Title: Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Barcelona
1Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Barcelona
2Barcelona, Spains second city is one of Europes
most visited cities. Host to the 1992 Olympics,
it is cosmopolitan, quirky and effortlessly cool,
a charming mix of culture and modernity. The
Catalan capital could easily be labeled the
Continents most livable and lovable city!
3Begin your exploration of the city with a stroll
down the collection of pedestrian streets
famously known as Las Ramblas. A good place to
start would be at the Plaza Catalunya and walk
all the way up to the monument of Columbus at the
harbour. You will also happen to cross the La
Boqueria market, so famous for its fresh produce
that it sees a host of Barcelonas chefs every
morning at the crack of dawn.
4La Sagrada Familia Construction of this Roman
Catholic basilica commenced in 1882 and is still
a work in progress. The final stone of Gaudis
unfinished work is scheduled to be laid in 2026,
the 100th anniversary of Gaudis death. Though
incomplete, the Sagrada Familia is a magnificent
work of art.
5The Passeig de Gracia is a catwalk to designer
labels. You can also find local boutiques
stocking off beat fashion, vintage clothes and
old records. The outstanding landmark of this
area is the Block of Discord. Built in the
early years of the 20th century, these four works
by Barcelonas famous modernista architects
clearly clash with the each other in terms of
style.
6Casa Mila also known as La Pedrera is a corner
building made by Gaudi. This building is unique
for the fact that it has no straight lines.
Built in 1912, it was designed as an apartment
building but now houses a large collection of
Gaudis work.
7Parc Guell Originally designed to be a
housing estate, this is now a public park . The
gardens bear the distinct stamp of Antoni Gaudis
style with irregular shaped stone structures,
vivid colored tiling and the Gaudi dragon right
at the park entrance. Gaudi made his home in
the park and lived there for 20 years after which
it was converted into a museum and declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8Gothic Quarter Ask your Barcelona guide to show
you around the Gothic Quarter. The cobbled
streets of the quarter give an informative and
enjoyable glimpse of history. Visit the Basilica
de Santa Maria del Mar, a 14th century example of
Catalan architecture. Also dont miss the
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. While in this
section, make it a point to see Picassos early
work housed in Picasso Museum.
9The Spanish Village This unique must-see was
designed at the time of the 1929 World Fair as an
example of Spanish architecture. It has been
fully preserved ever since, and is now home to
cafes, restaurants, shops, concerts and events.
10The Flamenco experience Though Barcelona is not
the natural home to the Flamenco, artists from
Catalonia and Andalusia have flocked here to
stage some of the most spectacular shows. You can
visit a famed tablao or the gypsy caves for
rapturous evening of foot thumping music.
11National Museum of Art of Catalonia This
museum, also built for the World Fair, is on the
same hill as the Spanish Village and the Magic
Fountain. Interestingly, it was a highlight
during the 1992 Summer Olympics as well. This
museum is sizeable and on a national level,
containing collections from the Romanesque,
Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque eras and the 19th
and 20th centuries.
12You dont have to be a football fan to go visit
this stadium. It is a pilgrimage that just has
to be taken. The third largest in the world and
Europes largest the Barcelona Football Stadium
has a capacity of a hundred and ten thousand
people. It is also a museum of sorts with a huge
collection of displays, photos, jerseys, balls
and boots. A football fan could easily spend a
lifetime in this haven of football! Owing to its
capacity, the stadium is also used for concerts
and major events.
13Once youre done sight seeing, its time to find
out why Barcelona is on the gastro map.
Restaurants with inspired menus and interiors
cluster in elegant neighborhoods. And when you
are done with the sightseeing by day, the real
party in Barcelona begins at midnight! So dress
up and put on your dancing shoes, because theres
enough and more for the traveler who wants it all!