The most cosmopolitan and dynamic city in Spain, Barcelona awaits you to show you its extraordinary heritage of history, culture and zest for life. Barcelona will not fail to intoxicate its visitors with its dream-like architecture by Gaudì, great museums, more than 30,000 shops, parks, thousands of events, performances, music and the most lively and eclectic nightlife imaginable. A city which invites you to discover it in an environment warmed by the sun and the Mediterranean.
Barcelona Tourist Guide
Barcelona is a city that absolutely hums with activity and exuberance, from its flamboyant architecture, to its lively citizens, you can be sure of a stimulating experience in this city.
Barcelona's history goes back thousands of years, but the city is just as energetic today as it was in days gone by, if not more so. Along with its fabulous structures of the past, the city also has many modern creations to offer.
Barcelona's most iconic symbol is that of the Sagrada Família Church by Antonio Gaudí, world famous for its constant state of incompletion, with work still ongoing over a hundred years after it started. The city is also the location of many other phenomenal pieces of architecture, such as the Barcelona Cathedral, and Montjuïc Castle.
The city is also famous for its numerous amounts of buildings that are designed in the famously outrageous Modernista style, such as Casa Milà. This is just one of the fabulous structures within the famous Quadrat d'Or (Golden Square), which contains many fabulous examples of buildings designed in this style.
The city is also renowned for being the home of one of the most famous football teams in the world, FC Barcelona, (locally referred to as Barça), and for containing some of the world's most prestigious sporting venues, that were built for the 1992 Olympic Games.
Barcelona is also second to none in the shopping opportunities it offers. The city is a hive of glitz and glamour, with big-name designers and home-grown talent both making their homes in Barcelona. The opportunity to purchase genuine Catalan crafts, such as ceramics and lace goods, is also a great attraction of this beautiful city.
Barcelona also houses a remarkable amount of art galleries, such as The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, located within the Palau Nacional, which all display the results of the distinctive Catalan flair for creativity. Along with everything else the city has to offer, there are also a number of fabulous museums which portray the history of the area, such as the Museu Arqueològic, which has a fascinating display of finds ranging from the prehistoric era to the Visgothic.
Add to all the amazing places to visit in this wonderful city, an eclectic mix of sumptuous food and drink, full of tapas and sangria, combined with a buzzing nightlife and you can be sure of a non-stop party experience in this lively city!
Barcelona History
Today the area of Catalonia, which has Barcelona at its heart, is a semi-autonomous region, but it has had to endure a long and arduous journey in order to get to this position. In the first millennium BC the Laeitani people inhabited the lands in the region surrounding Barcelona. In approximately 230 BC the Carthagians arrived from Southern Spain and began to develop the city to make Barcelona into the place it is today. They were the ones who gave Barcelona its name, calling it Barcino, after Hamil Barca, a general who led his band of elephants over the Pyrenees to attack Rome. However, in 197 BC Rome retaliated and invaded Spain, destroying both the Carthagians and Laeitani peoples, and creating an administrative centre in the area. They ruled the country for another 600 years. From the first century CE Christianity began to spread throughout the region. When the Roman Empire fell the Visgoths from Toulouse took over the running of the country in 476 CE, making Barcelona their capital temporarily. In 713 CE the Moors invaded Spain, however period of rule was only brief in Catalonia, as following their defeat by the Franks in 801 CE, they moved their power base to the south of Spain and Barcelona was turned over to Franconian rule.
In 878 CE Guifré el Pelós, the Count of Barcelona established the dynasty of the Counts of Barcelona that would go on to last for 500 years. In 897 CE Guifré el Pelós died in battle, and his heir took over. In 988 CE Barcelona declared themselves as an independent state and in the 1000s Ramon Berenguer I established the first constitutional government in Europe. In the succeeding generations Catalonia captured vast amounts of land in Europe, and as a result of which its wealth grew rapidly due to the increased trade opportunities.
The period between the late 1200s to the 1400s was a time of great development in the city, during which time many of its phenomenal architectural masterpieces were begun, such as the Barcelona Cathedral and other grand Gothic palaces. During this time the city built up a reputation of being a cultural centre of art, science and academia, and in 1359 the Catalan Parliament was officially set up. In 1469 the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragón-Catalonia to Isabella of Castille united the country into one Spanish state. The Catholic monarchs of Castile expelled all Jews from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, in which Barcelona was badly affected, as it lost a large part of its population.
