Barcelona Things to Do Tips by Joacim

Passeig de la fama

Between the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Museum, on the pavement, you can find the Passeig de la Fama. Here different sports celebrities has put down a foot and their name under it. Sometimes it gives you great pleasure to look down when you walk :)

Directions: Montjüic between the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Museum.

Mercat de Santa Caterina Shopping - Markets Review

The "Mercat de Santa Caterina" is a huge market hall in Barcelona, Spain with an extraordinary design. It's first inauguration was in the year 1848 and represented the first huge market of the city. It is located in Barcelona's quarter "La Ribera" in the old town - very close to the Cathedral. The new building of the market was finished in 2005 and is one of the latest architectonic treasures of the city.

As said before it is a market hall and you can buy lots of different goods and food. There are some cafés and snack bars inside. They also have a small exhibition from the Santa Caterina Convent (another tips) which was located under the market. The roof top is made of ceramic plates in a lot of colors and represent fruits and vegetables.

Address: La Ribera near the Cathedral

Palau de Lloctinent

The Gothic building with Renaissance elements was built in the sixteenth century by Antoni Carbonell under the orders of the Corts Catalanes (the Catalan Parliament). It is the former residence of the lieutenant or viceroy. Until recently, the building was used to house the archives of the Crown of Aragon.

It is beautiful just to go in the courtyard of the palace and feel the quiet atmosphere, the architecture and the spirit of the old Barcelona.

Address: Comtes, 2, Barcelona, Catalonia 08002

Directions: In Barri Gotic, near Placa del Rei and

History heaven Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat Review

A museum located in an old palace makes it always interesting. Combine that with the history of Barcelona from the very beginning with prime focus on the days of the Romans. Combine that with a spectacular exhibition in the basement where they have dug down to the city as it was in the Roman times.

You can look at the winemakers and their techniques, a church, roman villas. Unfortunately only the ruins of them but it is spectacular indeed. I do loved it and will come back more times!

Address: Plaça del Rei – Barri Gòtic

Directions: From Jaume I Metro, take the Llibreteria street and turn right at the first corner, you will get into the square.

Phone: 93 315 11 11

Website: http://www.museuhistoria.bcn.es

Beautiful peoplewathcing stop Plaça Reial Review

Plaça Reial is next to the Las Ramblas and a very popular spot to sit down, have a meal or a drink and start the evening. There are a number of restaurants and clubs around the square. During big festivals like New Years Eve, La Merce in Spetember, etc, the Plaça is always crowded.

The Plaça Reial was designed by Francesc Daniel Molina i Casamajó in the 19th century. The square is twinned with Plaza Garibaldi, in Mexico DF. The lanterns were designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Address: Plaça Reial

Directions: Barri Gotic east of La Rambla. Metro: Liceu

Flea Market outside the Cathedral Shopping - Markets Review

On the square, just outside the Cathedral, you can find a small flea market. You can buy lot of small things like small statues, drinking glasses, mirrors, all those things you didn't know that you needed until you saw them on the table :)

Address: Plaça de la Seu

Directions: Centre of he city

Passeig de Colom

The Passeig de Colom goes from the Columbus monument to the Central Post Office, and began to be built in 1878 when the former sea wall was demolished.

It is a very busy Passeig with cars, motorcycles and public transport. However it is quite nice taking a stroll on it, looking at the boats, the bridges and the really beautiful passage built for the public transport on top of the streets for the cars!

It got its visual looks as it looks today just in time for the olymics in 1992.

Address: Sea front

Directions: Barri Gotic near the sea in front of Port Well

The work of a genious Temple de la Sagrada Familia Review

It is a fantastic building, on the outside. I do believe that there is where you really should enjoy it. Today, the temple inside is just a big construction place. I know I probably should have understood that before I went there but I didn't unfortunately. That knowledge made me really disappointed because I was hoping for a cathedral feeling inside, not a construction feeling.

On the outside however you can feel the power of Gaudi. The details of fascade, the overall architectural brilliance, it is stunning. I don't know if I can say that I think it is beautiful, but stunning, brilliant, genious and fascinating, yes!

Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401

Directions: Metro: Line 2 or 5 Station: SagradaFamilia

Phone: 93 207 30 31

Website: http://www.sagradafamilia.org

Monk gardens at the cathedral

The monk gardens at the cathedral was lovely. Full of small places for worship, sculptures and a beautiful garden in the middle. Since it was going towards christmas they had put on a nativity scene in the garden which was interesting! Now when I visited it was in april and the nativity scene was replaced by a garden full of swans!

Address: On the side of the cathedral

Directions: Barri Gotic

Big and beautiful Cathedral La Seu Review

The cathedral is a very beautiful peace of architecture. Very typical, catholic churh and I love it.

To go in to it, locate a peacful chamber (it can be very crowded), sit down for a few minutes, feel the calm, the warmth, the relaxation, it is fantastic. Ofcourse you can see a million details in the cathedral worth mentioning but get there and have a look and feel for your self.

Address: Plaça de la Seu

Directions: Barri Gotic. Metro: Lines 1 and 3 (Catalunya Station) and Lines 2 and 4 (Urquinaona Station.)

Phone: +34933151554

Website: http://www.catedralbcn.org