Barcelona Tourism

CATHEDRAL
Plaça de la Catedral. Jaume 1, Liceu. 14,17,19,22,24,40,45,51,59. The centre of the the Gothic Quarter is the 13th century Cathedral begun by Jaume II in 1298. Inside is the crypt of Santa Eulalia as well as an impressive choir structure and the XV century chapel of Santo Cristo de Lepanto which houses the crucifix carried into battle against the Ottomans in the Battle of Lepanto. The facade and octagonal dome are neo-gothic structures of the 19th century, designed according to a 15th century drawing. The cloister is an eclectic jumble of styles and lush vegetation.

4 GATS
Pl. Sant Iu, s/n. Tel. 310 5800. Jaume I. 17,19,22,45. For admirers of Barcelona’s Modernist movement this historic restaurant is an unavoidable visit. Near the Cathedral, in a building designed by Puig i Cadafalch, this became the mecca for the artists and bohemians living in Barcelona in the early 1900’s. The name came about because of the Catalan expression "quatre gats" which means "almost nobody" and was used in relation to the possible success of a bohemian cafe in Barcelona. The first menu was designed by the very young Pablo Picasso. Lovingly restored and cared for the 4 Gats offers a glimpse back into one of Barcelona’s best cultural and artistic periods.

PLAÇA DEL PI & CARRER PETRITXOL
Liceu, Jaume I. 14,17,18,59. One of the best loved areas for artists and bohemians is the confluence of the plaça del Pí, placa Sant Josep Oriol and Plaçeta del Pí, located just off the Ramblas. The area is dominated by the church of Santa María del Pí (XIV-XV c.) with its huge multicoloured rose window. Frequent arts and crafts fairs, as well as sales of natural foods such as honey and "mató" (a mild cheese) are held in these squares. Leading from the Plaça del Pí to Portaferrisa is the carrer Petritxol, well known by the locals for its art galleries and especially for the "granja’s" that serve delicious thick hot chocolate with pastries such as "ensaimada" and croissant.

PALAU DE LA MUSICA CATALANA
Jaume 1, Urquinaona. 14,17,18,22, 24,59. If you want to see one of the best examples of Modernist architecture in Barcelona you can’t miss taking a tour of this building. One of the world's most extraordinary music halls, with facades that are a riot of color and form, the Palau de la Música (Music Palace) is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt side to its overhead busts of (from left to right) Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and (around the corner on Carrer Amadeus Vives) Wagner, the Palau is a flamboyant tour de force. Designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1908, it is today considered the flagship of Barcelona's Moderniste architecture. If you can't attend a concert, take a tour of the hall, offered daily at 10:30, 2, and 3 (in English) for 700 ptas./EUR4.21. Ticket office: (just off Via Laietana, around a corner from the hall itself).

Palau de la Música Catalana
C/Sant Francesc de Paula 2.

Location: Sant Pere, La Ribera, La Ciutadella and Barceloneta
Address: Sant Francesc de Paula 2, Barcelona, Spain.
Phone: 93/268-1000

MUSEU PICASSO
The Museu Picasso is Barcelona's most visited museum. It's housed in three strikingly beautiful stone mansions on the Carrer de Montcada, which was, in medieval times, an approach to the port. The museum shows numerous works that trace the artist's early years, and is especially strong on his Blue Period with canvases like The Defenceless, ceramics and his early works from the 1890s. The second floor shows works from Barcelona and Paris from 1900-1904, with many of his impressionist-influenced works. The haunting Portrait of Senyora Canals (1905), from his Pink Period is also on display. Among the later works, all executed in Cannes in 1957, are a complex technical series (Las Meninas), which consists mostly of studies on Diego Velazquez's masterpiece of the same name.

SANTA MARIA DEL MAR
Jaume 1. 14,17,40,45,51,57,59. Considered by many to be the best example of gothic architecture in Catalonia. The interior is an example of harmony and the feeling of airiness and lightness is unrivalled in all but a select few gothic structures in Europe. The spacing between columns is the largest of any gothic structure, over 9 metres, and the acoustic properties of this beautiful space have made it a favourite for concerts; if you have the opportunity to attend one, do so.

