Barcelona Things to Do Tips by sue_stone

My favourite building in Barcelona would have to be the Sagrada Familia, and it isn't even finished yet! The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece - a massive church that he was working on when he died (in 1926) and which is still under construction today.

Currently only two of the three planned facades have been built - the Nativity Façade and the Passion Façade, with work now commencing on the Glory Façade. Each façade has 4 tall towers, and there will be an additional 6 towers built, giving the church 18 towers in total - the tallest of which could be up to 170 metres high. When the church is finished it will hold up to 13,000 people. It is hoped that it will be completed in time for the 100 year anniversary of Gaudi's death in 2026.

Although under construction, you can go inside the church and explore this amazing work in progress. Make sure you have a look at some of the beautiful stained glass windows that have recently been completed - the light reflects the colours of the windows onto the tall pillars inside the church.

You can also visit some of the towers, towards the top of the church. First you will have to catch the lift, and then walk up stairs to reach the outside of the towers. It is an amazing experience to get an up-close look at the majesty of Gaudi's work.

Opening Hours: Daily from 9am-8pm

Admission cost: 8 euro, or combined with Casa Museu Gaudi (in Park Guell), 9 euro

There are additional charges for: lift to the top of the building (2 euro); audio tour or guided tour (3.50 euro) (All prices correct as at Feb 2007)

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Phone: 93 207 30 31
Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401, L'Eixample
Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district
Nearest metro: Sagrada Familia
Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org/

The Monument a Colom (Columbus Monument) sits in the middle of a traffic-roundabout at the end of La Rambla, overlooking the harbour. This 60 metre high tower has a statue of Columbus sitting on its top.

Barcelona was the place Columbus returned to after his voyage of discovery to the Americas, and he is therefore thought of as one of the important 'sons' of the city.

The column was constructed in 1888, for the Universal Exhibition. There is a (very small) lift inside that you can catch to the top for some excellent views of the surrounding area. You can get a particularly good view along tree-lined La Rambla, which makes a great photo (you should be able to open one of the small windows to allow a better shot).

Opening Hours: 9am-8.30pm May-Oct and 10am-6.30pm Nov-Apr

Admission was 2.30 euro (Jan 2007)

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Address: Placa del Portal de la Pau
Directions: Located at the bottom end of La Rambla, overlooking the harbour
Nearest metro: Drassanes

Casa Batllo is possibly one of the strangest looking residential buildings around. Located on the grand Passeig de Gracia, the house was originally built back in the late 1800's. It was bought by Batllo i Casanovas in 1900 and he commissioned Gaudi to tear it down and build a new house.

In the end, Gaudi worked with the existing building, redesigning the amazing façade and roof, and remodelling the interior, with work being completed in 1907.

The outside of the building looks bizarre. It is covered with bits of green, blue, purple & brown tiles, and has multiple small balconies with bone-like pillars or pieces of skulls (hence its nickname, 'House of Bones'). Gaudi used colours and shapes found in sea life for his inspiration for the building, and it is said that the colours on the façade are like those found in coral.

Inside you can visit the first floor, top floor and roof top (though the admission price is steep!). The first floor is home to the main salon with its stunning curved wooden doors and sun-like light fitting.

The top floor has some fabulous arches and I loved the flowery floor tiles. There is a small terrace area here (near the gift shop) with a beautiful tiles pavement.

The roof is a must-see, for the colourful chimney pots which rise above it, and the other tower like structures also covered in the pretty mosaic tiles. As you descend from the roof you will get to meet the great man himself - Gaudi….well, a hologram of him anyway!

Opening Hours:
Apr to Sep - Daily from 9am-8pm
Oct to Mar - Daily from 9am-6pm

Admission cost: 16 euro (Jan 2007)

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Phone: 93 216 03 06
Address: Passeig de Gracia 43, L'Eixample
Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district
Nearest metro: Passeig de Gracia
Website: http://www.casabatllo.es/
Other Contact: infovisites@casabatllo.es

Casa Mila, more commonly known as La Pedrera, is a Gaudi designed apartment and office block - it is the largest civil building he designed. It was constructed between 1906 and 1910, commissioned by Pedro Mila i Camps, a rich businessman, who was impressed by what Gaudi had achieved with Casa Batllo.

It looks like the whole thing has been constructed in stone, but in fact has just been coated in a layer of stone. The outside of the building has a series of undulating balconies that look a bit like waves. There are unusual wrought-iron designs on the balconies which were created by Josep Maria Jujol.

Inside you can visit the top two floors, plus the roof top. The inside of the apartments is filled with Gaudi's signature curves and arches - there is not a straight line in sight!

The highlight of a visit to La Pedrera is the roof top. Here you will see large chimney pots which look like some sort of medieval warriors, along with other unusual shaped structures covered in mosaic tiles. There are some great views from up here to.

Opening Hours:
Nov to Feb - Daily from 9am-6.30 pm (last entrance at 6 pm)
Mar to Oct - Daily from 9am-8pm (last entrance at 7.30 pm)

Admission cost is around 8 euro

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Phone: 902 40 09 73
Address: Carrer de Provenca 261-265, L'Eixample
Directions: Located in the L'Eixample district
Nearest metro: Diagonal
Website: http://www.lapedreraeducacio.org/eng/index.htm

One of the loveliest looking and most 'Spanish like' squares (well, my vision of what a 'Spanish like' square is anyway!) in Barcelona is Placa Reial. It is located just off La Rambla, on the left as you head in the direction of the port. It is connected to La Rambla by a short road, Carrer Colom, which leads you through a tall arch into the square.

