With warm, crystal-clear waters lapping its sandy shores and mountains nuzzling up to its northern edge, this glittering jewel in the Mediterranean is blessed with desirable geographical genes. From the buoyant, revamped port area to the atmospheric medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic and the beautiful Modernista buildings of the Eixample, Barcelona has it all. A host of treasure-filled museums, architectural wonders, lively beaches and enchanting squares provide the icing on the cake.
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The enduring symbol of the city and its Modernista legacy is this church, Gaudí’s other-worldly pièce de résistance. Piercing the Barcelona skyline are eight of the twelve planned spires that have so far been built. See Sagrada Família.
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Barcelona’s centrepiece, this 1-km (0.6-mile) long, thriving pedestrian thoroughfare cuts a wide swathe through the old town, from Plaça de Catalunya to the glistening Mediterranean. See La Rambla.
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Dominating the heart of the old town is this magnificent Gothic Cathedral, with a soaring, elaborate façade and a graceful, sun-dappled cloister containing palm trees and white geese. See Barcelona Cathedral.
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A verdant oasis in the city centre, Barcelona’s largest park is criss-crossed with pleasant paths. It boasts a zoo, two museums, and a lavish Modernista fountain. See Parc de la Ciutadella.
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The stately Palau Nacional is home to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), which holds one of the most extensive collections of Romanesque art in the world. The works were rescued from churches around Catalonia in the 1920s. See Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.
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Unmistakably Gaudí, this Modernista marvel seems to grow from the very pavement itself. Fluid and eerily alive, its curving façade sprouts writhing wrought-iron balconies. A cluster of mosaic chimneys keeps watch over the rooftop like shrewd-eyed knights (La Pedrera).
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An incomparable blend of art and architecture, this spacious museum, awash with natural light, showcases the work of Joan Miró, one of Catalonia’s greatest 20th-century artists. Paintings, sculptures, drawings and textiles represent 60 prolific years. See Fundació Joan Miró.
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Housed in a medieval palace complex, this museum charts Picasso’s rise to fame with an extensive collection of his early works, including numerous masterful portraits painted at the age of 13. See Museu Picasso.
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No mere concert hall, the aptly named Palace of Catalan Music is one of the finest, and most exemplary, Modernista buildings in Barcelona. See Palau de la Música Catalana.
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The city’s gleaming contemporary art museum and it’s cutting-edge cultural centre have sparked an urban revival in the El Raval area. See Museu d’Art Contemporani & Centre de Cultura Contemporània.
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1908-2008: 100 years of the Palau de la Música CatalanaThe CaixaForum Barcelona hosts 1908-2008: 100 years of the Palau de la Música Catalana to celebrate the famous concert hall's centennial. The exhibition - which looks at the Palau's past, present... Read more
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Red aside: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg CollectionContemporary Chinese Art from the Sigg Collection (Art Contemporani xinès de la Collecció Sigg), at the Joan Miró Foundation, explores modern Chinese art trends. Around 50 pieces from... Read more
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Primavera Sound FestivalBarcelona's Parc del Fòrum hosts the excellent Primavera Sound festival, featuring a massive line-up of top-class live acts and DJs. Highlights in 2008 include Portishead, Devo and Explosions in the... Read more
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Barcelona Guitar FestivalBarcelona's annual guitar festival features a programme of concerts by master musicians at venues throughout the city from April until June. Read more
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