Barcelona in just one (full and long) day and other Barcelona, Spain Things to Do Tips

I know, sometimes we all have time constraints!! So, here you have some suggestions to fill up a very long day

Let's start at Plaça de Catalunya as it's the very city centre, very early morning. If you walk up Passeig the Gràcia you will see some of the most famous buildings of the city for a good start. Stop at Manzana de la Discordia and admire the beautiful houses here, the most famous of course is Gaudi's Casa Batlló. I would not visit casa Batlló but Casa Milà (la Pedrera) not far away. Later take any street to Rambla Catalunya and walk along, or have a rest on any of the nice street cafes there.

Walk down again until Plaça Catalunya. Here you I would propose you two alternatives:

- If you love walking: go down the famous Ramblas down until Columbus statue and the old harbor. After you can go up again and visit the Gotic, and maybe El Born/Ribera. Do not miss the markets, the most famous La Boqueria (in Las Ramblas), but Santa Caterina near the cathedral is very nice too and less crowded. On the afternoon, it may be fun to join a bike tour around the old town (see a separate tip for bike tours)

- Alternatively, in Plaça Catalunya you can take the tourist buses and have an overview of the city from its open top deck. You may take the red line of the tourist bus to Sagrada Familia (outside) and walk to hospital de Sant Pau nearby (most people miss it and it's amazing). Continue to park Güell (quick view of the area closer to the main gate, you will not have time for more). Continue on the red route just for sightseeing from the bus until the stop at Francesc Macià square. Here change to the blue line and sightseeing until you arrive again to Ramblas or Plaça de Catalunya. This way you will have a quick overview of virtually all the city, except the Gotic quarter (you have to walk there). To optimize your time you can grab some sandwiches and drinks and eat these while sightseeing from the open deck of the bus :)

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Directions: You'll see the tourist bus routes' map at the website below. You can click on the interactive map to see details of what to see on every stop (so it's quite useful even if you are not taking these buses).
Website: http://www.tmb.net/en_US/turistes/busturistic/rutesiparades.jsp

These are the kind of things that a local usually never do... but I had the opportunity, and I would repeat!! It was organised as the "social" part of an international company meeting. I do definitely recommend it, we had great fun, and we saw many interesting spots in a cool way. Our guide was excellent, and even the locals learnt a few new things (it is so much to explore around the old town!). The tour lasted about 5 hours, in a relaxed path (we had a stop at a nice terrace to have a drink together), and plenty of stops to take pics. These tours give you a different perspective, and the possibility to see diverse city areas in a short time, some of them you may wouldn't have ventured to.

The company we used was 'Un Cotxe Menys' (One Car Less). They also provide bike rental for those who want to go on their own, tours outside Barcelona, and customized tours. A similar company is 'Fat Tyre Bike Tours'. On addition, there are a few other companies doing these kind of tours, sure you get more results in Google.

Enjoy!

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Phone: (+34) 932 68 21 05
Address: Check the websites for meeting point, timetable...
Directions: UN COTXE MENYS
C/Esparteria, 3
08003 Barcelona

Tel: (+34) 932 68 21 05
Fax: (+34) 93 319 42 98

info@bicicletabarcelona.com
Website: www.bicicletabarcelona.com
Other Contact: www.fattyrebiketours.com

CaixaForum is an art exhibition centre, belonging to the one of most powerful Catalan saving banks, La Caixa.

It's located in a beautiful old factory building, amazing example of Modernist industrial architecture. Most of the abandoned factory wall were respected, and with some artistic interventions of artists like Sol LeWitt and Lucio Fontana, converted it to a spectacular place. The building itself deserve a visit: 3.000 square metres, 3 exhibition halls and 2 polyvalent rooms were concerts and other activities are held. Besides, there is a permanent exhibit of contemporary art, and excellent temporary exhibitions of all kind of artistic expressions. For instance, last time I was there I saw an exhibition of Turner's paintings and another or archaeological Thracian treasures.