In 1640 with Spain and France embroiled in the Thirty Years' War, Catalonia again proclaimed itself an independent state. However in 1651 Spanish troops invaded Barcelona. France continued to fight with Spain over control of the area, and in 1714 Philip V of France conquered the area and plundered Barcelona. The city's privileges were removed and the Ciutadella fortress was built to control the inhabitants. Throughout the 1800s Barcelona went through industrialisation, and Eixample, a new refined area, was built, with wide avenues and great mansions. During this time the Renaissance movement was sweeping Europe, and resulted in a revival in art and culture. With the industrialisation came a new disparity between the classes, this resulted in creating a scene of social unrest which was characterised by strikes and violence. Industrialists sought for Catalonian independence as a way of freeing themselves from Madrid.
In 1931 the Second Republic was set up in Spain, and Catalonia regained its independence. A rebel faction of nationalists opposed the new government, and this resulted in 1936 with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. Barcelona fell to General Franco in 1939, and suffered heavily as a result of its defeat. However in the following years the city began to recover, as people moved to the area in droves from poorer parts of Spain in search of work. The city has continued to thrive to this day, and the city's hosting of the 1992 Olympic games has only served to increase this.
Barcelona Nightclubs
The Spaniards' reputation as hardened party-goers is well-earned, and this is exemplified to the full by the Barcelonans you will encounter. The city comes alive at night and areas such as Port Olímpic and La Rambla become moving seas of people. Port Olímpic in particular is heaving with nightclubs, and Maremàgnum shopping mall in Port Vell comes alive in the evening when its many clubs open, which play everything from salsa to techno. Another club in this area is the fantastic Tijuana Morning Café on Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta. For those who want to party all night long this club is a must. When all the other clubs are packing up, Tijuana is just getting into full swing, as the club is open until 11am! The music here is always pumping, and the atmosphere alive with energy. Many of the clubs in Barcelona also stage outrageous shows, which are full of colourful costumes and exuberant dancing.
A great area to visit to dance the night away is El Raval, to the west of La Rambla, which used to be the old red-light district. Nowadays the area is the haunt of the young and trendy, and includes many lively clubs, such as Benidorm on Joaquin Costa. This club attracts both tourists and residents alike, so it's a good place to go if you want to mix with some of the locals! It's intimate and friendly, and has a spectacular dance floor, where both local and international DJs play a huge mix of different genres of music.
Club Apolo/Nitsa on Nou de la Rambla, is another hot place to frequent. The club is housed in an old theatre, and attracts a serious partying crowd, as it stays open until 6am! The main room blasts out techno beats, to get the crowd pumping, whilst the Picnic Bar plays pop music, and the Def room Hip-Hop. Dance-a-thons are particular favourites here, challenging you to keep going until the club closes at 6!
Penúltimo on Paseig del Born, is another fantastic nightclub, where you can keep rocking all night long. The music played here ranges from reggae and soul, to Latin and funk, meaning that you can never be sure which genre DJ Marta is going to play next! There are also live performances at this club, as an added bonus to your night of partying.
Razzmatazz, on Carrer dels Almogàvers, is the biggest alternative club in Barcelona. The building is actually five clubs in one; on the ground floor is the Razz Club, which plays indie rock. On the next floor you'll find The Loft and Lo*Li*Ta, which both blast out techno beats. The other two rooms, The Pop Room and the Rex Room, play more laid-back music, playing pop, electro & disco acts.
Barcelona Pubs and Bars
The Spaniards are known for liking their drink, and Barcelona offers you the opportunity for many different drinking experiences, whether this be to sample the traditional Spanish sangría, the Catalonian export Cava, or one of the hundreds of wines made in the region. Spanish beer is also popular in Barcelona, as is sherry. Barcelona offers a variety of drinking venues from quaint to hi-tech. The Mirablau on Plaça Doctor Andreu is one such designer bar, perched on top Tibidabo hill, which has a funky interior, and a massive picture window overlooking the city. Many of the bars in the city also serve tapas, which are traditional Spanish snacks, with their drinks, and one bar famous for this is El Xampanyet on Carrer de Montcada. One of the oldest in the city, this bar is also famous for its xampanyet (sparkling wine) and anchovies. The interior is very picturesque, complete with original ceramic tiles. Boadas in the same area, on Carrer dels Tallers, off the Rambla, is renowned for its fabulous cocktails, being the oldest cocktail bar in the city; and also has an olde-worlde feel, with its 1930s décor.
