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Top 12 Sights in Barcelona
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is the main cathedral of Barcelona and, as a result, the residence of the archbishop. Constructing of the building (the purest example of Gothic architecture) was began in the last years of the XIII century, but was finished only in the middle of the XV century.
Exterior of the Cathedral is decorated with a variety of images of saints’ lives, and the facade is decorated with an unmatched lace carving. There are gargoyles and a variety of other animals located on the roof, including the mythical, and those that you can meet in the interior of the territory that belongs to the Cathedral.
Inside the building you can also find lots of great frescoes, carvings and works of art placed at the altar. Each of them deserves your special exclusive attention.
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is dedicated to one of patronesses of Barcelona – a young girl who was martyred. One legend says that Eulalia was naked in a crowded square, and a wonderful snow that went in the midst of spring, covered her nakedness.
There is a fee for entrance to the Cathedral, but this fee will seem very small when you can see with your own eyes all the beauty of the cathedral.
Guell Park was created in the early XX century by Antoni Gaudí, the famous architect in Spain, after the idea of Güell as a residential park area for the aristocracy that lived in Barcelona. There are beautiful and unusual buildings in the park as well as other building made of natural stone and with mosaic ornaments.
Park entrance begins with two bizarre-shaped houses. The decor of these little houses gives the right to call them not so much architecture as sculptural works. Along the main staircase there are fountains placed. It leads to the Hall of a Hundred columns. At the bottom of the staircase there is Salamander, Gaudi’s favorite character that is made of mosaic.
In fact, there are 86 Doric columns located in the “Hall of a Hundred columns”. The ceiling is also decorated with ornate mosaic patterns and has an intricate shape. There is a very good acoustics in the hall that is successfully used by many musicians.
There many footpaths as well as stone alleys around the park that start from its main square, Gaudí paved them from a local bizarre-shaped stone called “Bird’s Nest”.
There Gaudi House Museum is located in the depths of the park, that was opened in his former palace in 1963.
Barri Gotic
If you are a lover of slow walks to historical sites, then you should definitely visit the Gothic Quarter. This place is located in the center of Barcelona’s Old Town. The quarter starts from Catalunya Square and stretches along La Rambla until the Via Laietana.
Such a name, as you may guess, the Quarter obtained thanks to the enormous number of preserved medieval buildings that were built back in the days when Aragon was considered one of the most powerful countries of the Mediterranean.
In the Gothic Quarter, there is a chaotic layout that is typical for medieval cities. It consists of a large number of curve and narrow streets, many of which are closed for traffic. Most of the buildings in the Gothic Quarter are dated of XIV-XV centuries, but you can also find Roman buildings.
The central point of Barri Gotic is the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. In 1920, the Gothic Quarter was restored. Now there is a large number of museums and cozy shops in its territory. There you can also find the Government of Catalonia and the Town Hall.
Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas street can be called the soul of Barcelona. The length of this pedestrian street is about 1.2 km. It is located along a large number of green spaces, which adds special amenities for walking people. Lorca expressed the wish that the street never ended, and Maugham thought it’s the most beautiful in the world.
The street is located in the center of Barcelona, on the border with the Raval and the Gothic Quarter. The structure of Las Ramblas consists of five different, changing one by other avenues: Rambla de Canaletes, Rambla dels Estudis, Rambla de Sant Josep, Rambla dels Caputxins and Rambla de Santa Mònica.
Las Ramblas stretches up to the old port of the Catalan Square. After the construction of a shopping center Maremagnum in the port located right on the water, curved wooden pier leading to it, was also added to the Las Rambla and named Rambla de Mar.
Las Ramblas is a very cozy street with unique buildings, beautiful trees, live music and small cafes that at all times has attracted a lot of tourists.
Casa Batllo
Casa Batllo is one of the key elements that characterize the architecture of the beautiful city of Barcelona. Casa Batllo was built, as well as many other prominent architectural structures in Barcelona, by Gaudi, a world-known Spanish architect, in the early years of the XX century (particularly in the period from 1904 to 1906). Antonio Gaudi dealt with the reconstruction of an existing dwelling house belonging to the textile industry magnate Josep Batllo.
Most researchers of Gaudi’s works have the same opinion that from a reconstruction of the house the architect had a new creative stage to begin: from that time, most taken by Gaudi architectural decisions were based not on the existing conventional architectural styles, but only on personal vision of the author.
As with all other works of Gaudi, during building of Casa Batlló scenery and design details were thought through to the smallest nuances. It was a very interesting decision to use an unusual game of lights and shades. In the creation of Casa Batlló’s decor was engaged a large number of famous artists (smiths brothers Badia, glassblower Pelegri and others).
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is almost the most famous market in Barcelona, located in an excellent location – close to Las Ramblas. You just have to visit the market, regardless of whether you are just having a walk or come to make purchases for the meal.
Here you can enjoy a splash of various flavors. You will also enjoy the abundance of colors in each of the trade stalls. In the Boqueria Market you can buy everything from a variety of fruits and vegetables (even the most exotic) to fish and meat products.
The most colorful in the market is – without a doubt – the middle row, extending from the entrance. There are tropical fruits sold that can be tasted right away. In addition, there you can find nuts, dried fruits and spices gathered from all parts of the world. This is the place where even the most experienced gastronomes can satisfy their needs.
If you want to taste something specific only to local places, you should stop at the stalls where they sell traditional ham, olive oil, Spanish wine and cheese.
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous in the whole world of late completion of projects. Constructing of the church was began in 1882 and to date it has not been managed to fully complete. One reason for such a long-term construction is the fact that its funding is derived solely from the parish donations.
However, every year many thousands of tourists happily go to the northern region of Barcelona’s Old Town, in order to witness firsthand the true masterpiece of architectural thought.
The main architect, who worked under the creation of La Sagrada Familia, was Antoni Gaudi. He knew that during his life he unlikely would be able to complete the construction of the cathedral, so planned ahead of time many internal elements. Desiring to simplify the construction and at the same time avoid the use of direct components led to the use of the geometric figures with linear surface: hyperboloid, conoid, ellipsoid and helix.
Everything in the interior complies with the strict laws of geometry, making cathedral to be exceptional and attracting.
Museu Picasso
The Museum Picasso in Barcelona is one of the most visited places. Every year, this art gallery is visited by a total of more than a million visitors.
The Museum’s collection includes early work of the great Spanish painter, graphic artist, sculptor, ceramist and designer, the brightest representative of the cubism – Pablo Picasso, which was created in the period from 1895 to 1904. But there also are more recent creations, for example, a series of works titled “Las Meninas” based upon the beautiful works of Velazquez, creation of which is dated back to 1954 year.
Exhibition of Picasso’ works in the museum is compiled in chronological order, which allows visitors to personally keep track of how over time thinking and creative vision of the artist transformed, and understand how Pablo Picasso developed his unique style, thanks to which the number of fans of his work over the years keeps growing.
It was possible to create the Museum thanks to a generous gift from a friend and secretary of Picasso named Jaime Sabartes which he presented to the capital of Catalonia. For visitors Museu Picasso was opened in 1963.
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