La Sagrada Familia and other Barcelona, Spain Things to Do Tips

This most iconic of buildings is the centrepiece of Barcelona. A most bizzare creation that is still under construction. Gaudi started this in 1882 through a commission from the Josephines, a right-wing faction of the Catholic Church. In theory it should be finished in the next 50 years or so.....

Apart from the huge number of stone carvings, it's the elongated towers: four above each of the three facades (representing the apostles) at 100m (329 ft.) high with four more (the evangelists) shooting up from the central section at a lofty 170m (558 ft.) that stand out. The architecture of this place gives you the impression that the whole place melting. Given the time that it has taken so far in its creation, the church looks a bit odd having very very old bits and very new, very clean looking bits side by side.

The words SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS, HOSANNA IN EXCELSIUS (Holy, Holy, Holy, Glory to God in the Highest) are written on the central section of the church. A truely wonderful place.

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Phone: 93 207 30 31
Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401
Directions: Metro: Line 2 or 5 Station: SagradaFamilia
Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org

This Arch is just like its cousin in Paris but not surrounded by crazed motorists. It was built as the entrance to the 1888 World Exposition site and is from a desig by Josep Vilaseca.

If you stand back from the arch you see that the top of the arch has the Barcelona coat of arms as well as a representation of all 49 other Spanish provinces. There are also very nice sculptures on the arch which are part of two friezes - 'Barcelona rep les nacions' on one side and 'Recompense' on the other.

The arch is also the entrance to the Parc de la Ciutadella. The red brick looks amazing when the sun is setting as it makes the Arch look almost alive!!

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Address: Passeig de Lluis Companys.
Directions: Barri Gotic Metro: Arc de Triomf.

This monument stands proud down near the warf and at the bottom end of the Ramblers. The man in question set sail from here and theoretically discovered the Americas though this is now hotly disputed (with the Vikings the theoretical discoverers!?). It was built in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition. You can go up it if you want for around 2 euros.

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Address: Place del portal de la Pau
Directions: Metro: Drassanes

Gaudi has certainly left his mark in Barcelona and his two sets of apartments stand out. At Casa Mila there are no straight lines in the construction and there is a vast array of interesting chimneys in the roof. The place is also known as Le Pedrera or 'the Quarry' in English due to its stoney & fortress-like appearance.

The entire building was restored in 1996. As part of this work a didactic museum (the Espai Gaudí) was installed in the attic and one of the apartments was refurbished to look as it would have in the early 20th century.

UNESCO classified Casa Milà as a World Heritage site in 1984.

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Phone: 93 484 5900
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 92, Carrer Provenca 261
Directions: Eixample district Metro 'FGC Diagonal/Provenca'

Casa Batlló was designed by Gaudí in 1905. Using curves in iron and stone the Casa Batlló is apparently thought to represent the legend of Saint George (the patron saint of Catalonia) and his dragon. The balconies are protected by imposing skull-like formations and supported by vertebrae-like columns representing the dragon's victims, while the roof is the dragon's humped and glossy scaled back. St. George can be seen in the turret, his lance crowned by a cross. Admission price is quite high at 16€ but worth it as you can also see Gaudí-designed furniture that is scattered throughout the building.

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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/

Another interesting spot including work by Gaudi. He seemed to be right into Dragons!! In 1900 the Parc Güell began as a real estate venture for a friend of Gaudi, Count Eusebi Güell , who planned to make this a model garden city community with its own church. It was never completed and the city took over the property in 1926. It's definately one of the spots to visit and enjoy in Barcelona - being a park it is a great spot to sit and watch the crowds buzz by (plenty of Gelato helps!!). Truely an amazing place.

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Phone: 93-317-39-740
Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, Vallcarca, Gràcia, 08024
Directions: Metro; line 3. Lesseps Station, then follow the street signs.
Website: http://www.bcn.es/parcsijardins

MNAC was build for the World exposition in 1929 and is famous for his Romanesque collection and is the major depository of Catalan art. Most of the sculptures and frescoes were taken from dilapidated churches in the Pyrénées, restored, and mounted as they would have appeared in their own churches.

It also has a huge Gothic collection. Headliners include Rubens, El Greco, Velasquez, Zurbaran and Goya plus a self-portrait of Ramón Casas and fellow painter Pere Romeu riding a tandem in the 'modernista' area.

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Phone: 93 622 03 60
Address: Palau Nacional. Parc de Montjuïc
Directions: Monjuïc district. Metro 'Espanya'
Website: http://www.mnac.es

A beautiful square in the middle of Barcelona. It would appear to be the heart of this great town and is a great spot to sit and watch the world go by. The square is at the top of the Ramblas. In the square there are sculptures by Josep Clara (La Divinidad) and Pablo Gargallo (Pastor tocando el caramillo) with many large buildings including banks and department stores.

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Address: Plaça Catalunya
Directions: Northwestern End Las Ramblas. Metro: Drassanes, Liceu, Catalunya

The Cathedral of Barcelona is a fantastic building. I have been here a couple of times and fortunately, on the second time, all of the structural stuff had gone as the first time the place was being cleaned etc and much of the front was hidden. This site has been Barcelona's center of worship for many, many years. Before the present cathedral there was a Roman temple and then later a mosque!!. Construction on the cathedral began at the end of the 13th century and was finally completed in the mid-15th century (similar to the Sagrada Familia good things take time?).

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Phone: 933151554
Address: Plaça de la Seu
Directions: Barri Gotic. Metro: Lines 1 and 3 (Catalunya Station) and Lines 2 and 4 (Urquinaona Station.)
Website: http://www.catedralbcn.org

The towers are at the front of the Plaza and look just like a pair of Campanile but in Barcelona. They were made originally, so I understand, for a 1929 exposition and made to resemble the bell tower in St Marks Square, Venice - they certainly got that right!

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Address: Avingudade la Reina María Cristina
Directions: Metro: Espanya