Barcelona, a wonderful Catalan city, is interesting from various points of view. Many beauties to admire, its sea is marvelous, its typical gastronomy remarkable. It is definitely the ideal place for those who love to savor every nuance that a trip can offer. In this brief guide, we will make a short list, in case you are wondering what to see in Barcelona and what to do.
Barcelona: what to visit
You absolutely must not miss these places of interest in Barcelona.
1 Sagrada Familia
Barcelona, Sagrada Familia: it is without a doubt the symbol of Barcelona. Created by Gaudí and not yet finished, it is the largest basilica designed by the Spanish architect. Currently, only two facades have been completed, although the project plans for three. Various figures are sculpted on the facades, including the representation of the Nativity. It is a decidedly unique, exuberant, imposing work that will leave you amazed. If you are deciding what to visit in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia should definitely be at the top of the list. Here you find all the advice on how to buy tickets for the Sagrada Familia skipping the line.
2 Barcelona, La Rambla
The most famous street in Spain, which connects Plaza de Catalunya to the Columbus statue, very close to the sea: La Rambla of Barcelona. Once there, you will be spoiled for choice on how to spend your time. You can choose to visit the various museums, enter the Boqueria, the most famous food market in Barcelona, or admire the performances of street artists. It is especially on this street that the nightlife of Barcelona is concentrated, thanks to numerous venues and clubs, each more attractive than the other. Remember that dinner time in Barcelona is around 11 pm, so the Rambla will always be crowded, day and night.
3 Parc Güell, Barcelona
Parc Güell: a wonderful garden city, immersed in greenery, which will offer you relaxation and serenity. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and commissioned to Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century, it is enriched with characteristic and marvelous buildings that will make you feel like the protagonists of a fairy tale. It is one of the things to see in Barcelona that you simply cannot miss.
4 Montjuic Funicular
Thanks to a historic funicular and a cable car, Barcelona, the Catalan city par excellence, offers from above one of its best profiles and unveils the little Eden of Montjuic, the “mountain” only 213 meters high. Securing the show is easy: take the funicular at Avinguda del Paral-lel and start climbing the southern slope of the city.
The system, completely renovated, embodies a piece of history very dear to the locals: it was built in 1928, the peak period of Modernism. The funicular leads to Avenida de Miramar, from where you can take the cable car directly to the top of Montjuic, in a crescendo of breathtaking panoramas. Montjuic was the site of the Olympic Games in 1992 and today embodies one of the most frequented and appreciated cultural hubs in Barcelona.
5 Fundacio Joan Mirò
Barcelona, thanks to contemporary art exhibitions, like the Caixa Forum, and expression spaces, like the Ciutat del Teatre, which coexist with historic institutions such as the Museu Nacional d’Art Catalunya and the prestigious Fundacio Joan Mirò. The buildings of the latter, near the funicular arrival, were designed by architect Josep Lluis Sert, a friend of Mirò, who in 1982 designed very spacious areas to house as many works as possible of the Spanish master, who passed away in 1983. Inside and in the gardens, it is possible to admire about 300 paintings, 150 sculptures, 9 tapestries, and as many as 7000 drawings.
6 Barcelona Castle
Having reached the top of Montjuic by cable car, the last and grand surprise awaits: the 17th-century Barcelona Castle, from whose bastions you can capture a 360-degree panorama of the city and the port. The interiors are easily visitable and also house the Museu Militar, an original collection with over 10,000 lead soldiers.
