Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is the
most cosmopolitan and economically active city in Spain, and has
always managed to stay ahead or abreast of the latest
international trends. This is evident in the architecture, which
so accurately reflects the zest for life of this city of vivid
colors and boundless energy.
Barcelona is
stretched out on a plain next to the Mediterranean sea in the
very north of the Spanish coast, bordering France, between the
rivers Llobregat and Besos and between two mountains, Collserola
and Montjuïc.The result is scenic beauty beyond measure.
Barcelona is
steeped in history, as witnessed by the grandeur of its
architectural treasures from the Romanesque, Gothic and
Renaissance periods. During the last century, Anton¨ª Gaud¨ª, led
his contemporaries in adding new and exciting strokes to the
pallatte as Modernist themes were blended with those of the
past. Modernism is characterized by the predominance of curves
over straight lines, the richness and detail of decoration, the
frequent use of floral motifs, the taste for asymmetry, the use
of a refined aestheticism and the dynamism of forms. Checking
this list against any building designed or built by Gaud¨ª will
have the viewer nodding vigorously in agreement!
Barcelona is a
progressive, commercially sophisticated, upper middle class
European city, while at the same time being traditionalist and
typically Mediterranean. This dichotomy between tradition and
progress is a characteristic of the city and of its nearly two
million inhabitants. In preparation for the 1992 Olympics 250
acres were cleared along the commercial waterfront, and a total
transformation took place. The result was a spectacular five
mile long beach and promenade that are now enjoyed by residents
and visitors alike. As usual, this ultimate designer city, again
reinvented itself.
Wherever you stay
in Barcelona, the excellent public transportation system gives
easy access to the entire city. A visitor might choose to stay
in the old town near the bustling boulevard known as La Rambla
within walking distance of centuries old, architecturally
splendid buildings. Another choice would be the spacious
Eixample district with its wealth of shopping opportunities and
fine restaurants. Whatever the choice, Barcelonians will be
delighted to have you sharing the beauty of their city.
English is not
widely spoken and all signs are in Catalan and also in Spanish.
However, there are many guided tours of the city and its sights
that are available with English speaking guides. Barcelona has
over 50 museums and galleries, many parks and a wide selection
of waterfront noteworthy attractions. Modern art lovers
shouldn't miss the Contemporary Art Museum and the Modern Art
Museum. Barcelona hosts some of the world's greatest classical
musicians including Montserrat Caball¨¦ and Jos¨¦ Carreras. Many
contemporary theater and dance companies perform year round.
Modern music fans will enjoy the rock, jazz and salsa clubs. The
tradition of dance halls also lives on in Barcelona.
Sports enthusiasts
will find plenty of action in Barcelona. Sea fishing, hiking,
water sports golf and cycling are some of the favorite forms of
recreation. Soccer is the national sport and is almost elevated
to a religion in Barcelona. Basketball, hockey and handball are
also popular team sports that fill the local arenas.
Catalonia is a
society, with deep-rooted relationships, in which great
importance is given to the family. Children are loved and
welcomed. When traveling with children, visitors may prefer a
slower pace. One way to spend a relaxing and refreshing family
day is to visit The Parc de la Ciutadella which is located near
the Old Town and the waterfront. It has shade trees, acres of
lawn, a boating lake and
Spain's best zoo with over 7,000
animals. Beautiful beaches are within easy reach, and Barcelona
also has many fine swimming pools. The weather is mild and sunny
most of the year. Gaud¨ª's fairy tale-like buildings, the 200
foot statue of Christopher Columbus pointing out to sea, much of
what makes Barcelona so appealing to adults is also inherently
appealing to children.
In the shopping
districts, the windows display the latest fashions for the very
slim, but extravagently delicious culinary delights are
everywhere. Hundreds of restaurants and caf¨¦s in every price
range are conveniently located in all parts of the city and
surrounding area. Crafts, antiques, ceramics, art objects,
fashions, books: there is no limit to the wide array of
offerings at the shops, markets, and stalls throughout the city.
Festivals and
carnivals brighten every season. There is always something to
celebrate in
Barcelona from the grape harvest in the Fall to the
Feast of Santa Eulalia in the winter and the marvelous Terrassa
Jazz Festival in the Spring, followed by the summer arts
festival and many more.
There is no question that Barcelona seems to have discovered the
secret to eternal youth!
Population:
1,505,581 in the city and a total of over 4,000,000 in city and
suburbs.
Elevation:
On the plain the elevation is only about 12 feet, but the city's
highest point, in the Collserola Hills at Tibidabo Amusement
Park, is 1,680 feet above sea level.
Time Zone:
Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour: Time in Lisbon is 6 hours
ahead of Eastern Standard Time in New York. (7 hours ahead of
central time in Chicago, etc.) Barcelona uses the 24 hour clock,
so the numeral 1 on a US watch would be read as 1in the early
morning or 13 in the afternoon, etc. Transportation timetables
and schedules will use this method of representation of time.
(designations of am and pm are unnecessary)
International Dialing Code:
All numbers for Barcelona begin with 93 and have 7 additional
digits. The country code is 34. (use the country code only when
calling Barcelona from another country).
Phone booths take coins. Some take credit cards and phone cards.
To call the US from Barcelona using your telephone calling card,
please check with your card issuer as each company has its own
codes.
Emergency:
General: 112 police: 346 61 41;
fire: 080;
ambulance 061
Tourist Police 93 301 9060
Lost Property 93 402 3161
Directory Assistance/Operator: 1003
Accessing email and the internet:
El Cafe de Internet Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 656
Tel.(+343) 4121915 / or 93 302 1154
Currency:
Throughout Spain the medium of currency is the euro. The notes
are in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro.
