traveldk.com

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.

Dating from around 1040, this cathedral is one of the most elegant in Catalonia.

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

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.

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).

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.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, this heady brew of architectural wizardry includes trencadís tiling, a serpentine bench, fairy-tale pavilions, Gothic archways, and the columned Sala Hipóstila (originally intended as a market hall). In true Gaudí style, playfulness and symbolism pervade every aspect of the park. The Casa-Museu Gaudí, where Gaudí lived for 20 years, is dedicated to the architect’s life.

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.

Salvador Dalí was born in the town of Figueres in 1904. Paying tribute to the artist is the fantastic circular Teatre-Museu Dalí which is full of his eccentric works. The country’s second-most-visited museum (after the Prado in Madrid), housed in a former theatre, it provides a unique insight into the artist’s extraordinary creations, from La Cesta de Pan (1926) to El Torero Alucinogeno (1970). Twenty minutes’ drive away, near the lovely beach town of Cadaqués, the Dalí connection continues. Here you can visit the Casa-Museu Salvador Dalí, the artist’s summer house for nearly 60 years until his death in 1989.

Barcelona’s most famous food market is conveniently located on La Rambla (La Rambla). Freshness reigns supreme and shoppers are spoiled for choice, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from vine-ripened tomatoes to haunches of beef and moist wedges of Manchego cheese. The city’s seaside status is in full evidence at the fish stalls.

High-end clothing stores dot Passeig de Gràcia and Avinguda Diagonal. For trendier gear, head to Carrer Portaferrissa and Carrer Pelai. Spain’s success story is the wildly popular men’s and women’s contemporary clothing chain Zara, which is all over town (and all over Europe). Another universal favourite is Mango, targeted towards younger women, which also has branches all over the city. If you’re looking to buy local, there are a number of top-end Catalan designers, including Antonio Miró.

One of three branches in Barcelona, Zucca offers a superb range of ultra-stylish fashion accessories. The stock includes plastic flowers for your hair and stick-on navel rings.

From zebra platform shoes to bellybutton rings and pastel baby T-shirts, this street’s other name could well be Carrer “Trendy”. Along this strip you’ll find El Mercadillo (Shops: Gifts, Garments & Goodies) minimall, crammed with hip little shops selling spiked belts, frameless sunglasses, surf wear and the like. Just off this street is Galeries Maldà, Barcelona’s first shopping gallery, with a range of shops and a cinema showing original version classics (Top 10 Versi Original Cinemas).

Barcelona’s grand avenue of lavish Modernista buildings is fittingly home to the city’s premier fashion and design stores. From the international big league (Chanel, Hermès, Swatch) to Spain’s heavy hitters (Loewe, Zara, Mango; (Shopping Tips), it’s all here. And topping the interior design list is the perennially popular Vinçon Design Shops. Side streets reveal more sublime shopping, notably Carrer Consell de Cent, which is dotted with art galleries, and carrers Mallorca, València and Roselló.

A designer gift shop with a steel-tiled floor and a psychedelic colour scheme. Concentrates on selling “made in Barcelona” items, which make for unusual souvenirs.

Check out the ongoing exhibitions hosted by FAD, a century-old arts, crafts and design organization. Also here is Items d’Ho, a quirky shop selling creative furnishings, bags and jewellery.

The owner designs and sells her own leather accessories: wallets, bags and a few gifts. Classy designs are well made and well priced.

This small boutique sells interesting women’s and children’s hand-made, original shoes as well as bags, handknitted scarves and other crafted accessories.

José provides his own original in-house creations for men and women; he also sells crafted accessories, including handbags, by young local designers.