Spain Holidays

Day 4 of Spain Holidays 2010 - September 1, Wednesday – Barcelona

8:45 After a good night sleep and a morning coffee, we left the hotel, then walked to the Ildefons Cerda station. Took L8 metro to Plaça Espanya (2 stops) and from there L1 metro to Urquinaona (5 stops). Walked few blocks to Palau de la Musica Catalana.

Palau de la Musica Catalunya, Barcelona

10:00 Joined the guided tour of Palau de la Musica Catalana – Barcelona's magnificent concert hall created in the Modernista style. We bought the tickets online at home; they were just €12 per person – really not a lot to see such breathtaking beauty.

11:30 Late breakfast in the foyer of Palau de la Musica Catalana.

11:50 Walk to the Barcelona Cathedral (Esglesia Catedral de la Santa Creu).

12:30 Visited Palau de la Generalitat – Placa de Sant Jaume - Ajuntament.

13:10 Bus 24 to Park Guell (quite a few stops! Other option to get there – L3 metro to Lesseps and bus 24 from there to the park). A must-see park created by the Modernista master – Antoni Gaudi. Spectacular views of the city, famous mosaic bench, fairy-tale gatehouses and much more. Free entry to the park, but to visit Casa-Museu Gaudi – Gaudi lived there for 20 years was €5 extra (€4 students).

Park Guell, Barcelona

13:50 Reached Park Guell after s short walk from the bus stop.

15:15 Got something to eat and drink at a local grocery store. Bus 24 – back to Passeig de Gracia, to see a number of famous Modernista buildings located there.

15:50 Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) – €11 (adults)/€6 (students) – one of Gaudi's most known works, famous for its façade, balconies, rooftop, sophisticated ironwork and opulent interiors.  This former apartment building contains a museum dedicated to Gaudi, a furnished museum apartment and private residences. It was last Gaudi's project before Sagrada Familia.

La Pedrera (roof) By Gaudi, Barcelona

17:05 Fundacio Tapies.

17:10 Casa Batllo/Casa Amatller/Casa Llleo Morera (Manç ana de la Discordia).

17:50 Shopping in the area of Passeig de Gracia/Avinguda Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes/Universitat de Barcelona

18:40 La Rambla (more shopping...)

18:50 Barri Gotic

Placa del Rei/Les 15 Nits Bar, Barcelona

19:10 Plaça del Rei/Palau Reial

19:30-21:20 Dinner at Les 15 Nits Bar (3-5 Passatge Madoz, at Plaça del Rei) after waiting in a long line for almost an hour, we finally got the table. It was worth waiting as the food (including Paella – a Spanish famous dish) as well as Sangria were very good. Apparently this restaurant must be known for excellent food and service as the line grew much longer when we were eating.

Dinner at Les 15 Nits, Barcelona

21:30 L4 metro from Liceu to Sants Estacio (6 stops). We wanted to see the Sants station from which we would be taking the night train to Madrid the next day (evening). It looked OK; there should be no problem, we realized.

22:15 Metro back from Sants Estacio to the AC Som hotel – L3 to Plaça Espanya (2 stops) and L8 to Ildefons Cerda (2 stops).

Mary

RESOURCES:

Palau Musica Catalana - http://www.palaumusica.org/
Barcelona Cathedral - http://www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/barcelona-cathedral-la-seu
Park Guell - http://www.parkguell.es/eng/index.php
Antoni Gaudi - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Gaudi
Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) - http://vistes360.com/visita_virtual/gaudi/la_pedrera/
Casa Batllo - http://www.casabatllo.es/
La Rambla - http://w3.bcn.cat/turisme/0,4022,495525130_783946798_3,00.html
Barri Gotic - http://w3.bcn.cat/turisme/0,4022,495525130_805342490_3,00.html
Paella - http://spanishfood.about.com/od/maincourses/a/paella.htm
Sants Estacio - http://www.trenscat.com/renfe/barcelonasants_ct.html