The denominations of coins are 2 euro, 1 euro, 50 euro cent, 20
euro cent, 10 euro cent, 5 euro cent, 2 euro cent, and 1 euro
cent. The easiest method of securing cash at the best exchange
rate is to make withdrawals using a US credit card from the ATM
machines found at the major banks and stores. As in the U.S.,
some banks charge a fee and a transaction tax, so check with the
banks to find the best value.
Customs Regulations:
Telephone Tourist information in New York City (212) 265-8822
for information.
Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
| ¡¡ |
High |
Low |
| January - March |
59 |
41 |
| April - June |
75 |
50 |
| July - September |
82 |
66 |
| October - December |
70 |
46 |
Winter evenings in Barcelona can be chilly. From mid April
through mid June and from September through mid October, the
weather is mild and pleasant. August often becomes so hot and
humid that many businesses close for vacations. Rainfall is
moderate throughout the year.
Useful Measurements:
Equivalent Weights and Measures
1 cm - 0.39 inches
1 meter - 3.28 feet / 1.09 yards
1 km - 0.62 miles
1 liter - 0.26 gallons
1 inch - 2.54 cm
1 foot - 0.39 meters
1 yard - 0.91 meters
1 mile - 1.60 km
1 gallon - 3.78 liters
National Holidays:
Jan. 1 New Year's Day
January 6 Feast of the Epiphany (Els Reis)
March 19 Feast of St. Joseph
Good Friday (date varies - March or April)
Easter Monday (date varies - March or April)
June 24 Feast of St. Joan
June Midsummer's Eve
August 15 Feast of the Assumption
September 11 La Diada: Catalan National Day
September 24 La Merc¨¦ Festival
October 12 Hispanitat: Spanish National Day
November 1 All Saints' Day
December 6 Constitution Day
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St. Stephen's Day
Religious Services:
Roman Catholic: tel. 93 204 4962 (at Paroisse Françoise
(Mass in French and English)
Anglican:
tel. 93 417 8867 (St. George's Church)
Jewish:
tel. 93 200 6148 (Sinogoga de la Communidad)
Public restrooms:
Public restrooms are difficult to find in most places. It is
best to ask for els serveis (Catalan) or los aseos (Spanish) in
a caf¨¦, hotel or department store and be directed to the
employee rest rooms. Always carry toilet tissue, as that is
usually not provided.
Smoking:
Many people in Spain smoke and very few restaurants have no
smoking areas or tables.
Electricity:
The electrical current in Spain is 220 volts, 50 cycle AC, and
outlets have openings for two round pins. Some older buildings
still have 125v systems, but plugs look the same for either
system. The difference is that appliances such as heaters which
require higher voltage should not be plugged into the 125v
system. American appliances will need a plug adapter and will
require a three tier standard travel converter if they do not
have a dual voltage capability.
Visitors with disabilities:
Spain is attempting to accommodate the needs of travelers with
disabilities, but so far progress has been slow. Telephone
Federaci¨® at 93 451 5550 for additional information.
Post Office:
Spain's postal service is called Correos. it is quite slow, but
express (urgente) mail is available. Stamps can be purchased
from tobacconists (estanc) Main Correos are open from 8-9
Mon.-Fri. and 9-7 on Saturday. In Catalan addresses, the street
name is written first, followed by the number. Zip codes have 5
digits.
How to get around:
Barcelona has an excellent bus and Metro system. A map of the
city and transportation systems is essential for ease of travel.
Metro:
There are 5 color coded metro lines which are also numbered 1-5.
Tickets are inexpensive. The best value is a T-1 card which
gives 10 rides for the price of 5 1/2 and can be used on all
forms of public transport (bus, Metro, and FGC lines)
Bus :
Service is efficient and regular.
Trains:
Estac¨ªo de Sants is the city's main train station, for national
and some international arrivals. The Estaci¨® de França (or
Estaci¨® Terminal), next to the Parc de la Ciutadella, is the
terminal for long-distance Spanish and European express and
inter-city trains.
FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Cataluña) travels into
the hill country and around the city.
Ferries:
Ferries Tickets for Balearic ferries from Transmediterr¨¢nea, at
the Estac¨ªo Maritima tel. 93 443 2532. Book in advance in July
and August.
Taxis:
Black and yellow Barcelona taxis are metered and fares are
reasonably priced. Luggage is extra. A small tip is appreciated.
Air Travel:
The airport, 12km southwest of the city, is linked by a
half-hourly train service. Many trains from the airport also run
on to Plaça de Catalunya, a more direct way of reaching the
Barri G¨°tic. Alternatively, there's the efficient Airbus
(Aerobus; Mon-Fri every 15min, Sat-Sun every half-hour;
6/6.30-11; 450ptas), which departs from outside the terminals on
a circular route and runs into the centre via Plaça España, Gran
V¨ªa, Plaça de Catalunya and Passeig de Gr¨¢cia.
Note:
Traffic drives on the right side of the road in Spain. Driving
in the city center is not advised. There are approximately
400,000 parking spaces for the daily infusion of 600,000 cars.
The public transportation system is excellent and a car is not
necessary.
Barrio G¨®tico
(Old Town)
Metro lines 1,3 and 4 Jaume I Station is in the heart of the
district The Gothic Quarter is one of the oldest and most
interesting parts of Barcelona. The square of Sant Jaume was the
site of the Forum in the days of the Roman Empire, and there are
many remnants of old fortification walls still standing.
Also.located in the square are the Palacio de la Generalitat and
Palacio del Ayuntiento (Townhall).