The square was laid out in 1848 on the site of a former monastery. It is enclosed by classical style buildings, with arcaded shops, bars and restaurants. In the centre there is the Three Graces fountain, and on either side of this you can see two interesting lampposts which were some of Gaudi's earliest work.

This palm-filled square makes a great place to relax with a drink or a meal, and is a meeting place for locals and tourists. Be warned though, it has also been known to be a haunt for pick pockets and drug dealers. On Sundays the square is the busy scene of a coin and stamp market.

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Address: Via Carrer Colom, just of La Rambla dels Caputxins
Directions: Located in the Barri Gotic district, just off La Rambla
Nearest metro: Liceu

The wonderful Mercat de la Boqueria is Barcelona's most famous and central food market. It is located about halfway down La Rambla, and its main entrance has an impressive steel-framed roof and big colourful sign. This is a busy market, filled with locals doing their daily/weekly shops and also plenty of tourists getting in their way whilst taking photos.

All manner of fresh produce is on sale here - the usual stuff, like fruit & veg, a good range of meats, decent selection of bread etc. It is a great place if you want to try out some of the local cheeses or hams - there are taste tests available.

There is some very unusual seafood for sale - we were particularly intrigued by the Percebes and the piles of spiky-shelled creatures. I was also impressed by the whole (dead) little piglets which looked like they were just having a nice nap.

Dotted throughout the market are several places to eat, so if you want to brush shoulders with some of the stallholders this is the place to dine.

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Address: La Rambla 91
Directions: Located on La Rambla, between Carrer del Carme and Carrer de Hospital
Nearest metro: Liceu
Website: http://www.boqueria.info/

Barcelona's stunning Gothic cathedral - La Seu - is a must see on your visit to the city. It is located in the ancient Barri Gotic quarter, on the small Placa de la Seu, which joins onto Placa Nova.

The cathedral was constructed between 1298 and 1460, though churches have existed on its site dating as far back as 343 AD. The main façade wasn't built until 1870, though it is based on a 1408 design. The spire of the central tower is 70 metres tall. The two times I have visited Barcelona the façade has been under restoration, though it is supposed to be completed later in 2007.

Inside there is a large central nave and 28 side chapels. Make sure you check out the lavish choir stalls in the centre of the cathedral.

You can catch the lift up to the roof for great views over the city - highly recommended!

Opening hours: Daily, 8am-12.15pm & 5.15-7.30pm

Free admission, but it will cost you around 2 euro to catch the lift to the roof

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Phone: 93 342 82 60
Address: Placa de la Seu
Directions: Located in the Barri Gotic district
Nearest metro: Jaume I
Website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/barcelonacathedral.htm

Located in the La Ribera district, at the southern end of Passeig del Born, is the lovely Esglesia de Santa Maria del Mar. Thought of as one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, this 14th century church dominates the little Placa de Santa Maria.

The church is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Sea, the patron saint of sailors, and an ancient model ship hangs inside. It took just over 55 years to build which was an amazing effort in those days. The quick construction meant that they stayed true to the gothic style.

The interior is quite plain - not helped by the fact that it was gutted by anarchists in both 1909 and 1936. It has a large central nave and a multitude of octagonal pillars.

Take some time out inside the church as it is such a calming place. Apparently it is Barcelona's most popular wedding spot!

Opening hours: Daily from 9am-1.30pm (Sunday 10am-2pm), and from 4.30pm-8pm

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Phone: 933 19 05 16
Address: Placa de Santa Maria
Directions: Located in the La Ribera district
Nearest metro: Jaume I
Website: http://www.santamariadelmar.tk/
Other Contact: santamaria205@arqbcn.org

The Parc de la Ciutadella is Barcelona's most central park and is a perfect place to relax and explore. Work started in 1872 to convert this part of the city into the green oasis you can visit today.

My favourite part of the park is the beautiful Cascade Fountain, a large, waterfall style fountain. It was created between 1874 and 1881 by Josep Fontsere, with some assistance from Gaudi. The Baroque-style fountain is backed by a monumental structure topped with horses and chubby cherubs. Lower down in the fountain are winged-lions and water spouts.

Close to the fountain, make sure you have a look at the huge stone Woolly Mammoth sculpture.

If you are after some exercise, head to the small man-made lake where you can rent a boat and go for a row.

You may well notice the great, medieval looking building at the edge of the park - it is called the Castell dels Tres Dragons (Castle of the Three Dragons). These days it houses the Museu de Zoologia (the Zoological Museum). The opposite end of the park is home to the city's Zoo, where over 7000 different species can be seen.

Park opening hours: Daily from 8am-6pm (Nov-Feb), 8am-8pm (Oct & Mar), 8am-9pm (Apr-Sep)

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Address: Passeig de Picasso
Directions: Located in the La Ribera district
Nearest metro: Arc de Triomf
Website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/barcelona/parcdelaciutadella.htm http://www.zoobarcelona.com

Located close to the Parc de la Ciutadella, via the paved and palm-lined Passeig de Lluis Companys, is Barcelona's version of the Arc de Triomf. This brick arch was built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition which was held in Parc de la Ciutadella. The arch was used as the main entrance to the Exhibition.

It was designed by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas in mudejar style (which is based around Moorish architecture styles). The colourful arch is topped with twelve statues of angel-looking women, which symbolises fame. Along the top, in the middle of the arch, there is a carving of the Coat of Arms of Barcelona.

Very different to the 'more famous' Arc de Triomf, this one is well worth a look - and you don't have to dodge 8 lanes of crazy traffic to get to it!

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Address: Passeig de Luis Companys
Directions: Located close to Parc de la Ciutadella
Nearest metro: Arc de Triomf
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomf