What To See And What To Do?

The Essentials Of The City

Catalan modernism in Barcelona

The greatest exponents of this architectural style are Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Antoni Gaudí. The "Quadrat d'Or" (square of gold) concentrates the most representative works of his legacy.

In the so-called "manzana de la discordia", the modernist facades of the Lleó Morera, Amatller and Batlló houses show us the maximum splendour of the Barcelonian bourgeoisie families.

Although it is in the Eixample district where we find the greatest concentration of modernist buildings, this architectural style is also present in many other places in Barcelona. For example, the Palau de la Música, in Ciutat Vella, and the Hospital of Santa Creu i Sant Pau, in the Guinardó.
 

Barri Gòtic and El Born

 This part of the city constitutes the true historical center of Barcelona. The Gothic Quarter is the historical centre and the oldest nucleus of the city.

The structure of the neighborhood remained intact until the nineteenth century, a period that brought great transformations in the of the neighborhood. It was then that the parish cemeteries were transformed into public squares, the walls were demolished and large buildings were emptied with their consequent change of use.

Among the most important historical monuments and places of interest we can find La Catedral de Santa Creu and Santa Eulalia, Plaça Sant Jaume, including the City Council and El Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Plaça Reial, Museum of History of Barcelona, ​​the Church of San Felip Neri and the remains of the Temple of Augustus.

The district of Born is a sector of the district of Ciutat Vella where you can lose yourself in its narrow streets (the Carrer del Rec, the Carrer de la Princesa and Passeig Picasso) and find true jewels of the architecture of the time, Church of Santa Maria del Mar. The cultural and historical memory centre of the Born is undoubtedly one of the most important points of this part of the city.
 

A match in “El Camp Nou”

Located in Les Corts neighborhood, the Camp Nou is the stadium where F.C Barcelona plays. It has the highest rating (5 stars) awarded by FIFA, to host football matches. This sports complex, inaugurated in 1957, has a capacity of 99,354 spectators and it is the largest of Europe.

This stadium is one of the great attractions of the city and the club museum, which is part of the 'Camp Nou Experience' visit, is the most visited in Barcelona.
 

Traditional Festivities in Barcelona

La Mercè

 It is the most important festivity in Barcelona, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mercè. You can enjoy a lot of events during these holidays: outdoor concerts, theater and dance shows, popular culture demonstrations, sports, activities, etc.

The biggest activities are carried out during the 23rd and the 24th of September, and the culmination of the festivity is done with the traditional firework show, an event that takes place on Avinguda de María Cristina (Plaça Espanya) and where the light, the music and the water of the Magic Fountain are combined to create an unforgettable spectacle.

Sant Joan

The festivity of Sant Joan is held at the beginning of the summer. It is one of the most representative festivities of the Mediterranean city of Barcelona. It is very common to celebrate this festivity among friends, at the beach with a bonfire.
 

Sant Jordi

Sant Jordi memorializes the death of the saint on 23^rd of April. This is Catalonia’s lover’s day, and it is very common (since the 15^th Century) that men give a rose to their lover and women give a book to theirs.

Although it is not a holiday, the streets of the centre of the city are filled with stalls with roses and books. Do not miss this day and do not forget to give a book or a rose to your lover.
 

Weekend Getaway

Girona and Figueres

These two cities of north-eastern Catalonia are a good option for a weekend getaway. In Girona, you will find a well-preserved Jewish quarter in which it is a pleasure to get lost and discover its beautiful architecture, such as the Cathedral of Santa María and the streets of Forca Vall

This city is also famous for its exhibition of flowers that decorates all its streets and facades in the month of May, to welcome the spring season.

Figueres is a small town, famous for its medieval castle, the Sant Ferran Castle, and for the Dalí Museum, one of the most visited museums of Catalonia.

You can easily get to both cities by train from Sants Estació. 
 

Tarragona

It is one of the most important cities in Catalonia. It preserves the importance that the city had during the centuries 1 and 2, when It was one of the capitals of the Roman Empire.

Its historic centre, of Roman origin, represents this historic period of Catalonia.

Tarragona is considered the cradle of the “castells”. Structures made by people, now distinguished as Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
 

El Priorat and El Penedès

If you a wine lover, whether you are an expert not, you must visit these wine cellars in El Priorat and El Penedès, located in the area of Tarragona and Barcelona.

Some of the biggest cava firms, such as Codorniu and Freixenet have their headquarters in these regions.