In Calle Paradis, on top of the mountain T¨¢ber, there is old
millstone. Iberian tribes lived here long before the time of the
Roman empire. At Plaza del Rei can be found the Palacio Real
Mayor, Iglesia de Santa Agata and Palacio del Archivo de la
Corona de Arag¨®n. The Gothic cathedral and the medieval palaces
of Casa dels Canonges, Pia Almoina and Ardiaca are close by.
Casa de l'
Ardiaca
Carrer de Santa Ll¨²cia 1
93 318 1195
Metro Jaume 1
Mon-Fri 9-8:45
Standing beside what was the Bishop's gate in the Roman wall is
the Archdeacon's house. It was built in the 12th century, but
its present form dates from around 1500 when it was remodeled
and a colonnade added. In 1870 this was extended by the addition
of a Gothic patio around the fountain. A Modernista architect,
Domenech I Monrtaner added a fanciful marble mailbox, carved
with three swallows and a tortoise which stands beside the
Renaissance portal. The city archives are housed upstairs.
Cathedral de
Barcelona
Plaça de la Seu
93 315 1554
Built between 1298 and 1450, the cathedral is an excellent
example of Catalonian Gothic architecture. It was begun in 1298
under Jaume II on the foundations of a Roman temple and a
Moorish mosque.Its large bell towers blend medieval and
Renaissance styles. Beautiful cloisters, the high altar, the
side chapels, the sculptured choir and Gothic arches are among
the features that make this one of the most impressive
cathedrals in Europe. A garden of magnolias is surrounded by
vaulted galleries in the cloisters. The cloister is illuminated
on Sundays and feast days and contains a museum displaying
medieval art. Among the works displayed is Bartolom¨¦ Bermejo's
La Pietat. A plaque near the baptismal font records the baptism
of six native Americans of the Carribean brought to Spain by
Christopher Columbus in 1493. Every Sunday noon passersby join
in dancing the sardana, a Catalonian folk dance, in front of the
cathedral.
Frederic Mares
Museum
Plaça Sant Iu 5
93 310 5800
Daily except Mondays from 10 - 5
Sundays and Public Holidays from 9 - 2
The sculptor Frederic Mares I Deulovol (1893-1991) was a
traveler and collector. This building is part of the Royal
Palace complex and was occupied by 13th century bishops, 14th
century counts, 15th century judges and 16th century nuns. Mares
had a small apartment in the building and opened the museum in
1948. It is a fasscinating place and boasts a fine collection of
Romanesque and Gothic religious art. Exhibits range from clocks,
crucifixes and costumes to antique cameras, pipes, tobacco jars
and postcards. There is also a room full of antique children's
toys.
Museum of the
History of the City of Barcelona
Casa Calriana Padellas. Plaça del Rei.
93 315 11 11
July, August and September 10 - 8 Sun 10 - 2 p.m. Rest of the
year 10 - 2 and 4 - 8 Sundays and Holidays 10 - 2 . Closed on
Mondays all year.
The museum occupies a Gothic building that in 1931 was brought
stone by stone from its original location in Carrer dels
Mercaders. During the excavation at this site, the remains of
Roman water and drainage systems, baths, mosaic floors, and a
road were found. The basement now contains these treasures of
some of the ancient construction of Roman Barcelona. The three
other floors have exhibits relating to local history and post
Roman development..). There are many documents, prints,
paintings, sculptures and ceramics.
Palau Reial
Major (Royal Palace)
Plaça del Rei
93 315 1111
Originally the palace of the counts of Barcelona, this later
became the residence of the kings of Arag¨®n. During the
Inquisition, the accused were tried in this square.
Of particular interest are the Salon de Tinell, a 14th century
banquet hall with a wood paneled ceiling, the Mirador del Rei
Mart¨ª containing a gothic chapel of 14th century design and the
ceremonial hall of the counts of Barcelona, where Christopher
Columbus is said to have been received by the king and queen
after returning from America.
Palau de la
Generalitat (Parliament Building)
Plaçe de Sant Jaume
93 402 4600
Catalonia's parliament building constructed in gothic and
renaissance styles, has a superbly designed chapel and stone
staircase that rises to an open air, arcaded gallery.
Palau del
Ayuntiento (Townhall)
The facade is of neoclassic, the inner court of gothic style.
The Palau de la
M¨²sica Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives stands this fascinating
building: the work of the architect Llu¨ªs Dom¨¨nech i Montaner, a
follower of Gaud¨ª. The Palau de la M¨²sica dates from 1908, and
its interior is the most typical of the modernist style.
Polychrome materials (tiled mosaics, stained glass); floral
themes and the figures with the body in mosaic and the bust in
relief were created by Eusebi Arnau. To the left of the stage
there is a willow tree in stone, sculpted by Pau Gargallo,
evoking Catalan folk song in the person of Anselm Clav¨¦ and the
girls of the song Les Flors de Maig. The right-hand side depicts
international music, with the bust of Beethoven and the ride of
Wagner's Valkyries. The Palau de la M¨²sica was created as the
home and the concert hall of the Orfe¨® Catal¨¤, a great choral
society founded a few years earlier by the composer Llu¨ªs
Millet. It should be noted here that the Orfe¨® Catal¨¤ has had
great importance in the development of Catalan popular music.
La Rambla
This boulevard is about 1 1/2 miles in length and is situated
between Plaza de Catalunya and the port in the Barrio G¨®tico
section of Barcelona. It is the main artery of Barcelona's
street system. People of every age and social class can be found
here. Shoe shine boys, small stands selling flowers and
vegetables, street theater, commercial galleries, cafeterias,
terraces as well as some of the great theaters of the city.
