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