let yourself go into the happy... and other Barcelona, Spain General Tips

Favorite Thing: let yourself go into the happy Mediterranean way of life. Then take your time and enjoy the city’s beautiful sites. Most tourists link the city with Gaudí’s masterpieces Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. In fact the city is filled with examples of this crazy richly decorated kind of architecture. Gaudí is the most famous artist of this artistic trend called “Modernisme” (Catalan equivalent to “Art Nouveau” in Paris or Brussels, “Jugendstil” in Germany and Austria), but you will be able to admire many buildings by other important architects like Domènech i Montaner or Puig i Cadafalch. I suggest that you buy a good guide to find out more about it. You will learn that in the second half of the XIX century, the city decided to demolish the old medieval wall in order to extend itself and host the increasing population. A whole new residential area was planned (by engineer Ildefons Cerdà) and the prosperous industrials in Barcelona let their new palaces be built in the new trendy architectural style. This area of the city (called Eixample) is characterised by its long tree-lined avenues and its structure can be admired from the top of nearby Serra de Collserola, where the famous luna park Tibidabo stands.

Barcelona is celebrating during 2002 Gaudí’s 150 anniversary, so plenty of cultural activities will take place during the year. Gaudí’s most admired works in Barcelona are:

- the Sagrada Familia: this unfinished temple (it is not a cathedral) is awesome. Even if only two lesser façades stand and a part of the abses stand, it continues to marvel any traveller who visits it. You can climb to the towers, but it’s not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.

- Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, is an apartment block in Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s most elegant avenue. On this same avenue you will find Casa Batlló (by Gaudí), Casa Ametller (by Puig i Cadafalch) and Casa Lleó Morera (by Domènech i Montaner).

- Park Güell: situated on the upper part of the city, it provides awesome views over the city and sea and it is full of sculptures, fountains and romantic corners.

- Palau Güell: situated near the Rambla, is one of Gaudí’s first works.

You can see more pictures on Gaudí in my travelogue.

But, don’t forget to visit other important “Modernist” buildings in Barcelona, like Hospital de Sant Pau (close to the Sagrada Familia) or the Palau de la Música Catalana (in the old town).

Fondest Memory: strolling in the narrow streets of the old Gothic quartier, skating along the sea promenade, al fresco eating in an old Mediterranean patio, enjoying the sun and the beach, watching life go by in the Rambla, partying in the disco's...

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Fondest Memory: There are many view points from where you can get an excellent overview of the city: Montjuic, the Tibidabo and the Park Güell are the most famous ones. The latter is specially popular among tourists and another famous work by the omnipresent Antoni Gaudí. You can see more pictures in the travelogue.

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Favorite Thing: Modernisme has influenced the city in such a way, that you can find everywhere this Modernistic designs in shops, bars, bakeries...


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Favorite Thing: do some shopping. There are a lot of interesting shops in town. This is a picture of a commercial building in Carrer de Pelai.


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Favorite Thing: Do some birdwatching. You can even spot some of the many parrots living here.


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Favorite Thing: You will not miss the extravagant roof of the Fundació Tàpies.


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Fondest Memory: You can also have excellent views of the whole city from the Montjuic park. I guess this statue must be pleased with the location they chose for it. It must be hard to stand always at the same point, but if you have to, choose at least a beautiful view.

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