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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European Balloon FestivalEvery year in the Catalonian town of Igualada, 40 hot air balloons from around the world take to the sky during the biggest balloon festival in Spain, and one of the largest in Europe. Read more
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International Dance Festival in Urban LandscapesThe International Dance Festival in Urban Landscapes takes place across three Catalonian cities: Marató, Sabadell and Barcelona. For four days, every inch of urban space - public buildings, parks,... Read more
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SummercaseThe Summercase festival visits the Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona and Boadilla del Monte in Madrid on successive days, featuring an all-star line-up of more than 50 acts. Read more
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Bruce Springsteen & The E Street BandBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band continue to tour their first new studio album together for five years - Magic. These dates are at the Nou Camp in Barcelona. Read more
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