (actors, mimes etc.). Cafes and restaurants on La Rambla often charge steep prices.
Cathedral
The Gothic Cathedral is located in the heart of the old town.It was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries and is a focal point of interest in the Gothic quarter.
The cathedral is dedicateded to Eulalila of Barcelona, saint of Barcelona, a young virgin who suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city.
Around the Cathedral you can find many fine examples of Gothic architecture and Roman walls.In front of the Cathedral is a small square where street performers take place. The area around the Cathedral has a charm with cafes and interesting shops.
Tibidabo
Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline.
There is an amusement park, a telecommunications tower (Torre de Collserola), and a Catholic church, the Temple de Sagrat Cor, at the top, all of which are visible from most of the city. Designed by Enric Sagnier, the church took 60 years to construct and is topped by a sculpture of the Sacred Heart by Josep Miret Llopart. The Amusement park is the oldest in Barcelona and retains most of the original rides, some of which date to the turn of the 20th century. Tibidabo (512m) is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It’s great for the fresh air and on a good day you can see inland as far as Montserrat. Tibidabo gets its name from the devil, who, trying to tempt Christ, took him to a high place and said, in Latin: « Haec omnia tibi dabo si cadens adoraberis me » (« All this I will give you if you fall down and worship me »).
Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Família, is a massive Roman Catholic Church. Its construction began in 1882 and continues to this day.
Originally designed by Antoni Gaudí (1852 – 1926), who worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, “My client is not in a hurry.” After Gaudí’s death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
La Sagrada Familia inspires awe by its sheer vertically and, in the true manner of the great medieval cathedrals it emulates, it’s still under construction after more than 100 years. It is the most visited monument in Spain.
Park Güell
Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of el Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.
The buildings flanking the entrance, though very original and remarkable with fantastically shaped roofs with unusual pinnacles, fit in well with the use of the park as pleasure gardens and seem relatively inconspicuous in the landscape when one considers the flamboyance of other buildings designed by Gaudí.
It’s a strange, enchanting place where his passion for natural forms really took flight to the point where the artificial almost seems more natural than the natural.
Montjuic
Montjuїc, or the “ Hill of the Jews”, is thought to have derived its name from the old Catalan word “juїc” meaning Jewish. This refers to a Medieval Jewish cemetery that was once located here, and possibly also a Jewish settlement. Montjuїc is a favourite weekend destination for Barcelona residents as well as for many tourists.
The Olympic stadium, located towards the top of Montjuїc, is home to the Espanyol football team. Another important sports area is the Piscina Bernat Picornell Olympic swimming pool. Both the indoor and outdoor pools are huge and are open to the public.
Montjuїc’s museums include the Catalunya National Art Museum, the Caixa Forum, Archaeology Museum and Miró Foundation, and its parks and gardens are no less impressive.
Montjuïc, overlooking the city centre from the southwest, may only be a hill in dimension, but it’s a mountain of activity..