LAS RAMBLAS
Extending from the harbour to the Plaza de Catalunya, the Ramblas is not only Barcelona’s most famous streetit, is the most famous street in all of Spain. It’s probably the liveliest too. Split into five distinct sections, this wide pedestrian thoroughfare is lined with restaurants, cafes, shops, stalls, open air markets. Buskers add some musical accompaniment to the whole experience whilst artists wander around selling their wares. Whenever something important happens to the city this is where everyone shows up to celebrate or protest. There are always people on the Ramblas, right up to the very early hours. The Ramblas run from the Plaça Catalunya right down to the monument to Columbus at the water’s edge. The characteristic flower and animal stands decorate the top two-thirds of the way, and there are important landmarks like the Canaletas drinking fountain, said to confer true Barcelona citizenship to whoever drinks from it, the Liceu Opera House, the Joan Miró Mosaic on the pavement, and the Boqueria Market. The Ramblas really is the place to be in Barcelona, especially after dark when the nightlife really kicks off. Not to be missed.

PLAÇA REIAL
Liceu, Drassanes, Jaume I. 14,36,57, 59,64. Just off the Ramblas is this interesting porticoed square, with tall palm trees in striking contrast to the pavement and lamposts. Of special interest are the two central lamposts, Antoni Gaudi’s first commission in Barcelona. Under the porticoes you will find a variety of restaurants and bars. Come by at night and the terraces are full of customers, street musicians entertain you and shady characters measure you up.

GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU
Liceu. 14,59. Considered by many to be one of the finest opera houses in Europe along with the Scala of Milan, it burnt to the ground tragically in 1994. The new Liceu was inaugurated in the year 2000, conserving the original facade and greatly expanding the facilities.

Gran Teatre del Liceu
La Rambla 51-59.

COLUMBUS MONUMENT
Drassanes. 14,36,57,59,64. At the foot of the Ramblas, almost at the water’s edge is the 19th century monument to Christopher Columbus. The monument was built to commemorate the return of Columbus from his first trip to the Americas, because it was at Barcelona that the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel, welcomed him home. The 50 metre tall structure, built on the occasion of the Universal Exposition of 1888, has become one of the identifying symbols of Barcelona. It can be visited for a small fee from 10am until 7pm (except Mondays).

MOLL DE LA FUSTA
Drassanes, Barceloneta. 14,36,57,59,64,19,40. The redevelopment of Barcelona’s waterfront began with the Moll de la Fusta, a promenade dotted with palm trees and lamp posts along with a series of bars and restaurants overlooking the port and the marina. It extends from near the foot of the Ramblas almost to the Barceloneta. There are some interesting monumental sculptures to be seen, such as Roy Lichtenstein’s Barcelona Head or Javier Mariscal’s Gambrinus lobster.

MAREMAGNUM
This commercial centre with designer shops and restaurants is a great place to while away an afternoon enjoying the sea breeze. Make sure you cross the interesting Rambla de Mar, an extension to the Rambla that connects the city to Maremagnum via a modern drawbridge. Our favourite spot for having a meal or drink is El Petit Miau, a modernist inspired Catalan restaurant that hangs the work of up and coming local artists on its walls. Watch out for special events, staged frequently at Maremagnum.

IMAX 3D
A modern large screen IMAX theatre, with a screen seven stories high, a domical OMNIMAX screen and the latest development called IMAX 3D. Check with the box office for the schedule and the type of projection. Once you’re in the Port Vell area you can’t miss it; it’s the huge white building that looks like a cube.

AQUARIUM
The largest aquarium of its kind in Europe, with an underwater tunel that allows sharks to swim above you! A sure hit with kids, but so popular that the line up for tickets can be lengthy, especially on weekends.

ZOO
Parc de la Ciutadella. Tel. 221 2506. Ciutadella. 14,16,17,39,40,41,59. The Barcelona Zoo houses over 7,000 different animals belonging to 400 species, including "Copito de Nieve" ("Snowflake" in English) the only albino gorilla in captivity. Barcelona’s Zoo is one of the most successful of the world in breeding different species in captivity. You will most likely see some of the more exotic births that have ocurred there over the last year. There is also a children’s zoo with petting animals.

BARCELONETA
Barceloneta. 14,17,36,40,45,51,57,59,64. This area has had a tremendous revitalization since the 1992 Olympic Games. It is built upon a triangular peninsula that was formed with displaced sand from the construction of the port of Barcelona in the 17th century. A military engineer did the urban planning in the mid 18th century to resettle the forcibly removed residents of the Ciutadella, which became a military garrison. The layout is an example of baroque city planning with regular modules and some buildings with interesting baroque facades, such as the church of Sant Miquel del Port. Until very recently this neighborhood was Barcelona’s only point of contact with the sea, and its residents were mostly fishermen and seafarers. It is well known for its many seafood restaurants, and it now boasts some very good beaches.