Postal Museum
Palace of La Virreina La Rambla, 99.
93 301 7775.
Monday to Friday from 9:30- 2 by prior arrangement.
Wax Museum
Pasaje de la Banca, 7 (at the end of La Rambla)
93 317 2649
Contains a collection of wax figures representing famous people
from the world of the arts, science, history, etc.
The Mercado de
La Boquer¨ªa
This is the most important and most visited market of Barcelona,
while Pla de la Boqueriawas the old center of town. In Palacio
de la Virreina, today seat of the culture department of the
regional government, frequently you can see expositions of art.
Impressive is Casa Bruno Cuadros with its dragon at the front.
You arrive to Plaça Reial, a beautiful square with arcades,
palms, fountains and luxurious shops. Here lived in former times
the bourgeoisie, but today it is the heart of an artists
district and offers charming ambience with its pubs and caf¨¦s.
Sundays are a popular market day for coin and stamp collectors.
Museum of
Geology
La Ciutadella Park. Passeig Tillers.
93 319 6895.
daily except Mondays from 10-2.
This is Barcelona's oldest museum. It was opened in 1882. It has
a large collection of fossils and minerals, including specimens
from Catalonia and around the country.
Museum of Modern
Art
La Ciutadella Park. Plaça de Armas.
93 319 5023
Metro: Arc de Triomf
daily except Mondays 10 -7
Has paintings and sculptures from the end of the 18th century up
to the present day. There are paintings by Fortuny, Rusiñol,
Casas, Nonell, Regoyos, Zuloaga, Sunyer, Sotomayor and Solana as
well as sculptures by Llimona, Gargallo, Hugue, Clara and
Rebull. there are also some bold pieces of Modernista furniture
acquired from the houses in the Eixample.
Palau G¨¹ell
(1886-1889)
Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3-5
Gaudi's first major building in the center of the city was
commissioned by his life long patron, Eusebi G¨¹ell in 1889. The
mansion stands on a small plot of land in a narrow street.
Inside Gaud¨ª created a sense of space by using carved screens,
recesses and galleries. Furniture designed by him is also on
display. With its cupola, stairways and impressive windows the
house seems to be of giant dimensions, but its base is only
40x60 feet.
La Llotja
(Commodity Exchange)
Carrer del Consolat de Mar 2
Metro: Jaume I
Built in the 1380's as the headquarters of a guild of Catalan
sea traders, it was remodeled in neo classical style in 1771 and
housed the city's stock exchange until 1994. The upper floor
housed the Barcelona School of Fine Arts where the young Pablo
Picasso and Joan Mir¨® both studied. The building is now being
used as a public library and as local government offices.
Picasso Museum
Montcada, 15 - 19
Metro: Jaume I
Tuesday - Saturday and Holidays 10 - 8 , Sunday 10 - 3 , Monday
closed. The collections are housed in three adjoining medieval
palaces on Carrer Montcada.
The works are divided into three sections: paintings and
drawings; engravings and ceramics. The most valuable exhibit is
the 3,000 piece collection of Picasso's early drawings and
paintings. These show that even at the age of 15 and 16 he was
painting major works. Picasso arrived in Barcelona when he was
13. He was admitted to the upper school where all the other
pupils were at least 20 years of age.
Zoological
Museum
La Ciutadella Park.
93 319 6912
daily except Mondays from 9 - 2
Built as a restaurant for the 1888 Universal Exhibition and
inspired by the Gothic style Llotja (commodities exchange), it
has housed the museum since 1937. Exhibition of stuffed animals
and interesting zoological study collections.
Thyssen
Bornemisza Collection Foundation
Baixda Monestir, 9
93 280 1434
Daily: 10 - 2 . Saturday 10 - 5 . Closed Mondays 71 paintings
and 8 sculptures from the most representative areas of the whole
collection: Italian and German painting. It takes you on a
journey through the history of art from the 13th century to the
18th, with examples of Italian Renaissance, European Baroque,
northern European painting and late Venetian Baroque.
Barcelona and
the Sea
La Barceloneta
Located just below the City center on a triangle of land jutting
into the sea. Originally this was a district of fishermen, but
during the last years this has changed dramatically. The
ambience of a maritime village is still present, but young
business people have discovered the excellence of the seafood
and restaurants have renovated to accommodate the crowd The
offerings range from a fashionable harbor-tavern to moderately
priced and more expensive restaurants and caf¨¦s.
Maritime Museum
Located in the medieval Reales Atarazanas (Royal Arsenals). Av.
Drassanes. 93 318 3245.
Open daily except Mondays from 10-7.
Contains objects and documents relating to the history of
navigation, as well as the Llibre del Consolat de Mar (the
oldest legislative book on maritime law in existence). The
Cartography and Scale Model sections are of particular interest.
Nao de Santa
Maria del Mar
An accurate replica of Columbus' ship Santa Maria, on which he
was sailed to the Americas.
Montjuic
The mountain of Montjuic, rising to 699 feet above the port on
the south side of the city is Barcelona's largest recreation
area. The Romans called it Mons Jovis and built a temple to
Jupiter there. A Jewish cemetery on the hill probably inspired
its name (Mount of the Jews). Until 1640 when the castle was
built, there were few buildings due to the lack of water. This
trend was reversed in preparation for the World's Fair of 1929
when a building boom occurred. Huge exhibition halls lined the
avenue and the Font M¨¢gica (Magic Fountain) sprang up in the
center. The fountain is now illuminated in color. Another
building surge took place prior to the 1992 Olympic Games. This
has left Barcelona with world class sports facilities. On top of
the mountain, surrounded by beautiful parks, there is a 17th
century fortress. As in other districts of Barcelona, the old
and the new reside together.
