In our article we want to talk about one of the most famous cities in Spain. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and at the same time the most beautiful city in the region. It is the second largest city in Spain and the main economic center of the country.
General information about the capital of Catalonia
Barcelona is not only the country's largest metropolis, but also a great Mediterranean port. Catalonia itself is part of the Spanish kingdom. However, this does not prevent local residents from advocating their own independent state. Today, Barcelona attracts thousands of tourists thanks to its huge historical heritage. No wonder the city is considered the cultural center of the entire region. They say that it is impossible to get around all the historical sights even in a year, if you allocate five hours a day for inspection.
The capital of Catalonia has a population of 1.6 million and an area of 100.4 km2. The most beautiful city is considered the main pearl of tourist Spain. The rich history of the region, excellent cuisine, unique sights and the special atmosphere of the citymake a trip to Barcelona a very bright and unforgettable event. Local residents lead a measured lifestyle and are in no hurry, during the siesta, numerous cafes are filled with numerous visitors, laughter is heard around. Despite the fact that Barcelona is a serious economic center of the region, it has an atmosphere of lightness and celebration.
From an administrative point of view, the capital of Catalonia is divided into ten major regions. The most popular among tourists are the Old Town, Eixample, Gracia and Montjuic.
Barcelona is a port city
The capital of Catalonia - Barcelona also has the status of the sea capital of all Spain. The city's port is over two thousand years old. It consists of several parts, and so the cruise part ranks fourth in the world and is inferior in size to the largest ports in the Caribbean.
The seaport consists of three zones, each of which has its own purpose. The old port is the business center of Barcelona, the cruise port is a place where ships from all over the world arrive, the cargo port is the center of cargo transportation.
Climate
The climate of the capital of Catalonia can be described as Mediterranean. In general, it is quite mild in winter and warm in summer. The best time for a holiday in Barcelona and excursions is summer. At this time there is no suffocating heat and no rain. But in autumn it gets quite humid.
Beaches
The capital of Catalonia is known not only for its attractions, but also for its beaches, which stretch for more than 4 kilometers. The beach area consists of four parts. Mostpopular is Barceloneta, which is located almost in the very center of Barcelona. Not only tourists, but also townspeople like to spend time here. A little further north, a ten-minute walk along the promenade, there are beach clubs that offer additional services.
Also in Barcelona there are the beaches of Marbella and Ikaria. The most distant from the city of Sitges, the road to it from the station takes half an hour.
City transportation
If you plan to see the sights of the capital of Catalonia, then of course you will be interested in the issue of public transport. Barcelona has a well-established transport network. There is everything that can be in a big city for movement - funiculars, trams, taxis, buses, metro, as well as the international airport El Prat. Barcelona also has a well-established railway network that connects all the cities of Catalonia.
For those who have not yet decided what to see in the capital of Catalonia, we can recommend using bus routes that are very convenient for tourists called "Bas Turistik". They consist of three lines that cover the most interesting places in Barcelona. Buses run on them with an interval of ten minutes. At any stop, you can get off and see what you are interested in, and then continue your journey at the next one. The trip along each route is accompanied by an audio guide in a variety of languages, which is also quite convenient. Of course, walkingwalking around the city is no less interesting, but you can go around by bus and have time to see many more interesting places.
Sights of the capital of Catalonia
Barcelona has a lot to offer. It is rightly called the cultural capital of the country. Here once lived and worked such celebrities as Salvador Dali, Gaudi, Picasso. All sorts of eras and styles are mixed in the city. And there are so many attractions here that it is simply impossible to see them all in one vacation.
Gothic Quarter
One of the main points of the list of interesting places in Barcelona is the Rambla. Its length from Plaza Catalunya to the sea coast is 1.2 kilometers. The most famous pedestrian street of the city is also one of the most beautiful places in the city. Crowds of holidaymakers always walk here, and street vendors and living statues are located along the shops and cafes. On the Rambla there is an old market called Boqueria, which translates only as the abyss. It is simply impossible to pass by this colorful place, because the bright stalls simply lure tourists to them. Many beautiful legends and signs are associated with the Rambla. One of them says that everyone who gets drunk from the fountain, which is located near Plaza Catalunya, will certainly return to Barcelona again.
Near the Rambla is the center of the Old Town, known as the Gothic Quarter. It is an intricacies of medieval streets and lanes. From herewhen the history of Barcelona began. The Old Town area is home to a record number of old buildings and churches. These are the Church of Santa Maria del Mar, the Cathedral and more.
Many of the quarter's buildings date from the 14th-15th centuries. And at the same time, there are a large number of cozy modern cafes, restaurants and clubs on its streets. The whole Gothic quarter is a monument of the Roman era.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia can rightfully be called its main building. In the people, it is better known as the Cathedral, which is a very tall building. Its longest spire rises to 93 meters. The building is elegant and massive at the same time, it is made in the Catalan Gothic style with multi-level openwork arches and ornaments.
