Barcelona: The Best of Catalunya Part I

The region of Catalunya lies in the northernmost region of Spain, bordering France.  Fronting the Mediterranean and backed by the Pyrenees mountains it sits in an area of amazing natural beauty.  Catalunya offers golden sand, ancient cultures, amazing sea food and a passion for life.  The region has so much to offer visitors that it would be impossible to go into depth in a newsletter.  But, there are three highlights that have always stood out to Purple Light as the Best of Catalunya.  They are the cities of Barcelona, Sitges and Figueres.  Today we will cover Barcelona.

Barcelona Overview

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, but it is our favorite.  In many European cities, the old and the new can clash.  Barcelona seamlessly blends the historic and avant-garde in a harmonious way.  Imagine the weather, mountains, beaches, modern architecture, and other features that are the best of Los Angeles.  Merge this with the grand boulevards, classical architectural styles, love of cuisine and European sophistication of Paris.  Barcelona would be the result of this merger.

Barcelona Sites

Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s front door.  This tree lined, mostly pedestrian street stretches from the city’s main square to the old port.  At its end in Port Vell stands the Christopher Columbus Monument.  The nearly 200-foot tall monument offers lovely views of Las Ramblas and of the port.  At night, there is often a colony of bats flying around it.  This street offers some of the best people watching in the city.  It is always thronged with tourists and locals.  Street performers, trinket hawkers and all of humanity seem to pass through here daily.  Although violent crime is rare, the south end can be seedy at night.  At all times of day be aware of pick pockets.  But, despite this a visit to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without a stroll here.

Adjacent to Las Ramblas is the Barri Gotic, or Gothic Quarter.  This ancient part of the city offers mostly medieval buildings on maze-like streets.  But, some edifices date to Roman times.  It is filled with restaurants and shops and is a fun area to get lost in.  Although popular, it offers some relief from the crowds of Las Ramblas.

Barcelona Architecture

Barcelona is famous for its architecture.  Especially that of its native son Antoni Gaudi.  La Sagrada Familia is the city’s most famous landmark.  The towers of this church look as if they were made from dripping sand and are adorned with colorful tiles.  This building has been under construction since 1882 and isn’t expected to be completed until 2026!  Locals often joke that it is one of the few buildings in the world to be under both construction and restoration.  The spectacular building is worth a visit on its own.  But, it also has a museum with information on both the building and its architect.

If you can’t get enough Gaudi in one building, there is much more to see.  La Pedrera (Casa Mila) is an apartment complex famous for its chimneys and melting appearance. Casa Battlo is a tile covered home known for its skull and bones balconies and a roof that looks like reptile skin.  A bonus is that it’s located on Passeig de Gracia in Eixample.  This is one of the city’s best shopping areas.  Gaudi also designed the Park Guell.  This park offers architectural follies, intricate tile work and sculpture in addition to the gardens.  The park is on top of a hill and offers stunning views of the city below.

Barcelona Art Museums

Barcelona has a long history with the arts.  Many artists are from, or have worked in, Catalunya and this has resulted in several prominent pieces being on display in the city.  Our two favorite museums are the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation.  The Picasso museum has one of the largest collections of his work in the world.  It displays it in chronological order.  This helps you see and understand his progression from a young artist into the world’s most famous one.  The Miro Foundation (Fundacio Joan Miro) was founded by the artist.  It has a comprehensive collection of his work.  But, it also has works by Calder, Rothko, and supports emerging artists.

Barcelona Food and Drinks

Food is a very big deal in Barcelona.  Its location on the Mediterranean guarantees high quality sea food.  The city is also known for its tapas.  Its chefs are innovative and creative, offering delights that look nearly as good as they taste.  We also love the fact that the food tends towards the healthy side, without heavy sauces and fats.  Just off Las Ramblas is the massive La Boqueria food market.  This endless parade of stalls offering fresh meats, sea food, produce and other items is worth a visit even if you’re not hungry.  It’s also a great place to pick up cured meats, olives, bread and fruit for a picnic.  There are also several small restaurants in the market offering high quality cuisine and people watching.  Just remember that dinner is late in Barcelona.  People often don’t eat until 10:00pm.  So be prepared if you’re an early diner.

Barcelona is justly famous for its gay bars and nightlife.  You can sit on a quiet square with a glass of cava, the local version of champagne.  Or, dance the night away in a massive warehouse club.  Our favorites tend to be the mid-sized neighborhood places.  But, if you’re more adventurous and frisky the city is also famous for its large saunas/bath houses.  You’ll have stories to tell, or keep to yourself, if you spend an evening in one of these places.  Keep in mind that since dinner is late, the nightlife scene also tends to be later than most.  As the popularity and quality of restaurants and bars can change suddenly, we won’t mention places here.  But, we’d be happy to go over this as you plan your trip with us.

In Conclusion

Barcelona is one of our favorite cities in the world and certainly one that is among the best of Catalunya .  With so much to offer we think you will love it too.  In our next newsletter we’ll go over delightful day trips and escapes from Barcelona to nearby Sitges and Figueres.  Purple Light Vacations would love to help you plan your dream vacation to this amazing destination and give you more information.  If you’re interested, you can call 619-324-1444 (x3), or click HERE to get started.  Bon Voyage!