And more... can you believe all this is for free??? (except special activities)

Here you have as well a shop (art books and many unusual items, ideal for gifts), and a pretty good cafe/restaurant ('menu del dia' is a good deal)

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Tue to Sun: 10:00 to 20:00 (Mon Closed). Special evening activities on Wednesdays of July and August

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Phone: +34 93 476 8600
Address: Av. Marquès de Comillas, 6-8
Directions: Metro Espanya (L1-red, L3-green). Many buses do stop at Plaça d’Espanya as well.
Website: http://www3.lacaixa.es/caixaforum/cat/flash/index.htm

This building was designed by the famous architect for the International Exposition in Barcelona of 1929, as the German Pavilion. After the closure of the Exhibition, the Pavilion was disassembled in 1930 (it seems that few people liked it at this time). It was rebuilt in the same place in 1983-86, using the same materials as the original: steel, glass, marble, and travertine. The walls are made of glass and marble, playing with light.

The building has no real function (just exhibit). It was made to held the official reception of the Spanish King Alfonso XIII to German authorities. It’s amazing to see the pictures of this reception: people don’t seem to belong to the same time than the building.

Mies van der Rohe also designed the chairs and stools for this pavilion (now called "Barcelona chair"), one of the icons of XX century design. The pavilion is empty, just the chairs and a sculpture in one corner (Georg Kolbe, Sunrise, 1925). Maybe the entrance fee is not worth if you’re not a big architecture fan (3.5 euros, student and groups 2 euros, children free), but anyway it’s nice to see the exterior and the reflecting pool.

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10:00 a 20:00 h. (all days)
Wed and Fri guided visits from 17:00 to 19:00 h (in Catalan, Spanish and English)

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Address: Avenida Marqués de Comillas, s/n (Montjuic)
Directions: Metro Espanya (L1-red, L3-green). Many buses do stop at Plaça d’Espanya as well.
Website: http://www.miesbcn.com/

If you have to choose only one building from Gaudi to visit, my vote would go to Casa Milà (La Pedrera). It's cheaper than Casa Batllo (beautiful, but overpriced IMHO) and I found it more interesting. But... this is my feeling. Some says than Casa Batllo is better... I guess is just a matter of personal taste.

Ticket to La Pedrera includes an interesting small museum about Gaudi works, the visit to a furnished apartment (fascinating to see how advanced to his time Gaudi was, do not forget to ask for your free audioguide) and the amazing roof (I've no word to describe it) and its views.

After your visit, do not forget to visit the first floor (different entry) where there are temporary art exhibitions (this one is free, so you can't do this at any time when in Barcelona).

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Phone: 93 484 5900
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 92, Carrer Provenca 261
Directions: Eixample district Metro 'FGC Diagonal/Provenca'
Website: www.lapedreraeducacio.org
Other Contact: obrasocial.caixacatalunya.es/oso

A tip: to see the back facade of the Casa Batllo, enter "Servei Estacio" hardware shop in Carrer Arago, go to the second floor (or third, I'm unsure now) and get out to the back terrace. You'll have an interesting view of an "interior d'illa" (the "square" inside each Eixample's block of houses).

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Phone: 93 488 06 66
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 43
Directions: Take the metro to Passeig de Gràcia, or bus 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 28, 43 or 44.
Website: http://www.casabatllo.es/

The full name of this hospital is "Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau", but we usually call it simply "Sant Pau". You may find odd to visit a hospital just for tourism... but if you do it, you'll see is worth it! The complex is a masterpiece of the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and in 1997, together with the Palau de la Música Catalana, it was declared World Heritage by UNESCO for its "singular architectural and artistic beauty".

You'll see more pics at my travelogue: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/i/97e0f/

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Phone: 93.488.20.78
Address: St. Antoni Maria Claret, 167
Directions: It is very easy to find: from Sagrada Familia (Nativity side), take Avda. Gaudí, walk about 5 minutes... you cannot miss the impressive buildings at the end of the avenue
Website: http://www.santpau.es/patrimoni.asp
Other Contact: santpau@santpau.es

"Palau de la Música Catalana" was created as a place where the music could be enjoyed at its most. This concert hall was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was built between 1905 and 1908.