The trendiest area to head to for the bar scene is El Born, which has many hip establishments. Cool bars of the moment include the Plastic Bar, for heavy tequila drinkers, and Woman Caballero, for consummate party-goers, which doesn't even open until 2am! For another up-to-the-minute experience head to Irati, on Carrer del Cardenal Casañas, in the Barri Gotic, which is just one of a whole new trend of bars offering genuine Basque country pichos (tapas). The atmosphere here is great, and if you add to the tapas, one of the fabulous locally-produced Catalan wines, you're sure to be in for a fantastic night!
For an authentic Irish experience in Spanish surroundings, head to Kitty O'Shea's, on Carrer de la Nau Santa Maria, the original Irish pub in Barcelona. An oasis of warmth and friendliness amidst the dingy locale, this pub is one to visit for its atmosphere. The staff here is friendly, and the beer is great, one not to miss! For another great bar with a friendly ambience, the place to go to is Castellas in Plaça Bonsuccés, which has been owned by the same family since the 19th century! This is a local favourite, and is absolutely heaving on a night when the city's beloved Barça have won a match. The bar also offers wonderful fresh, homemade tapas to be served with the excellent drinks.
For an experience which is the height of incongruity, head to Jamboree, in Plaça Reial, which was once a convent! It is now renowned as one of the best jazz clubs in Barcelona, and hosts both local talent, and musicians from around the world. The atmosphere here is amazing, and the drink flows all night long. An added bonus is the disco which operates from 12.30am. For those who would prefer an old-world traditional Spanish drinking adventure, head to Bodega La Palma, on Carrer de la Palma de Sant Just, in the Barri Gotic area. Here the wine is stored in barrels propped up around the bar, and then served to you in ceramic pitchers! The setting for this step back in time is a converted old wine cellar, so you will feel that you really are in the Spain of the past!
Barcelona Restaurants
The Spanish love their food almost as much as they love their drink, and in fact with the many tapas bars around the two are barely inseparable! This has meant that Spain has developed a fabulous culinary tradition, and Catalan cooking in particular has a distinctive style. In fact it is thought that the area produces some of the best food in Spain. You'll be hard pressed to find fast-food in this town, as Catalans are proud of their fresh produce, and use it in all their cooking. Catalan specialities include Jabugo ham, sausages with white beans, various stews and fish dishes, and crema Catalana, a favourite dessert.
Along the waterfront there are three areas to head to for fantastic dining options. One is the revamped Port Olímpic area which is always bustling, and offers a plethora of dining opportunities. There are two levels of restaurants around the marina to choose from, meaning there is bound to be something to suit your palate. One such restaurant is Talaia Mar, in Anexo Torre Mapfre, on Carrer de la Marina, which is dazzlingly refined, and has a fabulous view over the harbour. The food is sumptuous, and the location spectacular, what more could you want? The second waterfront area is Barceloneta, Barcelona's fishing ‘village', which has a wide range of restaurants, including many specialising in seafood. A particularly good seafood restaurant is Can Majó, on Carrer de l'Almirall Aixada, renowned for its high-quality dishes. Specific highlights include their rice dishes, such as shellfish paella and suquet. The third area is the marina at Port Vell which offers spectacular views along with its food. One offering just this is the nautically-themed maritime club restaurant, Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona. With magnificent views over the port from its terrace, and ornate cuisine this is a stunningly-impressive dining venue. Specialities on the menu include aubergine terrine with goat's cheese, and gilthead with apples and cider sauce.
Another fabulous area with a host of many different dining options is Barri Gotic, which also contains the oldest restaurant in Barcelona, Can Culleretes, on Carrer d'En Quintana. The restaurant was established in 1786, and has one of the finest ambiences and selection of food in the city. The cuisine is sourced from typical Catalan options such as peix variat (seafood medley). Other great restaurants in this area include Ca L'Estevet, on Carrer de Valldonzella, which has an old-fashioned, homely atmosphere. The ambience is enhanced by the décor, which includes original tiles and walls filled with customers' paintings. The owner is extremely friendly and will guide you through the menu, of which a particular speciality is the roast shoulder of tender goat
Barcelona Shopping
Barcelona is not known worldwide for couture as much as Spain's capital Madrid is, however the city is just as equal to it in the fashion it offers. The inhabitants of this city are known for being incredibly stylish, and having impeccable taste when it comes to fashion, and the retail opportunities available in Barcelona reflect this. The main district to head to for shopping in is Eixample, which is awash with grand avenues packed with exquisite shops. The main streets in this area are the stylish Passeig de Gràcia, the city's version of Paris' Champs Elysées, and the Rambla de Catalunya (the topmost part of La Rambla), where shoppers will encounter world-renowned designer labels, such as Armarni, alongside home-grown Spanish talent, such as Antoni Miró and Adolfo Domínguez. The famous worldwide brands for young fashion, Zara and Mango, both started life in Spain, and Barcelona has many branches of each spread throughout the city, including a flagship Zara store on Passeig de Gràcia.
