Explore Barcelona
Saturday, July 31st, 2010The beautiful city of Barcelona, principal of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is located at on these shore of these Mediterranean sea as well as bordered at either end by 2 stream deltas. Barcelona is located at these second biggest town in Spain after its capital place Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including districts. these varied, eventful past of these place dates back 4,000 years to these original settlements by ancient farmers. Afterward it grew to become a Roman colony, these Visigoth’s capital place, afterward it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions as well as occupations, finally to become an independent democracy 1975. these place has always played an important role in political as well as cultural life of Spain as well as it is located at well reflected in these variety as well as quality of famous structures, museums, loads of additional traveller monuments. Now Barcelona is located at one of these most various European towns with special society as well as rich traditions. You be able to find here a formidable balance of these traditional things as well as these avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm as well as sincere welcome, being aknowledged worldwide as one of these best traveller-friendly towns in Europe.Barcelona’s organisation of these 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic place, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. Come with Oh-Barcelona to Barcelona.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE:
POINTS OF INTEREST – La Rambla is located at a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buskers, living statues, mimes as well as itinerant salespeople advertising everything from gamble tickets to jewelry. Pavement cafes as well as stands advertising craftwork, avenue artists surrounded by curious onlookers, a loud bird marketplace, Palau de la Virreina, a main eighteenth-century rococo mansion, these Gran Teatre del Liceu, these notorious 19th-century opera house- these are all colourful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at these lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) as well as these harbour.
Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is located at these old part of these place. Picasso lived as well as worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 as well as Joan Miro was born as well as lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is located at situated on these right hand side of these La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic structures (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets as well as now is located at home to much of these place’s nightlife.
La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is located at one of these most notorious as well as magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. these life’s work of Barcelona’s notorious architect, Antoni Gaudi, these magnificent spires of these unfinished church imprint themselves boldly against these sky with swelling outlines inspired by these holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are a few towers, twelve in total, which are keen to these Apostles. these tower in these center, these tallest of all at 170 m., is located at keen to Jesus Christ. Around these there are these towers of these a few Evangelists, as well as these tower over these apse is located at keen to these Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into these stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, as well as since afterward, controversy has continually dogged these building program. Nevertheless, these southwestern (Passion) facade, is located at almost done, as well as these nave, begun in 1978, is located at progressing.
La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is located at an apartment building, these last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is located at one of his finest as well as most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, as well as ornamental aspects. Visitors be able to tour these building as well as go up to these roof, where they be able to see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below these roof is located at a modest museum keen to Gaudi’s work.
Montjuic – these largest open space in these place, its main monuments are these Olympic installations, these Spanish Village as well as these hilltop fortress. Montjuic, these hill overlooking these place centre from these southwest, is located at home to some fine art galleries, leisure monuments, soothing parks as well as these main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is located at covered in ornamental gardens with water features as well as is located at these most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays.
Tibidabo – is located at these highest hill in these wooded range that forms these backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of these whole of Barcelona, a stunning church, as well as a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at these park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower.
Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around these place by notorious Antoni Gaudi as well as his contemporaries.
Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators.
these Seu church – Built in medieval times on these site of a Roman temple, La Seu is located at one of these great Gothic structures in Spain.
Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favourite park as well as a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends as well as ducks
these Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside these church as well as at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.
MUSEUMS – these Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -these only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is located at one of these finest of its kind as well as gives visitors an insight into these rich world of these earliest cultures on these American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood as well as stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions as well as prestige publications. these exhibits represented these Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica as well as Inca civilisations.
Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of these world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is located at a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on these Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, as well as Wagner, these Palau is located at these flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture.
Museu Picasso – is located at Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up these permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, as well as this collection, is located at particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from these beautiful Rose as well as Blue periods, as well as these notorious 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting).
Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, as well as portraits as well as busts of these architect.
Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from these notorious artist Joan Miro to his native place. these museum opened in 1975, as well as now it is located at one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art. There are Oh-Barcelona Apartments in all this nice areas in Barcelona. Check it out!
BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is located at undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-notorious Costa Brava as well as Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within these place boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to these Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is located at great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars as well as two very popular restaurants on these promenade (Mango as well as Chiringuito de Moncho) as well as countless bars as well as restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is located at twice these length of adjoining Nova Icaria as well as fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading as well as cycling. Three large informal restaurants on these promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under these trees. Barceloneta- wide as well as long, a traditional as well as popular stretch with locals, crowded, loud as well as very jolly.
WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: these best times to visit Barcelona are late spring as well as early autumn, when these weather is located at still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot as well as humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid these “dead” month of August, when loads of shops, bars as well as restaurants close for these month as loads of local inhabitants head out of these place. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +twelve C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European place from almost any major airports in these world. these highest fares are from May to September, these lowest in March-April, October-November as well as December to February (excluding Christmas as well as New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you be able to also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane as well as often work out no cheaper. loads of Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.
ACCOMODATIONS: We be able to offer you a range of choices. You be able to choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125
USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you be able to opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout these year due to these steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular traveller place as well as surrounding resorts.
DINING: Besides restaurants you be able to eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or a few chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). these bar option be able to be a lot more exciting, allowing you to do these rounds as well as sample local specialities. Generally, these average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes as well as dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget be able to do well for themselves by using these excellent markets, bakeries as well as delis as well as filling up on sandwiches as well as snacks. Decent restaurants as well as cafes are easily found all over these place, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in these old town, particularly around La Rambla as well as in these Barri Gotic. Look for these best as well as most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is located at home to some of these oldest as well as most traditional restaurants in these place. Gracia is located at a very popular area among young people during these weekend, it leads these way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.). Oh-Barcelona.com always has these best accomodations in Barcelona.
TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising these metro (subway), buses, trains as well as a network of funiculars as well as cable cars. You be able to find a link to transport maps at these end of our guide. On all these place’s public transport you be able to buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. these T-10 targeta is located at valid for ten separate journeys on these metro, buses as well as trains. These tickets be able to be used by more than one person at a time. these metro is located at these quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-as well as-yellow taxis there is located at a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout these place are generally good, as well as traffic is located at generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of these highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of these lowest fuel prices on these continent.
SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of these most stylish towns in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes as well as accessories to household items. You will find these place to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with these annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until these end of February, as well as throughout July as well as August. these best shopping areas in Barcelona are these old streets off these upper part of these Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in these streets around these church; leather goods; place’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats as well as sausages; a porron (these long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs as well as tapes of Catalan rock as well as pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of these best hunting be able to be found in these shops of any of these place’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced as well as special examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), as well as additional original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art.
We wish you a nice as well as safe journey!