Spain Holidays

Anella Olimpica, Torre Telefonica by Calatrava and Palau Sant Jordi by Isozaki, Barcelona

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 102

Anella Olimpica, Torre Telefonica by Calatrava and Palau Sant Jordi by Isozaki, Barcelona

BarcelonaCyber

30 Photos

SagradaFamilia

12 Photos

MustseeBCNCyber

102 Photos

«Must-see» Attractions in Barcelona:

• Gran Teatre del Liceu - Barcelona's opera house, one of the most beautiful theaters in Europe. Rambla 51-59; metro: Liceu.
• Palau Guell - designed by Gaudi for Count de Guell. A majestic palace, with underground stables, elaborate iron railings, stunning central hall and more. Currently under restoration and not open to the public. C. Nou de la Rambla 3-5; metro: Liceu.
• Mercat de La Boqueria (Mercat de Sant Josep) - food at best prices and of best choice and quality, with the world-famous Pinotxo bar run by Juanito Bayan. Rambla 91; metro: Liceu or Catalunya.
  
• Palau de la Virreina - Neo-Classical palace hosting a range of temporary exhibitions and the Institut de Cultural de Barcelona - an information office offering brochures on museums and current art events. Ramble 99; metro: Liceu or Catalunya.
  
• La Rambla - often called Barcelona's #1 tourist attraction, it's a bustling pedestrian street between Plaça Catalunya and the Mediterranean Sea, filled with performance artists, flower stalles, newstands, etc. Metro: Liceu or Catalunya or Drassanes.
  
• Plaça de Catalunya - the centre of Barcelona, its transportation hub (RENFE train station, metro station, bus stops, airport bus stops) and shopping Mecca, featuring El Corte Ingles department store, El Triangle shopping mall and lots of shoe and clothing stores. Turisme de Barcelona office is also located here.
• Avinguda del Portal de l'Angel - one of the most popular pedestrian shopping streets, with lots of clothing, shoe and jewellery stores. Metro: Catalunya.
  
• Passeig de Gracia - Barcelona's most elegant avenue, with the most famous Modernista buildings and the premier fashion and design stores. Metro: Passeig de Gracia, Diagonal or Catalunya.
  
• Barri Gotic - Gothic quarter. Metro: Liceu or Jaume I.
• La Manual Alpargatera - world-famous shoes store offering espadrilles. C. Avinyo 7; metro: Liceu or Jaume I.
  
• Barcelona Cathedral (Esglesia Catedral de la Santa Creu) - Gothic cathedral that serves (with its adjoining square - Plaça de la Seu) as the city's religious and social center. Metro: Liceu or Jaume I.
• Plaça Espanya - one of the city's biggest squares, it is the junction of several major thoroughfares, it leads to the Palau Nacional, which houses one of Catalonia's finest museums, the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Metro: Espanya.
• Palau de la Musica Catalana - magnificent Modernista concert hall designed by Domenech, with fascinating stained-glass inverted dome ceiling. Don't miss the guided tour if you can't attend a performance. C. Sant Frances de Paula 2; metro: Urquinaona.
  
• Plaça de Sant Jaume - the administrative heart of Barcelona, with two most important government buildings - Palau de Generalitat and Ajuntament - facing each other. Metro: Jaume I or Liceu.
• Palau de la Generalitat - seat of the Catalan government. Metro: Jaume I or Liceu.
• Ajuntament - Barcelona's city hall. Metro: Jaume I or Liceu.
• Park Guell - UNESCO World Heritage Site, designed by Gaudi, features fairy-tale pavilions, a serpentine bench, Gothic archways and the columned Sala Hipostila. Also located there - Casa-Museu Gaudi where Gaudi lived for 20 years, now a museum dedicated to his life. Metro: Lesseps.
• Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) - an apartment building, Gaudi's last great civic work before the Sagrada Familia. Restored in 1996, now houses a museum dedicated to Gaudi, the exhibition centre of the Caixa de Catalunya (the building's landowner), a furnished museum apartment and private residences. One of the most famous Modernista buidlings, with artisan metalworks (especially balconies, gates and staircase), curved walls, rooftop sculpture park and much more. Metro: Diagonal.
• Sagrada Familia - the international symbol of Barcelona. The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Catalan) or Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (English). UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most important project by Gaudi,who dedicated it his last 40 years. It is still under construction. A spectacular Modernista-Gothic church with fascinating towers (spires) - one hundred metres high, containing steep spiral staircases. A massive dome 170 metres high is still to be built. Plaça de la Sagrada Familia. Metro: Sagrada Familia.
• Mansana de la Discordia: Casa Batllo/Casa Amatller/Casa Llleo Morera  - 'the block of discord'. Three buidlings built/remodelled by three greatest Modernista architects - Gaudi/Puig/Domenech. Only Casa Batllo is available to the public. Passeig de Gracia 35-45. Metro: Passeig de Gracia.
• Fundacio Tapies. Works by Antoni Tapies, Catalonia's most famous living artists are housed in the first Modernista building, designed by Domenech. Carrer d'Arago 255. Metro: Passeig de Gracia.
• Universitat de Barcelona - built between 1861 and 1889 in the Eixample district. One of Barcelona's six universities. Pl. de la Universitat; metro: Universitat.
• Plaça del Rei - a nicely preserved medieval square in Barri Gotic, surrounded by important medieval buildings, e.g., 14th-century Palau Reial Major (royal palace), Salo de Tinell, Capella de Santa Agata, Palau del Lloctinent (Lieutenant's Palace) and the Museu d'Historia de la Ciutat. Pl. del Rei; metro: Liceu or Jaume I.
  