Avinguda Diagonal is another top street to head to, with many top fashion brands to be found here, as well as huge shopping malls (galeries) such as L'Illa, and Bulevard Rosa, which has hundreds of stores. Spain's biggest department store chain is El Corte Inglés, and its massive original branch on Plaça de Catalunya, has become a local metropolitan landmark. Here you are able to buy an innumerable amount of different products all in the same place. Also in Plaça de Catalunya is El Triangle, a big shopping complex, with some well-known international brands. The harbour area of Port Vell is another top spot to head to; here you will find the Maremàgnum mall, a shopping and entertainment mecca that is jammed packed with an innumerable variety of shops all of which stay open until 11pm.
Barcelona is also renowned for its luxurious leather and lace goods, as well as the beautiful ceramics you can buy in the city. The best places to head to for luxury items such as these are Barri Gòtic and Eixample districts. In these areas shops such as Art Escudellers on Carrer dels Escudellers, offer a wide variety of local arts and handicrafts. If you are looking for something more alternative, the El Born area is a good place to head to for funky, innovative homeware items. Barcelona is also the publishing capital of Spain, and there is great opportunity to buy many magnificent literary works in this city, including many titles in English. Specialities include books on Spanish art, culture and cookery, which can be found at shops such as Happy Books, on Passeig de Gràcia, and Crisol on Rambla de Catalunya. However for a true Spanish experience, you must visit the biggest flea market in Barcelona, Els Encants Vells at Plaça de les Glóries Catalanes. Here bartering is all part of the adventure, and there is the chance here to pick up some real gems.
Barcelona Sports
Barcelona is typical of many Mediterranean coastal cities in being replete with numerous sporting activities, both on the water and off it. A must for all football fans is a visit to Nou Camp, home of the city's famous football team Barcelona FC. The stadium is a gigantic, breathtaking structure, and the biggest football stadium in Europe, with room for up to 100 000 spectators! Besides the city being renowned for football, the Barcelona basketball team, Winterthur FCB, is also well-respected throughout the world, and has achieved high-ranking through their triumph in many championships, including the Euroleague. Tennis enthusiasts are also well-catered for in this city, with centres such as Centre Municipal de Tennis Vall d'Hebron, providing top facilities.
There are many sporting venues in Barcelona that were built for the 1992 Olympic games, including the immense Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, home of football club RCD Espanyol. The stadium was enlarged in 1992 from the original that was built for the 1936 Olympics that were cancelled due to the Spanish Civil War. The stadium can hold up to 56 000 people, and includes a running track used for athletics events. An additional venue that was built for the Olympics was the Palau d'Esports Sant Jordi, another spectacular stadium, which is used for indoor sports. The mammoth structure, an impressive piece of engineering by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is made out of steel and glass, and can seat up to 17 000 people.
Following the redevelopment of the harbour for the 1992 Olympics, the city now has many spectacular waterfront attractions, including many artificial beaches. The Marina at Port Vell is a haven for yacht aficionados, with many sailing opportunities available. The Centre Municipal de Vela Port Olimpic also gives sailing lessons for those who are first-timers. The city also has over 30 swimming pools, including the Piscines Bernat Picornell on Passeig Olimpic, which were the venue for the 1992 Olympic swimming events.
One of the most famous sporting events that take place in the area around Barcelona is the Spanish Grand Prix, which is held annually every May, at the Circuit de Cataluñya just outside the city. Another extremely popular sporting event that occurs in the city is the Barcelona marathon, which takes place every March. The city shuts down on this day, when multitudes of people gather to cheer on the athletes as they pound the streets past the historic sights.
Other sports that are on offer in Barcelona are, ice-skating, with a rink at Pista de Gel de FC Barcelona, at which skates can be hired, and golf, with many good courses just outside Barcelona such as Golf Sant Cugat. A good way to see the city is to do a cycle tour, and many companies offer these, such as Bicicleta Barcelona, which has English-speaking guides. Alternatively you can take things at your own pace and hire a bike from one of the many cycle shops found around the city.
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