12 Best Things to Do in Barcelona

[Delaine Cesar]

10. Camp Nou [SEE MAP] Camp Nouflickr/Oh-Barcelona. com.

One for the sports fans, yet still among Barcelona's most popular destinations. This arena is house to powerful European football champions F.C. Barcelona.

With a capability of 99,000 individuals, this awesome sporting arena is Europe's largest. A tour of the ground is absolutely rewarding and you never understand, you may be fortunate enough to capture a video game!

9. Montjuïc [SEE MAP] Montjuïcflickr/ Picture Kamil.

Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a fairly flat top to the southwest of the town hall. The eastern side of the hill is practically a sheer cliff, providing it a commanding view over the city's harbor immediately below. The top of the hill was the website of a number of strongholds, the current of which stays today.

Another interesting sight is the Palau Nacional (National Palace), initially built as the central pavilion for the International Exhibition. The stunning structure in neo-Baroque design is house to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Montjuïc is also house to a number of sports centers constructed for the 1992 Olympics.

8. Casa Milà [SEE MAP] Casa Milàflickr/ Rob Shenk.

Built in between the years 1906 and 1910, Casa Milà (La Pedrera) was the last civil work designed by Catalan designer Antoni Gaudi. The colorful building is considered among the artist's most eccentric and enticing architectural creations with not one straight edge on the exterior.

Tours of the interior and the extraordinary roofing structures are readily available. It likewise hosts a large exposition of Gaudi works, covering Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlio, not just La Pedrera itself.

7. Gothic Quarter [SEE MAP] Gothic Quarterdreamstime/ © 88and84.

Old is great, particularly when it's the Gothic Quarter, located in the earliest part of Old Town Barcelona. Some state the quarter dates back 2,000 years, but what tourists will see today isn't that old: a maze of narrow streets flanked by buildings from middle ages times to the 19th century.

Travelers will see the Jewish Quarter, thought about the Gothic Quarter's prettiest area; walk the courses where a young Picasso went to school; consume at Can Culleretes, the oldest dining establishment in Barcelona, dating to 1796, and store at the colorful Boqueria market.

6. Barceloneta [SEE MAP] Barceloneta.

Out of Barcelona's seven various beaches, stretching over 4.5 km (2.8 miles) of coastline, Barceloneta probably tops them all. It is among the most popular and is closest to the town hall. Along the 1,100 meter (3,600 feet) sandy beach runs a sidewalk popular with joggers and cyclist.

Not surprisingly this location can get crowded, particularly during the summertime when the beach bars open and the beach rapidly fills with locals and tourist.

5. Typeface Màgica [SEE MAP] Font Màgicaflickr/ jeroen_bennink.

Font Màgica is a fountain situated below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc hill and near the Plaça d'Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. The water fountain, like the majority of the surrounding advancements, was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.

On selected evenings, when the fountain is activated, it attracts numerous visitors who enjoy the amazing display of light, water and music. At the exact same time, the Palau National is brightened, providing a beautiful background.

4. Casa Batllo [SEE MAP] Casa Batlloflickr/marimbajlamesa.

It's tough to discover the words to explain Casa Batllo, possibly because it looks like a carnival gone crazy. Among designer Antoni Gaudi's most well-known buildings, Casa Batllo is a mish-mash of colors, building materials and what-have-you designs.

There's a big onion-like dome that's reminiscent of a mosque; a colorful wavy tiled roof line and lots of sculptures. Gaudi turned a nineteenth century structure into Casa Batllo, often called the "house of bones" since of the numerous jaws on one sculpture. It was a home without equal, however not one most people would feel comfortable living in.

3. Parc Guëll [SEE MAP] Parc Guëll.

With other significant works in the city including La Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, this needs to be among Antoni Gaudí's most well known and it is certainly among the most emblematic of Barcelona.

The area was originally implied to be a domestic property advancement with Gaudi doing much of the planning and landscape style. It is home to the famous Salamander sculpture, as well as other structures and structures created by the architect.

2. La Rambla [SEE MAP] La Rambla.

This is probably the city's most famous street and is a dynamic hive of activity. It is often called Las Ramblas, since it is really a series of several various streets that all have a distinct feel.

Located simply off Plaza Catalunya and leading right down towards the port and beach, visitors will find street entertainers, great deals of bars and dining establishments and the wonderful Boquería Market, a real banquet for the eyes.

1. Sagrada Familia [SEE MAP] # 1 of Traveler Attractions In Barcelona.

La Sagrada Familia is the most popular tourist attractions in Barcelona, drawing in almost 2.8 million visitors each year. It is a big and elaborate basilica developed by Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan designer. Building beach hotel and construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. The structure is anticipated to be finished within the next thirty years. It needs to be kept in mind that this gorgeous basilica has actually been funded totally by donations, as Gaudi had actually planned.

Deal With La Sagrada Familia started in March of 1882 by Francisco de Pala del Villar, the diocesan designer. Gaudi was commissioned to take over the work at the end of 1883. He continued with the creating and building of this unique project up until his death on June 7, 1926 at the age of 74.

Following his death, a series of gifted designers continued the building according to Gaudi's strategies. Regrettably, throughout the Spanish Civil War in 1936, a fire destroyed a lot of these plans. Trying to follow the remains of the initial styles has been a challenge for contemporary architects working on the structure.

The style of La Sagrada Familia integrates interpretations of lots of architectural designs, such as Arat Nouveau, Gothic and Catalan Modernism. Gaudi's original strategies called for a temple large enough to seat 13,000 individuals. Due to the fact that he did not like straight lines, his towers were influenced by the peaks of Montserrat Mountain outside Barcelona, and had similar irregular lines.

Anyone interested in architecture will discover this structure remarkable to study. The plans consist of 18 spires, which represent Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and the Twelve Apostles. Work is still occurring on a few of these spires, while others are open to the general public.

The design also calls for three exteriors on the building. These include the Nativity Facade facing east, the Passion Exterior dealing with west and the Magnificence Façade dealing with south. The Nativity Facade was finished in 1930. The Passion Façade and the Glory Façade are still under construction.

Visitors will be captivated by the intricate style elements and the spiritual importance constructed into all the spaces of the church. The completed area of the church is open to all who want to see it, as are the finished towers. In addition, a small museum exists within the structure where one can find scale models and illustrations revealing the plans for the building and construction of the structure.

La Sagrada Familia has actually been offering worship chances given that the fall of 2010 for those who may want to participate. Furthermore, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and announced it a basilica in November 2010 during his visit there.

In his plans, Gaudi understood that his masterpiece would not be finished throughout his lifetime. He planned for it to be built in parts, hence ensuring that each generation might be able to concentrate on among the sections. This beautiful basilica is nearly finished, and when it is, Gaudi's vision will finally be satisfied.