Archeological
Museum
Montjuic Park. Paseo de Sta. Madrona.
93 423 2149
9:30 - 1:30 and 3:30 - 7 (except Mondays). Sundays and Public
Holidays from 10 -2.
Exhibits from Prehistoric times to the 7th century, with some
rooms reserved for interesting artifacts from Balearic cultures.
Magnificent collection of Roman mosaics.
Bullfighting
Museum
Located in the Monumental Bullring
245 5803.
Open during the bullfighting season from 10:30 - 2 and 4 to 7.
On bullfighting days the museum is open in the morning from 10 -
1 only. It consists of two large rooms and exhibits the
branding-irons and emblems of famous stock farms, the heads of
famous bulls, a collection of posters from the past, old
tickets, the suits of famous bullfighters and rejoneadores
(mounted bullfighters), photographs, documents, documents, a
library and other objects relating to bullfighting in general.
Calr¨¢ Museum
Calatrava, 27.
93 203 4058.
Open daily except Mondays from 9:30-1:30.
Contains a collection of sculptures by Calr¨¢.
Ethnological
Museum
Avinguda Santa Madrona Montjuic Park
93 424 6807
Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (24 September to 24
June) Wednesday, Friday Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. Closed on Mondays. Contains objects from the American
Civilization before Columbus; also artifacts from the
Philippines, Asia and Africa.
Footwear Museum
Plaça de Sant Felip Neri.
93 301 4533.
Open daily except Mondays from 11-2.
Gallery of
Famous Catalans
Calle Bisbe Caçador, 3. Requesens Palace
93 315 0010.
Visits by prior arrangement Monday to Friday from 9 - 2
(Telephone for reservation: Museum of the City of Barcelona 315
1111). Contains a collection of portraits of the great figures
of Catalan history.
Gaud¨ª House and
Museum
Next to the Carretera del Carmel.
93 284 6446.
Open daily except Saturdays.
Located in the house where Gaudi lived. Guëll Park.
Holographical
Museum
Jaume I, 1 (next to the Plaça de Sant Jaume)
93 310 2172.
Monday to Saturday from 10:30-1:30 and 5:30-8:30. Closed on
Sundays and Public Holidays.
Contains holograms and demonstrates holographic techniques.
Mir¨® Foundation
Centre of Studies of Contemporary Art.
Located on the hill of Montjuic. Montjuic Park.
93 329 1908.
Open daily except Mondays from 11- 7. Sundays and Public
Holidays from 10:30 - 2:30.
This private, cultural foundation was set up by the painter Joan
Mir¨® and has exhibition rooms, an auditorium, a library, a
prints archive and areas set aside for artistic and other
exhibits. There are three courtyards, gardens and upper terraces
for outdoor exhibitions, as well as a permanent exhibition of
the works of Joan Mir¨®. The white, luminous building was the
work of the architect J.L. Sert.
Montjuic Castle
Military Museum
Montjuic Castle.
329 8613
Open daily except Mondays from 9:30 - 1:30 and 3:30 - 7:30.
Has a valuable collection of weapons and historical documents.
Museum of
Catalan Art
Montjuic Palace
93 423 7199
daily except Mondays 10 - to 7 Thursday 10-9 Sun. 10-2:30
Contains collections of Romanesque and Catalan-Gothic art:; 11th
and 12th century murals (perhaps the best collection in the
world), altar pieces and carvings. Spanish and European Baroque
art are also well represented.
Museum of
Funeral Carriages
Sancho de Avila, 2
93 484 1720.
Monday to Friday from 9 - 2. Saturdays and Sundays: Visits by
arrangement.
Museum of the
History of Medicine
Pasaje Mercader, 11
93 216 0500
Open Monday to Friday from 10-1.
Contains a collection of some 2,500 exhibits showing the
evolution of medicine, as well as the personal effects of the
great masters of Catalan medicine.
Textile and
Costume Museum
Montcada, 12.
93 310 4516
Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5 Sundays and Holidays 10 - 2 Closed on
Mondays. Palace of the Marquis of Llio. Rocora collection.
Embroidery section.
Vedraguer Museum
Vila Joana.
93 204 7805.
Open daily except Mondays from 10 -2.
The home of the Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer.
Buildings
designed or enhanced by Gaud¨ª
Bellesguard
(1900-1909), C. Bellesguard
Landmark of Catalonia. This gothic building, formerly
summer-residence of King Mart¨ª I., was modified by Gaud¨ª in
genial harmony with the original.
Casa Batllo
(1904-1906) , Passeig de Gracia 43
Another futurist work, with no single straight line at its
front. Even the walls are curved and seem to be covered by
leather.
Casa Calvet
(1898-1900) , Carrer de Casp
Perhaps the most traditional work of this master of
extravagance. That might be the reason why Gaud¨ª received for
this building his one and only honorable mention by the city of
Barcelona.
Casa Mila
(1906-1910) , Passeig de Gr¨¤cia 92
The irregularly curved walls of this building remind of dunes in
the desert. When it was made, this building was too futurist for
most people, and gained the nickname La Pedrera, the quarry.
Today it is considered a landmark work of modern architecture.
Casa Vincens
(1883-1888)
Carrer de les Carolines 18-24
Gaud¨ª's first architectural work, and a milestone in his career.
The building resembles the palace of an Arabian prince, but was
made for the owner of a tile factory - material of which Gaud¨ª
made ample use.
