Barcelona
Barcelona, the historical, administrative and economic capital of Catalonia and the province of the same name, is a city with many attractions. In Spain's second largest city by population, with an exceptional architectural heritage, visitors will always find something to do or see.
From Antiquity to the present day
Legend attributes the founding of the city, then called Barcino, to Hamilcar Barca the father of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal.
The street layout as well as remnants of the ancient city walls are still visible today and part of the Roman city is now on display at the City History Museum.
During the 20th century, Barcelona served as the setting for some international events such as the Summer Olympics of 1992.
Today, this city with a strong cosmopolitan component is very attractive for international tourism.
Sites not to be missed
The Rambla, a lively avenue with a concentration of flower stalls and street performers, is one of the city's emblematic places.
The historic center of Barcelona with its bohemian atmosphere, where you can admire the Saint Eulalia Cathedral of Barcelona, is naturally worth a visit, especially since it is one of the best-preserved medieval districts in the world.
Equally unmissable, the Eixample neighborhood is home to masterpieces by the famous Architect Antoni Gaudí and Modernist architects such as the Sagrada Família (still under construction more than 100 years after the start of the construction) or La Pedrera.
La Casa Batllo, Gaudi's mythical work, features, among other things, an exceptional modernist façade, representing the waves of the sea after the lull. It is located in Passeig de Gràcia, as are the Casa Ametller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and the Casa Lleó Morera by Lluís Domènech i Montaner.
The parks
The Parc de Collserola is a peri-urban park of more than 8,000 ha created in 1987 to protect natural areas from peri-urbanization. It dominates the back of the city and is home to many species. There is a telecommunication tower, the 'Torre Colserola' built for the Olympic Games, which at 288 meters is the highest building in Spain.
The parc de la Ciutadella served as the setting for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. Here you can still admire the Arch of Triumph through which one entered the Exposition grounds and the current Museum of Zoology.
The Parc Güell, located on the heights of Barcelona, was commissioned by Count Güell to Gaudí and blends nature and architecture.
The Palacio Güell, the Casa Milà (nicknamed la Perdrera) and the Parc Güell belong to the World Heritage by UNESCO.
The museums
The city of Barcelona has several outstanding museums, including the one dedicated to Joan Miró features a collection unique in the world donated by the painter himself.
The National Art Museum of Catalonia is unquestionably one of the finest and largest in the world. Housed in the National Palace at the foot of Montjuïc, it presents an important collection of medieval art from the Roman and Gothic periods.
Transportation
Barcelona has a network of Metro and a tourist bus. The Barcelona Bus Turístic offers tourists who do not want to miss anything to discover, very comfortably, the most interesting sites of the city.
However, the best way to get around is still... walking, which allows you to discover the impressive architecture of the city, as you walk around.
To inquire on the spot
Barcelona has 5 major tourist offices, whose addresses are listed below:
- the main information center of the city is located at 17 Plaça Catalunya
- the City Hall Tourist Office is located at 2 Plaça Sant Jaume
- the Tourist Office of the Columbus Column is located in Pl. Portal de la Pau (next to the monument dedicated to Columbus)
- the Oficina d'informació cultural, Las Ramblas , 99, will only inform you about the cultural activities of the city
- the Airport Tourist Office, Terminals A and B, can advise you on public transportation from the airport to the city center or to other cities near Barcelona.
