Master the Spanish language in this breathtaking seaside city. Being of the most walk able city due to its warm Mediterranean climate, you can café hop and enjoy plates of tapas. Experience this city’s remarkable selection of modernista architec...
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Master the Spanish language in this breathtaking seaside city. Being of the most walk able city due to its warm Mediterranean climate, you can café hop and enjoy plates of tapas. Experience this city’s remarkable selection of modernista architecture, tasty culinary creations, all while enjoying the enchanting coastal views.
Start out with a walk down the pedestrian boulevard, La Rambla, made up of 5 boulevards, beginning from the Placa Catalunya to the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. The walkway is a great place to hang out with your fellow travelers and observe the street performers, flower vendors, news stalls and various cafes. Finish your walk at the Gothic Quarter take note of one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
The city prides itself on its modernist architecture and on every corner you see works by Antoni Gaudi. The most renowned that you will want to check out are the La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and the Casa Mila (most commonly known as the La Pedrera) The La Sagrada Familia attracts 3 million visitors a year and you need to be one of them. The best time to go is in the late afternoon if you wish to beat the morning rush. The basilica is one of the most famous buildings and it’s still a work of art in progress. Park Guell is another attraction by Gaudi located on top of Carmel hill, be fore warned that it’s a hike, all up hill. Your best option is to ride the hop-on-hop-off bus or the metro station vallcarca. Be amazed by the intricate tiling and the natural shape of the structures. The La Pedrera is the perfect example of architecture from the Catalan Modernisme or Catalan Art Nouveau period. The many spaces of this museum, the roof-terrace or the courtyards will give you an understanding of Antoni Gaudi’s main purpose of this structure. Gaudi is not the only artist to see in Barcelona, stop by the Picasso Museum, dedicated to his magnificent marvels. Learn all about Picasso’s close ties with Barcelona and view the broad collection of primarily his early works.
If you’re looking for more relaxed things to do, Barceloneta is one of the top beaches to see, stretching over 4.5km and being the closest to the main city center. Grab your running shoes and head out for a jog or bicycle ride, you’re bound to make a friend along the way. Grab a bite to eat or a tapa at Can Paixano down in Carrer de la Reina Cristiana. By night, enjoy the colorful water lights of the Font Magica located below on the Montjuic hill near the Placa d’Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. The fountain performs a light show on selected nights attracting hundreds of observers mesmerized by dancing water.
Don’t forget to enjoy the Catalan cuisine, mostly made of aromatic herbs, locally bred animals and fresh seafood off the coast of the Mediterranean. Traditional delicacies include Pa amb tomaquet (toasted rustic bread), sarsuela, (a medley seafood) and fideau (similar to paella) except skinny noodles are used.
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