Colegio
Teresiano
(1888-1889)
Ganduxer, 87
When he built this school, Gaud¨ª evidently was inspired by
gothic style and created a masterpiece of simple and clear
lines.
Finca G¨¹ell
(1884-1887), Av. de Pedralbes 77
Through a narrow portal the visitor enters a fantastic world of
forms and colors, which the genial architect created for his
friend and sponsor, industrialist Eusebi G¨¹ell.
The portal of
Finca Miralles
Passeig Manuel Girona
Only a small work for another friend of his, in an interesting
contrast to Casa Calvet, which was made during the se period of
time.
El Ensanche
(Eixample) The Expansion
The modern center of Barcelona, built between 1870 and 1936, was
planned by civil engineer Ildefons Cerd¨¢ I Sunyer (1815-1876),
who wanted to create an luxurious district for the bourgeoisie
and to enlarge the city to five times its original size. His
goal was achieved. All the streets in the area cross
rectangularly, an unusual thing in European town planning. The
best known monuments in El Ensanche are the works of Anton¨ª
Gaud¨ª, e.g. the great cathedral Sagrada Familia, Park G¨¹ell and
Palacio G¨¹ell, together with Casa de los Punxes and Casa atler
de Puig i Cadalfach, all of them masterworks of modernistic
style. The central square is Plaza de Catalunya, whose
dimensions are comparable to those of the Vatican in Rome.
Regularly this square is modified, most recently in 1986.
Passeig de
Gr¨¤cia
Along this boulevard, between the streets Consell de Cent and
Arag¨® on the southwestern side, stands the famous city block
popularly known as l'illa de la disc¨°rdia , due to the contrast
in the architecture of its buildings, all from the first decade
of the 20th century. The building at the seaward end of the
block is the Lle¨® Morera mansion, by Llu¨ªs Dom¨¨nech i Montaner,
built in modernist floral style. This is followed by two
buildings of a modernized Louis XV type, by Enric Sagnier, and a
neo-Gothic mansion decorated with polychrome tiles, designed by
Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Next door is the Batll¨® house , with a
mosaic façade and a tiled roof, by Antoni Gaud¨ª. A little
farther up the street, on the right-hand side on the corner of
Carrer Provença, is the Mil¨¤ mansion 'La Pedrera', designed by
Gaud¨ª shortly after the completion of the Batll¨® house . The
uniqueness of La Pedrera is not limited to the sculptural forms
of its façade, but also extends to the interior of the building.
The one hundred
city blocks centering on the Paseig de Gr¨¤cia,are known as the
Quadrat d'Or (Golden Square) as they contain so many of the
buildings constructed in the best Modernista style. Stained
glass, ceramics and ornamental ironwork abound. The area is a
showcase of highly original buildings and smart shops.
Sagrada Familia
(The Temple of the Holy Family)
(1883-1926)
Plaça de la Sagrada Filia
Situated to one side of the Plaça de la Sagrada F¨ªlia, between
the streets Marina, Provença, Sardenya and Mallorca, stands the
Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Fam¨ªlia, which was initially a
neo-Gothic project designed by the architect Francesc de Paula
del Villar. Gaud¨ª was commissioned to continue the work in 1891,
and replaced the existing project with a much more ambitious one
which resulted in the enormous present-day structure.
Sagrada Familia was designed to convey religious symbolism. It
has three monumental facades: the east front, dedicated to the
Birth of Christ; the west front, dedicated to the Passion and
Death; and the south front, the facade of the Glorification,
which is the largest of all. The four towers of each of the
three facades jointly symbolize the twelve apostles. The dome
shaped tower which crowns the apse is the symbol of the Mother
of God, and the four large towers dedicated to the evangelists
encircle the central spire, which symbolizes the Savior.
This great cathedral, inspired by the Gothic style, yet a
landmark of modern architecture, is in reality not much more
than a facade. Gaud¨ª died unexpectedly before he could finish
his grandest and most beloved project. Gaudi had sold everything
he owned to contribute to the cathedral's construction and lived
as a pauper in a shack on the site while he oversaw the building
process. The plans for its completion were locked in his head
when he was run over by a tram in 1926. There should be
galleries with space for 1500 singers, 700 children and 5 organs
and the magnificent structure should be filled with hymns of
praise. Instead, the project lies dormant. The question is
whether it will ever be finished.
Hospital de la
Santa Creu I de Sant Pau
Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167
93 291 9000
Grounds open daily. Call to see interior.
Hospital of 15th and 16th century, together with a church of
15th century and an archive building. Luis Domenech Montaner
believed that patients would recover more rapidly in a beautiful
setting. Thus, he envisioned a hospital with 26 attractive
pavilions set in large gardens. He hoped to get patients out of
wards and into the out of doors where there were fresh air and
trees. The pavilions were decorated lavishly in bright colors to
cheer those who were ill. The turreted roofs were tiled with
ceramics and the reception pavilion embellished with mosaic
murals and sculptures. After his death, the project was
completed by his son, Pere.
Perfume Museum
Passeig de Gracia, 39
93 216 0146.
Open Monday to Friday from 10:30 -1:30 and 4:30 to 8. Closed on
Saturdays afternoon, Sundays and Public Holidays.
Contains a valuable collection of scent bottles and cosmetics
jars dating from antiquity to the present day.
Museum of Music
Avinguda Diagonal 373
93 416 1157.
daily except Mondays from 9-2. Wednesday 5 - 8
Contains string and wind instruments, manuscripts and personal
effects of the great musicians.
