Chris' Barcelona Birthday
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This cathedral is remarkable for possessing the widest Gothic nave anywhere in Europe and the second widest of any type after the Basilica in the Vatican.
It is one of the masterpieces by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí, inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage list.
A key work of Modernisme (Catalan Art Nouveau), where you can visit different rooms, mainly those in the first floor, and also the courtyard, the stairs and the magnificent attic and rooftop. It is an artistic expression of life, where Gaudí managed to create a light and clear atmosphere, as if you were swimming into deep blue waters, under the daylight sun, using an impressive combination of glass, wood, stone, ceramics and iron.
The colourful Casa Batlló is the result of a total refurbishment of an old and conventional house built in 1877. Gaudí was commissioned by the owner, the textile industrialist Josep Batlló i Casanovas, to totally renew the old building. On that base, he projected this astonishing house, one of the most fancy and "special" of Barcelona. His work was done between 1904 and 1906.
Along with two Modernist works, the Casa Amatller by Puig i Cadafalch (1900) and the Casa Lleó Morera by Domènech i Montaner (1905), the Casa Batlló makes up the "Manzana de la Discordia" (Block of Discord).
A celebration of chocolate, with interactive exhibits, edible city models and tastings.
Illustrating Gaudí’s nationalist sentiments, Casa Batlló, on La Mansana de la Discòrdia (Modernista Buildings), represents an allegory of the legend of Sant Jordi see Charming Churches & Chapels. The roof is the dragon’s back and the balconies, sculpted in the form of carnival masks, are the skulls of the dragon’s victims. The polychrome façade reveals Gaudí’s remarkable use of colour and texture.
Fancy a splash in the Mediterranean? Trot down to the end of La Rambla, wander along the palm tree-lined Moll de la Fusta, down restaurant-packed Passeig Joan de Borbó, et voilà , the sea beckons. Over four km (2.5 miles) of blue flag beaches stretch north from Barceloneta to Port Olímpic and beyond. Facilities are top-notch, including showers, deck chairs, beach volleyball courts and lifeguards. Convenience, however, means crowds, so finding a spot among the masses of oiled bodies can be a challenge, particularly in the summer.
For over 75 years, this friendly, family restaurant has been delighting patrons with excellent Catalan cuisine at decent prices.
No prizes for the chicken-andchips style cuisine, but wins hands down for its unbeatable city views.
This 11th century building was originally a watch tower on the hill overlooking the city, later converted into a farmhouse and more recently a gem of a restaurant serving traditional Catalan fayre.
Wonderful food at very reasonable prices, after your meal have a glass of dessert wine, some from the 1920s. Liquid nectar!
The name means "the snails", but every time I have been there it has been the spit roasted chicken that has taken my fancy.
Located on a side street off the bottom of the Ramblas it is not that hard to find. Follow your nose to the before mentioned chickens. Service is brisk and they coped with a big group no problems.
A bit off the beaten track, but worth hunting out, this authentic Spanish eatery offers an excellent selection of tapas.
The Modernista doors swing open to a young, friendly crowd at Barcelona’s oldest watering hole. Founded in 1860, the bar has many original fittings, plus eclectic music and strong cocktails.
An old-fashioned, dark-wood ascensor (elevator) serves as the entrance to this dimly-lit, convivial bar frequented by a cocktail-swilling crowd.
This smooth little cocktail bar, founded in 1933, continues to mix the meanest martinis in town for an elbow-to-elbow crowd.
Right by the beach, with a terrace on which to relax, this is a restaurant that becomes a club after dinner. Guest DJs feature every week.
Kick back with a cocktail at this sprawling lounge bar speckled with low, comfortable couches.
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Barcelona International Jazz FestivalAs the sizzling summer heat dies down, Barcelona chills out with the Barcelona International Jazz Festival. Big band, bebop, gospel and Latin-jazz concerts take place at venues across the city,... Read more
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World Press PhotoThe Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona takes its turn at hosting the World Press Photo exhibition. Regarded as the most important display of photojournalism in the world, the award-winning... Read more
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Procession of the Three KingsThe Cabalgata los Reyes Magos, or Procession of the Three Kings, is a popular Hispanic Christmas tradition. In Barcelona, crowds gather at the harbour steps of the Moll de Fusta to witness... Read more
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Murder at the MuseumIf you're good at guessing the endings of crime novels, test your detective skills at Murder at the Museum. Barcelona's Museu de Ciències Naturals hosts the event, best described as a cross between... Read more
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