PORT OLÍMPIC
Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica. 36,40,45, 59. The beaches in the Olympic Village and Port area are probably the best in Barcelona and certainly the most popular. If the weather is warm you will find these beaches already crowded on weekends in May, mostly by the locals. The commercial infrastructure is magnificent, with the port itself housing dozens of restaurants mostly specializing in seafood. The Port is right next door to Barcelona’s two skyscrapers built for the Olympic games, the Hotel Arts and the Mapfre Commercial building.
Continuing along the waterfront you will see the Olympic port itself which is home to a sizeable chunk of Barcelona’s seafood restaurant complement. Among the many choices available, there is one that stands out for quality and value, El Cangrejo Loco (see full description in the Eating Out section). The area adjacent to the Olympic Port, towards the mountains and on the other side of the Ronda Litoral expressway, is the Olympic Village. The quality and variety of architecture in this area makes strolling through here a pleasure.

MONTJUÏC
The dominant feature of Barcelona’s skyline is the 570 foot high mountain of Montjuïc. It was already settled well before Roman times, and was later known by the Romans as Mount Jupiter. In the 9th century the moorish invaders built the Laribal Garden pavilion, and centuries later it became a military fortress. Its modern history begins in the late 19th century when the first plans for urbanizing the mountain were drawn up. The 1929 Universal Exposition held in Barcelona was the beginning of Montjuïc’s integration with the city, which was only recently completed with the 1992 Olympics. Montjuïc is also one of Barcelona’s most important natural parks and is an oasis of calm and nature in the middle of the urban agglomeration that is the city.
The buildings of the 1929 plans for Montjuïc are largely intact today, including most of the 15 palaces which have become major museums, such as the recently remodelled Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya housed in the Palau Nacional, and the archeological and ethnological museums. Also from 1929 is the Poble Espanyol, a potpourri of Spanish architecture in replicas. Approach the area from Plaça d'Espanya and on the north side you'll see Plaça de Braus Les Arenes, a former bullring where the Beatles played in 1966.
The twin venetian towers flank the main entrance off the Plaça Espanya and at either side of the wide Avinguda de la Reina María Cristina towards the Palau Nacional are the buildings which make up the Fira de Barcelona, one of the most active trade fair complexes in Europe.

Magic Fountain

OLYMPIC RING
The most popular events of the 1992 Olympic Games were held in the various locations on Montjuïc, well worth visiting. The 1929 Olympic Stadium was refurbished and expanded. Next door, the futuristic Palau Sant Jordi, designed in Japan, was built without supporting columns for the huge monolithic roof. It took 10 days to lift the roof to the necessary height, using hydraulic lifts. Since the Games it has become a favoured concert venue because of its excellent acoustics and good capacity. The TV broadcast images that fascinated the world were those of the divers at the Picornell swimming pools, with the spectacular backdrop of the city. Today they have become public swimming pools.

POBLE ESPANYOL
Marqués de Comillas, s/n, Tel. (93) 325 7866. Espanya. 13, 61. The Poble Espanyol, or Spanish Village, was built for the International Exhibition of 1929 as a showcase of replicas of Spain’s best architecture throughout the ages. You will be given a map to follow when you get your entrance ticket (950 ptas.). One of Barcelona’s best Flamenco shows can be seen here at the Tablao de Carmen; if you make a reservation for this show your entrance to the grounds is free.

Poble Espanyol

TIBIDABO
At 542m (1778ft), Tibidabo is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. If the air's clear, it's a great place for views over the city. The locals come up here for some thrills at the amusement park Parc d'Atraccions, which has rides and a house of horrors. As hair-raising as anything at the Parc, however, is the glass lift that goes 115m (126yd) up to a visitors' observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. The more sedate can find solace in Temple del Sagrat Cor, Barcelona's answer to Paris' Sacré Coeur; it's even more vilified by aesthetes than its Paris equivalent. Looming above Tibidabo's funicular station, it is actually two churches, one on top of the other. The top one is surmounted by a giant Christ and has a lift to the roof.

Casa Lleó Morera, 35.
Casa Amatllers, 41.
Casa Batlló, 43.
Three modernist creations on Passeig de Gràcia.

Palau Montaner
C/Mallorca 278.
Modernist building by Domenèch i Montaner.

Palau Güell
C/Nou de la Rambla 3-5. Palace, built in the 1880's by Gaudí.

Casa de les Punxes
Building which looks like a medieval castle.

Casa Serra
Av. Diagonal 395. Modernist building by Puig i Cadafalch.

Casa Milà/La Pedrera
Passeig de Gràcia 92
Building with no straight lines, exhibitions and roof terrace. Flamenco concerts during summer evenings

Palau de la Virreina
La Rambla 99.
Old palace with exhibitions and cultural information on what's going on in Barcelona.