• MNAC Museum - the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Catalan National Art Museum) - housed in the magnificent Palau Nacional (built in 1929), presents the following: the Romanesque art section; the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection (works from the Gothic to the Rococo), a collection of works by Catalan artists from the early 19th century to the 1940s and the Cambo Bequest collection - Renaissance and Baroque art, mostly works by Flemish artists, including Rubens and from Spain's 18th-century Golden Age (Goya, Zurbaran). Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuic; metro: Espanya.
• Montjuic Mountain - huge and montainous park that rises 700 ft above the port, with first-class art museums (MNAC, Fundacio Joan Miro, Caixa Forum), open-air amphitheatre (Teatre Grec), a Baroque-style castle (Castell de Montjuic). First landscaped for the 1929 International Exhibition when the Palau Nacional and Mies van der Rohe Pavilion were built, but suffered decline in the following decades. Re-invigorated after being chosen to serve as the main site for the 1992 Olympics (Anella Olimpica with the Torre Telefonica, Estadi Olimpic, Palau Sant Jordi), a number of beautiful gardens (e.g., Jardi Botanic, Jardins Joan de Maragall and Jardins Mossen Jacint Verdageur) and Poble Espanyol - Spanish village, recreated from scaled-down famous buildings and streets from all Spain, housing restaurants, cafes and art/craft workshops. Offers some of the best views over the city. It is accessible by metro (Espanya, Poble Sec, Paral-lel), bus, funicular, cable cars and on foot (the escalators are of great help). At the base of the Palau Nacional is Plaça de les Cascades, with the Magic Fountain of Montjuic (Font Magica) - the fountains illuminated in the summer nights in a variety of colors for an extremely popular sound-and-light shows.
  
• Poble Espanyol - Spanish Village, recreated from scaled-down famous buildings and streets from all Spain, housing restaurants, cafes and art/craft workshops. One of the best flamenco/dinner shows are being presented at the Tablao de Carmen restaurant. Av. Marques de Comillas 13; metro: Espanya.
• CaixaForum - a collection of contemporary art housed in a former textile factory (Casaramona), designed by Puig. Av. Marques de Comillas 6-8; metro: Espanya.
• Mies van der Rohe Pavilion - built in 1929 by van der Rohe - the German architect - in 1929 as Germany's  entry for the Universal Exposition. It was later demolished, but restored in 1986. When originally built, it was considered as a manifesto for modern architecture. A famous nude statue 'Morgen' ('Morning') by Georg Kolbe is on display there. Av. Marques de Comillas; metro: Espanya.
• Anella Olimpica - the Olympic Ring - consisting of: the rebuilt Olympic Stadium - the main setting for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, designed by Buxade/Correa/Margarit/Mila, the Picornell Swimming Pools, Plaça d'Europa and two very modern architectural marvels - the Torre Telefonica by Santiago Calatrava and Palau Sant Jordi by Arata Isozaki. The Palau, named for Catalonia's patron Saint (St. George), is entirely free-standing, with no pillars or beams to obstruct the view. Parc de Montjuic; metro: Espanya or Paral-lel.
  
