DK Travel : Barcelona

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.

Palau de la Música Catalana

The city’s most prestigious concert hall is a monument to both la musica Catalana and to Modernisme . See Palau de la Música Catalana.
Palau de la Música Catalana

Domenèch i Montaner’s epic Modernista gem regularly serves up the best in jazz and classical music. It has lost some of its prestige to the Auditori, but it still hosts the annual guitar festival and attracts many visiting world music artists. (Palau de la Música Catalana).
Palau de la Música Catalana

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.
Palau de la Música Catalana

Domènech i Montaner’s magnificent concert hall is a joyous celebration of Catalan music. Ablaze with mosaic friezes, stained glass, ceramics and sculptures, it displays the full glory of the Modernista style. The work of Miquel Blay on the façade is rated as one of the best examples of Modernista sculpture in Barcelona. (Palau de la Música Catalana).
Palau Güell

For an artist, a wealthy patron spells survival. The luck of young Gaudí turned when count Eusebi Güell recognized his talents. In 1886, Güell commissioned Gaudí to build a mansion that would set the count apart from his wealthy neighbours. The result is the Palau Güell, one of Gaudí’s earliest works. An imposing façade gives way to an elaborate interior of lavish pillars and carved wooden ceilings, while the rooftop has a melange of mosaic chimneys.
Palau Güell

This palace is a fine example of Gaudí’s experiments with structure, especially the use of parabolic arches to orchestrate space. Also remarkable is the use of unusual building materials, such as ebony and rare South American woods. See Palau Güell).
Palau Macaya

Designed by Puig i Cadafalch (1901), this palace is a fine example of the Neo-Gothic style in Modernista architecture. A magical, white façade is broken up by engravings and two towers. Of note are the decorative sculptures by Modernista sculptor Eusebi Arnau. The palace belongs to the Centre Cultural de la Caixa and, unfortunately, is closed at the moment; it is, however, worth a visit to see the outside alone.
Palau Nacional & Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya

The Palau Nacional is home to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya which exhibits Catalonia’s historic art collections. Boasting one of Europe’s finest displays of Romanesque art, the museum includes a series of breathtaking, 12th-century frescoes, rescued from Catalan Pyrenean churches and painstakingly reassembled in a series of galleries here. See Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya .
Palau Reial de Pedralbes

This majestic palace, once the main Residence of Count Eusebi Güell, was donated by the count to the Spanish royal family in 1919. Open to the public since 1937, the palace now houses the Museu de Ceràmica and the Museu de les Arts Decoratives. The former has a fine collection of Catalan and Moorish ceramics, including works by Miró and Picasso; the latter has period furniture plus a number of artifacts dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. The magnificent gardens include stands of bamboo, a fountain designed by Gaudí and some particularly pleasant strolls.

Museu de les Arts Decoratives, Palau Reial
Palau Sant Jordi

The star of all the Olympic installations is this spaceship-like, steel and glass indoor stadium (Palau Sant Jordi) designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. Holding around 17,000 people, the stadium is the home of the city’s basketball team (Top 10 Spectator Sports & Events). The esplanade – a surreal forest of concrete and metal pillars – was designed by Aiko Isozaki, Arata’s wife. Further down the hill are the indoor and outdoor Bernat Picornell Olympic pools (Activities in Barcelona); both open to the public.