DK Travel : Barcelona : History & Culture

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Idlefons Cerdà

19th-century urban planner who designed the Eixample.
Jaume I the Conqueror

This 13th-century warrior-king (d. 1276) conquered the Balearics and Valencia, laying the foundations for the empire.
Jordi Pujol

A centre-right regionalist politician, Pujol’s Convergència i Unió coalition ruled Catalonia from 1980 to 2003.
La Paloma

Another reformed dance hall, La Paloma competes with Club Apolo for the latest rising stars in pop and dance music. It still has traditional tea dances with live orchestras, but this is strictly ballroom: two step, waltz, salsa, rumba and lots of cha cha cha.
La Pedrera

A daring, surreal fantasyland, and Gaudí’s most remarkable civic work (La Pedrera).
La Rambla del Raval

This palm tree-lined, pedestrian walkway is the latest attempt by city planners to spark a similar social environment to that of the city’s famed La Rambla (La Rambla). So far it is off to a creaking start, with barely a fraction of the crowds that ply the original Rambla. Its advocates, however, are quick to point out that La Rambla del Raval is far better than the two dark, run-down streets that formerly existed here. Ambitious building plans, which include new shops, bars and cafés, mean it could well rival its cousin in years to come.
Lluís Companys

Catalan president during the Civil War. Exiled in France, he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1940 and returned to Franco, who had him executed.
Mansana de la Discòrdia

At the heart of the city’s Quadrat d’Or (Golden Square) lies this stunning block of houses. Literally “the block of discord”, the Mansana de la Discòrdia is so-called because of the dramatic contrast of its three flagship buildings. Built between 1900 and 1907 by the three Modernista greats, rival architects Gaudí, Domènech i Montaner and Puig i Cadafalch, the buildings were commissioned by competing bourgeois families. Domènech is represented by the ornate Casa Lleó Morera (Modernista Buildings); Puig makes his mark with the Gothic-inspired Casa Amatller (Modernista Buildings); and Gaudí flaunts his architectural prowess with Casa Battló (Modernista Buildings). All boast superb interiors – sadly closed to the public – with the exception of Casa Battló. The lesser-known houses at Nos. 37 and 39 add to the overall splendour of the block. The Perfume Museum at No. 39 is heaven for scent-lovers (Top 10 quirky Museums/Monuments).

Casa Lléo Morera, Mansana de la Discòrdia
Méliès Cinemes

Two-screened repertory cinema.
Mercat de les Flors

This is the venue of choice for performance theatre groups, such as La Fura dels Baus and Comediants, whose incredible mixture of circus and drama is easily accessible to non-Catalan speakers.