• Fundacio Joan Miro - one of the Barcelona's best museums of contemporary art featuring works by Joan Miro - Barcelona surrealistic painter and one of Catalonia's most celebrated 20th-century artists. The impressive building was designed by Josep Lluis Sert; the exhibition rooms show Miro's paintings, sculptures, tapestries and ceramics and by other contemporary artists. Av. Miramar 71, Parc de Montjuic; metro: Espanya or Paral-lel.
• Funicular de Montjuic - one of three funiculars in Barcelona, the others being the Funicular de Vallvidrera and the Funicular del Tibidabo, but the only one operated by the TMB. The line, 758-metres long, 18% steep, is largely in tunnel and connects the Barcelona Metro Paral·lel station with the Avinguda de Miramar station at the hill of Montjuïc. Journey time: 2 minutes. Metro: Paral-lel.
• Jardins Mossen Costa i Llobera - one of the Europe's most important cactus gardens. Best to visit at the sun set. Metro: Paral-lel.
• World Trade Center - a massive, circular office building, housing convention halls, a 5-star hotel and the trendy Ruccula restaurant. Torre Jaume I station of the teleferic cable car (Port Vell Aerial Tramway) is located nearby; taking a trip offers stunning views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea, but it might be too high for some people. Metro: Drassanes.
• Monument a Colom - the Columbus monument - the 80-meters high statue of Christopher Columbus commemorating his return to Spain after discovering the America. The elevator is taking the visitors to the top, offering one of the best views of the city (Mirador de Colom). Metro: Drassanes.
• Port Vell - a waterfront harbour in Barcelona and part of the Port of Barcelona. Built as part of an urban renewal program prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Before this, it was a run-down area of empty warehouses, railroad yards, and factories. It is now a focal point of the city and tourist attraction, containing the Maremàgnum (a mall containing shops, a multiplex cinema, bars and restaurants), IMAX Port Vell and Europe's largest aquarium (L'Aquarium) containing 8000 fish and 11 sharks contained in 22 basins filled with 6 million litres of sea water. A pedestrian walkway, Rambla de Mar, connects La Rambla to Port Vell. It incorporates a swing bridge, in order to allow ships to enter and exit the harbour. Metro: Drassanes or Barcelonetta.
• Museu d' Historia de Catalunya - the kids love this museum of Catalonia's history, with interactive exhibits that allow them to get dressed up as medieval knights or play an ancient table football game ('futbolin'). Located in the Palau de Mar, an old port warehouse built in 1900. Plaça Pau Vila 3. Metro: Barceloneta.
• Port Olimpic - located east of the Port of Barcelona, it hosted the sailing events for the 1992 Summer Olympics. A number of interesting attractions can be found there. The most famous is Frank Gehry's mammoth «Fish» sculpture, towering over Marina Village - a mini-mall with restaurants and shops and open-air terrace built over the water. Barcelona's first two skyscrapers (Hotel Arts, Gran Casino) are located there. At night Port Olimpic becomes the party strip. Metro: Ciutadella-Villa Olimpica.
• Parc de la Ciutadella - this easily accessible, Barcelona's most popular park was designed by the greatest Modernista architects, including Domenech and Gaudi for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. It has a number of great attractions: La Cascada (Cascade Fountain) - designed by Fontsere and Gaudi, Arc de Triomf (by Vilaseca), Parc Zoologic, Castells des Tres Dragons (Castle of the Three Dragons) - designed by Domenech, now housing the Zoological Museum, Parlament de Catalunya - the Catalonian Parliament (in the Palau de la Ciutadella). Main entrance: Passeig de Pujades. Metro: Arc de Triomf, Barceloneta, or Ciutadella-Villa Olimpic.
• Tramvia Blau - old-fashioned, wooden trams run between the Ferrocarril FGC station (Avinguda del Tibidabo)/Plaça Kennedy and Plaça Doctor Andreu. Its route passes a number of Modernista mansions to the top of Avinguda Tibidabo. FGC: Avinguda del Tibidabo.
• Tibidabo - Mount Tibidabo is the best vantage point offering spectacular views of Barcelona and on a clear day of the area up to the Pyrenees. Over 100-year-old amusement park (Parc d'Attractions) is located there, as well as the gigantic communications tower Torre de Collserola, rising to a height of 560 meters above sea level, with the top can be reached by a glass-fronted elevator. On the top of Tibidabo is the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (the Temple of the Sacred Heart). It also has the elevator up the main tower to the outside terrace for spectacular views. To get there: FGC to Avinguda del Tibidabo, then Tramvia Blau to Plaça Doctor Andreu and the funicular train from there to Placa de Tibidabo.... Quite a long way, but the views from there are fantastic and you can have a lot fun in the Parc d'Attractions.
• Monestir de Pedralbes - the ancient monastery, founded for an order of Clarist nuns in 1326; one of the best examples of Catalan Gothic. The convent is still functioning; the monastery's highlight is the 3-story cloister and the chapel. Living quarters, kitchen and infirmary are open to the visitors. The Museum-Monastery houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection (Colleccio Thyssen) of paintings (e.g., Rubens, Velazquez, Tiepolo, Tintoretto), ceramics, silverwork and liturgical objects, displayed in a high-ceiling gallery with original 14th-century windows. Baixada del Monestir 9; metro: Maria Cristina, FGC: Reina Elisenda.