Attractions in
the Area Just Outside the City Center
Note: Much
of this area was developed in the late 1980's and 1990's. Sants,
the city's main station was rebuilt and the neighboring Parc de
l"Espanya Industrial and Parc Joan Mir¨® were created containing
futuristic sculpture and architecture. Close to the Poblenou the
city has a national theter and concert hall. In the west the
streets climb steeply toward the Royal Palace and Monastery of
Pedralbes and Parc G¨¹ell. Tibidabo, the highest point in
Barcelona has an amusement park and is reached by funicular.
Museum of
Barcelona Football (Soccer) Club
Avinguda Aristides Maillol. (Stadium).
93 330 9411
Open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10-1 and 3-6. Saturdays, Sundays
and Holidays from 10-2 (closed on match days).
April to October: Mondays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Holy days from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on
Sundays.
Explains the club's history and displays its trophies. Special
video shown on five screens. Includes visit to the presidential
box.
Museum of the
Monastery of Pedralbes
At the end of the Paseo de Reina Elisenda
Baixda Monestir 9
93 203 9282
Open Tuesday - Friday and Sunday 10 - 2 Saturday 10 - 5 Closed
on Mondays. This building, which is of great architectural
value, contains personal property which shows the history of the
monastery.
Museum of the
Arts, Industry and Popular Traditions
Poble Espanyol
93 423 6954. Call for times.
The streets and roads built for the 1929 World Exhibition give a
glimpse of the country's many architectural styles.
Reproductions range from the gleaming white houses of Andalucia
to the flat granite facades of Galicia, all blended to form one
"village." The buildings house restaurants, caf¨¦s, and workshops
where crafts and artifacts from all over Spain are displayed. In
the evenings dinner is served accompanied by live music and
flamenco dancing.
The Palau de la
M¨²sica Catalana
At the corner of Carrer adeu Vives stands this building, the
work of the architect Llu¨ªs Dom¨¨nech i Montaner, a follower of
Gaud¨ª. The Palau de la M¨²sica dates from 1908, and its interior
is the most important testimony of the modernist style. Here we
find polychrome materials (tiled mosaics, stained glass); the
floral themes and the figures with the body in mosaic and the
bust in relief are by Eusebi Arnau. To the left of the stage
there is a willow tree in stone, sculpted by Pau Gargallo,
evoking Catalan folk song in the person of Anselm Clav¨¦ and the
girls of the song Les Flors de Maig. The right-hand side evokes
international music, with the bust of Beethoven and the ride of
Wagner's Valkyries. The Palau de la M¨²sica was created as the
home and the concert hall of the Orfe¨® Catal¨¤, a great choral
society founded a few years earlier by the composer Llu¨ªs
Millet. It should be noted here that the Orfe¨® Catal¨¤ has had
great importance in the revaluation of Catalan popular music.
Parc G¨¹ell
(1900-1914)
Carrer d'Olot
A fascinating scenario of gardens and overdimensional
architectonic forms which seem to be born by the ground. Gaud¨ª
created an equilibry that usually only exists in nature, but
never in architecture. The Parc G¨¹ell.
The Parc G¨¹ell is situated on the Carmel hill, which, along with
that of La Creueta and the Muntanya Pelada, separates the
district of Gr¨¤cia from that of Horta. The financier Eusebi
G¨¹ell decided to construct a garden city on the old estate of
Can Montaner, and commissioned the project to Gaud¨ª. Only two
houses came to be built within the enclosure of the Park, which
was conserved as such and which is now a municipal garden. The
whole of the urban development part was realized between the
years 1900 and 1914.
Science Museum
Teodor Roviralta, 55
Tibidabo Station.
93 212 6050.
10 - 8 (except Mondays).
Planetarium shows. Weekdays at 1 and 6. Saturdays, Sundays and
Public Holidays every 30 minutes (Children under 4 not admitted
to planetarium shows)). Scientific film shows. Saturdays,
Sundays and Public Holidays in the morning and the afternoon.
Ceramica Museum
Palace of Pedralbes.
93 280 1621
daily except Mondays from 10 - 5
Fine collection of Spanish and Foreign ceramics
Museum of Ceric
Palacio de Pedralbes
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday closed.
Museum of
Decorative Arts
Av. Diagonal, 686
Tuesday to Sunday 10 to 2 , Monday closed.
Outrageous collection of tapestry and other objects of art.
Tibidabo
Visitors arrive at the top of this mountain by the only tramway
that still exists in Barc
Children's
attractions are concentrated around Montjuïc, Tibidabo and the
Port Vell, and reaching them is part of the fun! Among the
transportation choices are: funiculars, trams, cable cars and
golondrines (swallow boats), as well as the open-top Bus
Tur¨ªstic.
The Poble
Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol is popular with children, with a resident
glass-blower, arts and crafts demonstrations and magic and
circus shows most summer weekends. On a rainy day a good, though
expensive, standby can be the IMAX giant-format cinema on
premises.
L'Aqu¨¤rium de
Barcelona
Open Sept-August. Admission charged. One of the most attractive
of its kind, the aquarium reproduces Mediterranean habitats in
21 tanks. The highlight is the 80 meter glass tunnel through a
shark tank, allowing the visitor to walk through with scary
sharks' teeth inches from the face. Little ones may prefer the
upstairs area which features a touching pool.
New Park
This is on the order of a video arcade similar to those found in
shopping Malls in the US. Floors of video games and high-tech
simulation games all wait to receive the visitor's coins!
Nits h¨ªpiques a
Barcelona (Horse shows)
Performances late June-Sept. Tickets tourist offices &
Tel-entrada Admission charged.
Every Friday during summer the city police's ornately-uniformed
display team presents an exhibition of dressage on their
Andalusian horses, which strut their fancy footwork to music.
Tibidabo Funfair
Admission charged.
