Barcelona Things to Do Tips by Raimix

Museum of Catalan history Museu d'Historia de Catalunya Review

The place in older times was known as Palace of the Sea, it was constructed by Mauricio Garran in 1881. Place was used for trading purposes.

Nowadays it is museum of Catalan history, presenting the history of this Spanish region from early times till these moments. Entrance fee is 4 euros for an adult. We haven't been to this museum, but on the next visit to Barcelona I am sure to visit it.

The palace houses also nice restaurants around; it is place to have a look at seaside and nice yachts.

Address: Pl. Pau Vila, 3.

Directions: Metro: Drassanes, On the waterfront.

Phone: 932 25 47 00

Barcelona bus station

Estacio de Nord was built in 1861. After restoration works only façade of 1861 and the main entrance (1915) is left. Nowadays building houses Barcelona bus station, police department and sport club.

There is a nice part nearby bus station. Actually it is good idea to locate here police officers, as place looks much safer than bus stations in other big cities.

It was a place for a bus connection Barcelona – Girona airport, which we used to come back home to Lithuania.

Address: Alí Bei, 80.

Directions: Not so far from Triumphal Arch.

Guell park Parc Guell Review

Guell park is one of the most important works of Gaudi. The park is located quite outside of city centre. At first we wanted to walk there, but later changed our minds (good decision) :)

The park is named Guell due to its customer Eusebio Guell. He wanted Gaudi to design a large hilly territory as a park, nowadays not everything left of it. The most famous here are mosaic balconies, park entrance houses, the Cavalry. The entrance of park is free, but you have to pay an extra for Gaudi museum.

Park made a big impression, a feeling the place is not real, but from tales. I think it is due to unusual forms and mosaic colors Gaudi loved.

Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, Vallcarca.

Directions: Metro; line 3. Lesseps Station, then follow the street signs.

Phone: 93-317-39-740

Website: http://%fc%s4%cb http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins

Olympic Village Olympic Harbor - Village Review

Olympic Village was constructed for 1992 Olympic Games. The “village” use in a name is quite modest, as the main buildings here are skyscrapers, the tallest in Spain, 44 floors. Nowadays one skyscraper houses hotel Arts, the other one is used for offices. The Olympic village is a nice starting point for a walking to look Barcelona’s central beach.

Directions: Olympic Village.

The Monumental Bullring

The place, for locals know as just "la Monumental", was constructed in 1914. This time was a beginning of bullfighting watch in Barcelona. The structure is in Moors and Byzantine styles, with a nice decoration of ceramic tiles.

The place is not only famous for bullfighting (about 20 times a year), but also for bullfighting museum.

Anyway, recently I have read that bullfighting was forbidden in Catalonian region, so I guess only museum left here.

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 749.

Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul Hospital Sant Pau Review

The city hospital was designed by Domenech I Montaner in 1902, it is a mix of Moors brick design and modern style, structure is adorned by ceramics. For me it was one of the most impressive modern trend buildings in Barcelona, despite of a long way here from very central part of Barcelona (let say, Rambla), it is worth visiting.

Here are quite much green areas around instead of more constructions of hospital. I have read that most of corridors are made as undergrounds to safe green area around.

Address: St. Antoni Maria Claret, 167.

Directions: At the end of Av Gaudi.

Phone: 93.488.20.78

Website: http://%fc%s4%cb http://www.hspau.com/angles/esc1.htm

Church of the Holy Family Temple de la Sagrada Familia Review

Church of the Holy Family is the most known symbol of Barcelona, in my opinion it is the first to mention when talking about Barcelona. It is a real masterpiece, with a lot of symbols and the architecture that depicts nature (lets say, interior details look like stems of plant).

The construction of unique architecture church started at 1882 in neo - gothic style, but in 1883 the work was overtaken by famous Gaudi. The works of construction were running after Gaudi death as well (1926), but after one decade the project documents were burned at Spanish civil war time.

Anyway, works continued not only in the 20th century, but nowadays too (plan to finish church is in 2030). The purchasing the ticket to see interior seems to be a donation for constructing church, despite the donation is “only” 12,50 euros + 2,50 euros to go up the tower (I consider it a bit overrated).

Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401.

Directions: Metro: Line 2 or 5 Station: Sagrada Familia.

Phone: 93 207 30 31

Website: http://%fc%s4%cb http://www.sagradafamilia.org

The Church of the Conception

The Church of the Conception was constructed between 1293 and 1448. Building presents Catalan Gothic style.

It is interesting enough, that in the 19th century it was plan to demolish church, as it was on the planned main road line, connecting new town and port (it was located in Barri Gothic quarter). Brick by brick all the building was moved to the present location in Eixample suburb.

The church has very nice inner yard.

Address: Arago 299.

Directions: Eixample district, on the way to Sagrada Familia church.

Casa Batllo Casa Batlló Review

The house was designed by Gaudi in 1906. It is one of the most interesting buildings in Passeig de Gracia. The main idea to design this house was a form of a dragon that was conquered by St. George. The roof looks like a spine of a dragon, balconies seems like bones.

It is possible to visit construction inside for an extra pay.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia 43.

Directions: Take the metro to Passeig de Gràcia, or bus 7, 16, 17, 22, 24, 28, 43 or 44.

Phone: 93 488 06 66

Website: http://%fc%s4%cb http://www.casabatllo.es/

Museum of Joan Miró foundation Joan Miro Review

Joa Miro (1893 – 1983) was a famous Catalonian modernism artist. Most of his time he spent in Majorca island despite of F. Franco politics. His art is surrealism with Catalonian features (vivid colors, unusual forms).

In 1975, just after Spain got democratic form of politics building of Fundacio Joa Miro was constructed. It is a part of Barcelona’s contemporary art centre. If you go to balcony of building you could see nice panorama of Barcelona with National museum of Art.

Address: Plaza de Neptú.

Directions: Parc de Montjuïc s/n Bus 50 (stops in the Plaça Universitat). Also Funicular de Montjuïcs/n.

Phone: (34) 934.439.470

Website: http://%fc%s4%cb http://www.bcn.fjmiro.es