Antonio Gaudi is Barcelona’s patron architect. Much of the city bears his stamp. Nowhere is this more evident than in his unfinished masterpiece, The Temple of the Holy Family. Work began in 1883 but halted after the architect’s untimely death from a tram accident in 1926. On its way to becoming as tall as nearby […]

Barcelona is a city by the sea, the Mediterranean Sea to be exact. Like most coastal towns its history and ambiance are affected by that fact. For centuries the harbor was the scene of seafarers and townspeople bustling about on the traditional business that takes place at any port. But Port Vell fell into disuse […]

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Parc Guell is yet another of architect Antonio Gaudi’s great gifts to the city of Barcelona. Built between 1900-1914, this 20-hectare park sits on the hills to the north of Barcelona’s main areas. It provides a peaceful oasis of lush greenery and outstanding architectural elements. On the northern edge […]

At the base of Montjuic in Barcelona, while standing in the Placa d’Espanya, visitors see before them two majestic towers. Constructed in 1929 as part of the Palau Nacional for the World Exhibition, they form the entrance to this Spanish city’s magnificent hilltop park. But long before those towers were constructed this hill held a […]

La Boqueria, Mercat de Sant Josep, St. Joseph’s Market… Whatever name you use to describe it the sights and smells will be the same. This bustling conglomeration of food stalls, restaurants, and tapas bars is one of Barcelona’s most often visited attractions. That last fact is all the more interesting since relatively few tourists seek […]

The Catalan National Art Museum offers a complete history of native art from the Romanesque period through the 1940s. In between are hundreds of samples of the finest art Barcelona has to offer. There are thousands of objects housed here inside the magnificent Palau Nacional. Perhaps the most notable are those comprising the Romanesque section. […]

The architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) didn’t create Barcelona. The city is over 2,000 years old and the famed artist was active around the end of the 19th century. But much that is worthy in this Spanish city is the result of his efforts. Just a list of the works he created that are still extant […]

Barcelona Zoo receives over a million visitors per year. It isn’t hard to see why once you know about all the things it has to offer animal lovers. Built in 1892 these 13 hectares located in Ciutadella Park house thousands of animals from 400 different species, many of whom are not typically found at other […]

One of the most popular shopping areas of Barcelona, the Poble Espanyol is an array of houses, shops, and other buildings done in every style seen across Spain. Enter through the gateway simulated to look like the great walled city of Avila and experience the many sights within. Built in 1929 as part of the […]

Barcelona is an ancient city, born of the Roman Empire. But like many great cities around the world, it flowered in the late Middle Ages and blossomed in the mid-19th century. Yet there are many exciting elements of the modern period there, as well. These periods are all evident in this northeastern Spanish city on […]