Make a day of it by catching the Trvia Blau up the hill to the
Funicular, which takes you through the woods to the top of the
mountain and the funfair. Few amusement parks can compete with
this spectacular mountaintop view. The park has bumper cars,
Ferris wheel, as well as the infamous house of horrors, Hotel
Krueger.
Museu d'Automates, a collection of old fairground machines. If
you still have some energy at the end of the afternoon, consider
a walk through the beautiful woods to the tram stop on the well
marked path.
Catalunya en
Miniatura
Apparently the largest model village in Europe, with over 170
miniatures of Catalonian monuments and buildings, and a mini
train to take you around.
Zoo de Barcelona
Parc de la Ciutadella
93 225 67 80
Admission charged. Children enjoy the green, shady picnic areas,
meeting the animals, watching the regular shows at the
Dolphinarium, petting the animals in the farm area, and the
chance to meet Copito de Nieve (Snowflake), the only albino
gorilla in captivity.
Aquale¨®n Safari
An all-in-one water and safari park between Barcelona and
Tarragona, with tigers, birds of prey and parrots as well as
giant water slides, fun pools and wave machines. Captive
dolphins too.
Parc de
Cervantes
On the very edge of the city, this is one of Barcelona's most
beautiful parks. The grass is always green, and it has a
children's play area, a picnic site and lovely shaded lawns for
relief from the heat of the afternoon.
January:
In January the main celebration is the arrival of the Three
Kings from the Orient on the 5th accompanied by a parade, and on
the 6th when both children and adults receive toys and gifts.
Santa Eulalia January 12. the feast of the patron saint of
Barcelona is celebrated in the old town. There is dancing and
many people dress up as giants.
February:
The Carnivals, held in February, are becoming more and more
popular ( after having been forbidden during the years of the
Franco dictatorship), and St. Valentines Day (February 14th) is
also increasing in its popularity.
1st Sunday in Lent is the date of the Internacional de Cotxes
d' Epocha, a veteran car rally that runs from Barcelona to
Sitges.
March:
On March 3rd the popular festival of Sant Medir is held in
Gr¨¢cia. There is a parade and singing by choirs. Holy Week
begins with the palm fair which is held on Palm Sunday. It
continues with the accompanying religious festivities and ends
on Easter Monday ( the celebration of which is pagan in origin).
Throughout March there is the Terrassa Jazz Festival when
musicians gather in Barcelona from all over the world. Free
outdoor concerts are given on weekends.
April:
The most spectacular festival is held on April 23rd. This is the
celebration in honor of Sant Jordi (St. George), the patron
saint of Catalonia. It coincides with the rose and book
festivals.
May:
In May a flower show is held, and on the 11th there is the
festival of Sant Ponç held in El Hospital street by the city's
herbalists.
June:
A book Fair is held in the Passeig de Gracia in June and during
the same month there is a Trade Exhibition in Montjuic. The
Corpus Christi celebrations with processions of giants and
cabezudos, and the l´Ou com Balla (the dancing egg) take place
in the fountain at the Cathedral cloister.
The most popular celebration during the month of June is the
Eve of Sant Joan (St. John). This is celebrated both in private
homes and in public places, and there is dancing bonfires in
some streets and squares and fireworks.
The Eve of Sant Pere (St. Peter), on June 28th, brings with
it festivities associated with the arrival of the summer
solstice.
From the end of June onwards, the Festival of el Grec begins.
This consists of a series of theatrical performances as well as
dancing, concerts, and other cultural events. These take place
either at the Greek Theatre in Montjuic, in the open air, as
well as in other locations in the city. There are also many
sports tournaments and competitions and several trade fairs at
the Exhibition Center.
July:
July 24th marks the Feast of Sant Jaume (St. James) and is
celebrated in much the same way as the Eves of St. Joan and Sant
Pere.
August:
The Feast of the Assumption (August 15th), is another popular
festival which is held in the district of Gracia.
September:
The last great summer celebration is that of the Onze de
Setembre (September 11th). This is a national holiday in
Catalonia when various official and political ceremonies are
held.
However, there are many more celebrations throughout the year in
the city and in its different districts. Every district has a
Saint's Day which it celebrates with a festival.
The popular festival of La Merc¨¦, the patron saint of
Barcelona, take place around September 24th when there are folk
dances such as the sardanas, parades through the streets,
important sporting events (e.g. sailing, regattas, judo,
swimming, walking races), religious celebrations, etc. Other
events held in conjunction with the festival are fashion shows,
food tasting and wine sampling.
October:
In October a Second-Hand Book Fair is held in the Passeig de
Gracia and there is also a Music Festival, the Autumn Fair in El
Tinell and several other fairs at the Trade Exhibition Center.
November:
In November All Hallows Day is celebrated on the 1st and All
Souls Day on the 2nd. This is the time when special cakes, known
locally as panellets are baked and eaten.
December:
At the time of Santa Llucias Days (December 13th) the crib fair
begins in the vicinity of the Cathedral, and continues until
Christmas. The opera season opens at El Liceu and the the
concert season at the Palace of Music (Palau de la Musica).
Christmas is traditionally celebrated at home with the family
and with the newly revived custom of fer cagar el tio (this
consists of putting an object similar to a tree trunk into the
fire from which presents then burst out). Christmas dinner
includes escudella turkey, and torrons (a kind of nougat
dessert).
The start of the New Year is celebrated in bars, restaurants,
and in the street where people wear the fancy dress usually seen
at street carnivals. As the clock strikes twelve they eat twelve
grapes in time with each chime, a custom which is said to bring
good luck if done properly!
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