In 1997 it was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO (together with Hospital de Sant Pau, see my other tip and travelogue).

Its interior is amazing, like a continuous sculpture, with the impressive zenithal stained glass window by Rigalt i Granell as central gem.

The exterior is very interesting as well, both the original part as he new extension building. From 1999 to 2004 the catalan architect Òscar Tusquets was in charge of the extension works, conferring the Palau its definitive aesthetic and functional configuration.

GUIDED VISITS:
Daily from 10.00 to 15.30 (August and Easter Week: from 10.00 to 18.00)

Catalan: 10.30 and 12.30
Spanish: 11.30, 13.30, 14.30 and 15.30 (16.30, 17.30)
English: 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00 (16.00, 17.00, 18.00)

- Palau de la Música Ticket Office: c./Palau de la Música 4-6, from 10.00 to 15.30
- Les Muses del Palau shop, c./St. Pere Més Alt, 1, from 10.00 to 18.00
- Sale by phone: Tel. 902 475 485 (not for the same day tours)

9 € Individual
8 € Groups / Students / Senior citizens / Unemployed
7 € Groups of senior citizens, students and unemployed of more than 25 people

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Phone: 902 475 485
Address: c. Palau de la Música 4-6
Directions: Metro: Urquinaona
Website: http://home.palaumusica.org/

Casa Terrades, most known as "Casa de les Puntxes" (house of the spikes) was designed by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafach in1905. Itt has a somewhat medieval appearance, and shows how the architect was influenced by Nordic style.

The façade was made in brick, and the ornaments around the windows and doors in stone. The big panels at the roof level were made in ceramics, with a sun clock and decorated with many other symbolic elements of Catalan nationalism. For instance, an image of de Sant Jordi (Saint George, patron of Catalonia) with the inscription in Catalan "Saint Patron of Catalonia please restore our freedom"

Other great artists collaborated to make this building: Alfons Juyol (stone sculptures), Eudald Amigo (stained glass windows), Manuel Ballarin (forged iron works).

Nowadays is a private owned building and visits are not allowed, but do not miss its magnificent exterior when walking around the area.

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Address: Avinguda Diagonal, 416 - 420
Directions: - Buses: 6, 15, 20, 33, 34, 39, 45, 47, N6
- Metro: L3, L5 (Diagonal or Verdaguer), L4 (Verdaguer)

There may be many other beautiful fountains all over the world, many with light and color and even motion, but this one is the oldest one of its type. This amazing fountain, or better said, set of fountains, cascades and jets, were built as part of the stetting of the Great Universal Exhibition of 1929. It was restored before the Olympics of 1992

It seems that the Exhibition’s organizers felt that it needed something special to attract people’s attention and to distinguish their Exhibition above others. Carles Buigas submitted his project for a “colossal, daring and costly piece of work”. The project was so unexpected and stunning that it was even branded by some as madness. But even most amazing is how fast they could build it: In less than a year (more than 3,000 workers involved!)

Technically is an amazing engineer and physics project, apart of its beautiful results as artwork. Buigas discovered that the light should be concentrated so as to avoid larger beams obscuring smaller ones. Light would no longer be used only to illuminate the night, but rather to embellish it too.

Part of the cascades and fountains were removed after the Exhibition, but we still can enjoy its major works of water, light and color: to the four cascades and the large jet.

You can se more pics at my Font Màgica travelogue

But you have to be there, pics do not make justice

Maria Cristina Axis Opening Hours:

Winter: (October to April)
Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Music sessions: 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM

Summer: (May to September)
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 pm to 11:30 pm

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Address: Avinguda Maria Cristina, Metro stop: Espanya
Directions: Between the Palau National, on Montjuïc, and Plaça d'Espanya.
Website: http://fonts.bcn.es/ie/index.asp?Idioma=eng