No less interesting for tourists is the central square of the quarter, named after St. James. It is located on the site of the Roman Forum. Today it houses the Neoclassical City Hall and the Palace of the Government of Catalonia. On Sundays, residents come to Sant Jaume to dance, and during the holidays, all kinds of events are held here.
The hallmark of the historic center is the famous Bridge of Sighs, which is known far beyond the capital of Catalonia (photos are given in the article). It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by Jean Rubio. The purpose of its construction was to connect the Government Palace and the residence of the President of Catalonia. The bridge is next to the Cathedral.
Museumstories
Among all the regions of Spain, the capital of Catalonia is the most interesting and popular among tourists. It is Barcelona that is visited annually by the largest number of travelers; no other city in the country is so popular among vacationers. This is largely due to cultural and historical monuments. To learn more about this beautiful city, it is worth visiting the Barcelona History Museum. The exposition of the institution gives visitors the opportunity to see the historical panorama, covering the period from the time of the Roman Empire to the present. The main building of the institution is located in the palace of the fifteenth century. Behind the glass showcases of the museum are the most unique artifacts that have survived to this day or found during excavations.
Also worth a visit is the Frédéric Mares Museum, which has a large collection of sculptures from the ancient Roman period to the twentieth century.
The cultural heritage of the city consists not only of ancient sights. In the art gallery you can see classical works familiar to our eyes. To this day, followers of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali live and work in Barcelona. The halls of the gallery contain original works of contemporaries, and unusual sculptures are presented in the courtyard of the building.
Jewish Quarter
In the thirteenth century, many Jews lived in Barcelona, who successfully do business and prosper. The Jewish community was the richest in the entire city. But the situation has changed a lot in some two hundred years. All Jews wereexpelled from the city on the general hysteria associated with a terrible disease, which at that time swallowed up all of Europe. Currently, in the area of the Gothic Quarter, you can see a small area of El-Kol, which was once inhabited by the Jewish community. The medieval spirit still hovers on the local streets. There are antique shops and street performers.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum is the most visited among similar institutions in the capital of Catalonia. In Spain, it is difficult to find a more famous person than Pablo Picasso. In the museum you can learn a lot about the creative path of the founder of cubism, as well as see his works created in different creative periods. It's hard to imagine, but the exposition of the institution consists of 3500 works by the greatest artist.
Park Güell
Many experienced travelers recommend starting your city sightseeing with a visit to Park Güell. And not because this place is the hallmark of Barcelona, but because the park really has a lot of interesting things that you will not see in any other place.
The park is littered with the creations of the world-famous architect Antonio Gaudí. Miracles begin already at the entrance, where there are gingerbread houses of bizarre wavy shapes. Next, you can see the famous mosaic lizard, which is a symbol of Barcelona. A long bench, a columned hall - everything here has a wavy winding shape, one gets the impression that he has landed on a completely different planet. The wonders of the park are simply indescribable.in other words, unusual structures are simply worth seeing.
Magic Fountain
Walking through the streets of Barcelona, you should definitely see one of the best modern creations in the city - this is the Magic Fountain. Tourists from all Spanish resort regions come to see its beauty. Many people associate the capital of Catalonia with a wonderful fountain. In the evening, guests of Barcelona have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the play of light, music and water. The show leaves no one indifferent. The most stunning view opens from the terrace of the National Museum.
Tibidabo Hill
Barcelona has a lot of picturesque places, but if you want to admire the panorama of the city from a decent height, then you simply cannot find a better place than Tibidabo Hill. Here you can have a great time walking along the slopes overgrown with forest, as well as visit the natural science museum or try to find a way out of the landscape labyrinth. The main pearl of the hill, located at the very top, is the Temple of the Sacred Heart.
Spanish Village
All tourists certainly go to the hill of Montjuic. In translation, its name sounds like a Jewish mountain. The hill is a favorite walking place for all residents of the city and tourists. There are many interesting sights in this area, which will take at least one day to explore. For many centuries the hill was considered a strategic object, which is confirmed by the ancient fortress built on the very top. On the eve of the 1992 Olympics, sports facilities were also built on the hill. Here you can also seeSpanish village. Skillful architects in a small area managed to build copies of buildings located in various parts of the country. Here you can admire the fortress gates from Avila, buildings from Aragon and Castile, as well as Andalusian, Valencian, Basque and other themed quarters.
Modern buildings
No less interesting are the modern buildings of Barcelona. One of the most futuristic buildings in the city is the Forum. It was built in 2004 for the Forum of Cultures. The structure is made in the form of a triangle.
Another interesting building is the Palace of Catalan Music. Although it is not included in the list of “must si”, it is certainly worthy of your attention. It was built in the Art Nouveau style, but at the same time, there is a bright mixture of all kinds of architectural elements, intricate decorations, bizarre columns, which creates the impression that this is not a building, but a frozen melody. In general, the bizarre architecture of Barcelona amazes with its beauty and originality of ordinary people who are accustomed to standard faceless buildings.