• Palau Reial de Pedralbes - former main residence of Count Guell (Gaudi's main sponsor), now housing the Museu de Ceramica (Catalan and Moorish ceramics, including works by Miro and Picasso) and the Museu de les Arts Decoratives (period furniture and artifacts from the Middle Ages to present times). Gaudi designed a fountain for the magnificent gardens located there. Av. Diagonal 686; metro: Palau Reial.
• Pavellons Finca Guell - famous for the dragon gateway - The Porta del Drac (Dragon's Gate) - a piece of phenomenal wrought-iron work by Gaudi. Being one of Gaudí's first projects in Barcelona for the Güell family, it was also the first project on which Gaudí used his signature trencadís (mosaic motif). The pavilions are in Neo-Mudejar style; the stables (housing the Real Catedra Gaudi, a study center). Av. de Pedralbes 7; metro: Palau Reial.
• (FC) Futbol Club Barcelona (aka Barca) - Museu del FC Barcelona and Camp Nou Stadium - most visited museum in Barcelona, with trophies, posters and lots of other memorabilia. Admission to the museum includes access to the adjacent 120,000-seater Camp Nou Stadium, one of the biggest in the world. Tickets to see Barca's matches are hard to get; 4,000 of them are sold a week before the event. Av. Aristides Maillol 7-9; metro: Collblanc.
• Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona - MACBA) - its building designed by Richard Meier - enormous, sleek and white, stands in total contrast to the surrounding buildings in the Raval district. The museum offers permanent collections of the contemporary artists such as: Catalans Joan Miro and Antoni Tapies, as well as Paul Klee, Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet and others. It also has popular temporary exhibits in the areas of: photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media. Plaça dels Angels 1; metro: Catalunya.
• Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB) - an art gallery, located just northwest of the MACBA, is sharing the Plaça Joan Coromines courtyard with it. Hosting theme-based contemporary-art exhibits, film screenings, a festival of short films and the Sonar techno festival. C. Montalegre 5; metro: Catalunya.
• Montjuic Cable Cars – 1/ from Parc de Montjuic (Avinguda de Miramar station) to Castell de Montjuic via Mirador (lower-altitude); 2/ from Barceloneta (Torre San Sebastia) via Port Vell (Torre Jaume I) to Montjuic (Jardins de Miramar station) - for those not afraid of heights.
• Castell de Montjuic - built in 1640, a Baroque-style castle on the top of Montjuic hill was a political prison before, but currently is housing the Military Museum. Offers fantastic views of the city, the port and the sea. Parc de Montjuic; metro: Espanya.
• Museu Picasso - one of the most popular museums in Barcelona, it's housed in five inter-connected medieval palaces. The world's largest collection of Picasso's early works. The permanent collection is arranged chronologically in the first three palaces; temporary exhibitions are showcased in the two other palaces. C. Montcada 15-23; metro: Jaume I.
• Las Golondrinas and Orsom Catamaran - offer boat tours to see the city from the sea. Las Golondrinas are sightseeing boats that provide 35-minute trips. The catamaran has longer tours that even offer an underwater view. Plaça del Portal de la Pau; metro: Drassanes.
• Barcelona beaches - Barcelona's coastline is 4.5 kms long with a number of world-class beaches. The most popular are: Platja La Barceloneta (closest to the city, located along the promenade up to the Port Olimpic in the Barceloneta district), metro: Barceloneta or Ciutadella-Villa Olimpica; Platja Sant Sebastia (extention of La Barceloneta beach, between the port estuary and C. Almirall Cervera, metro: Barceloneta. Other Barcelona beaches - beyond Port Olimpic: Platja La Nova Icaria (metro: Ciutadella-Villa Olimpica), Platja Bogatell (metro: Llacuna or Poblenou); Platja La Mar Bella (metro: Selva de Mar); Platja La Nova Mar Bella (metro: Selva de Mar or El Maresme-Forum).
• Montserrat - a mountain chain near Barcelona, it is famous for the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary (Basilica) - identified by some as the location of the Holy Grail from the Arthurian myth. «Montserrat», meaning «jagged (serrated) mountain» in Catalan, presents the peculiar aspect of the rock formation, which is visible from a great distance. The mountain is composed of unusual - pink - conglomerate, a form of sedimentary rock. The Benedictine Monastery (Abbey), dating from 1025, is a place of pilgrimage for the Catalan nation. The monastery's Basilica houses a statue of the Black Virgin (La Moreneta) - Catalonia's patron virgin. The Monastery can be reached by road, or by the Aeri de Montserrat cable car, or by the Montserrat Rack Railway. The lower stations of both the rack railway and the cable car can be reached by the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) train from Barcelona's Plaça d'Espanya station. From the abbey, the Funicular de Sant Joan (funicular railway) goes up to the top of the mountain, where there are various abandoned hovels in the cliff faces that were previously the abodes of reclusive monks. The second funicular railway - the Funicular de Santa Cova descends to a shrine. The world-famous Escolania (Boys' Choir) sings the Salve and the Virolai at 1 AM from Monday to Friday. On Sundays and holidays the Choir sings at conventual mass and sings the Salve and the Virolai at noon.