Welcome

One of Europe`s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balance the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Modern Eixample – just as the Mediterranean Gothic elegance of the church of Santa Maria del Mar provides a perfect counterpoint to Gaudi`s masterpiece Sagrada Familia

Barcelona has long had a frenetically active cultural life. Perhaps most famously, it was the home of architect Antoni Gaudi, whose buildings are the most starling statements of Modernism. Other leading Modernist architect include Luis Domenech i Muntaner and Josep Puig I Cadalfalch. The pintors Joan Mirò and Antoni Tàpies are also strongly identified with Catalonia. Pablo Picasso spent is formative years in Barcelona, and one of the cities treasures is a museum devoted to his works. The Liceu, Barcelona`s Opera House, is the finest in Spain.

You can enjoy a lovely sunset in Olimpic beach or Barceloneta.

Tourism

The main Barcelona tourist areas are: Between Plaça Catalunya and the lies the old city, or Ciutat Vella , including el Barri Gotic ( the Gothic Quarter), la Ribera or Born , and el Raval, the renovated Chinese District Southwest of la Rambla.

Above Plaça Catalunya, is the gridpattern expansion build after the cities third series of defensive walls were torn down in 1860. Known as the Eixample , these area contains most of Barcelona`s Modernist architecture. The most important monuments are:

• La Sagrada Familia
  The Basílica of the Sagrada Familia is the greatest symbolic value and the foremost ambassador of the city around the World. The importance of Sagrada Familia is twofold: it may be considered a Bible in stone and it is Gaudi´s building that best expresses his way of doing things. The façade of Nativity and the crypt were declared World Heritage by Unesco in 2.005.
• Casa Milà ( La Pedrera )
  This building is a Gaudi masterpiece and jewel of Barcelona´s Golden Square,the area of the city where the most beautiful buildings are to be found.La Pedrera is an apartment building with three façades that are integrated in a single body thanks to the waves formed by the curved volumes and the railings of the many balconies.
• Casa Batlló
  The House Batlló is the most celebrated building on the Block of Discord in Barcelona´s Eixample district and it is one of the best works of Gaudí.It represents the advent of a new century and the metaphorical defeat of the previous century´s academicist style at the hands of a revolutionary artistic trend.

Other interesting areas are: Montjuic and Tibidabo hill, Gracia neighbourhood,The waterfront or the new Forum area. You can discover the city by guided tours: on foot, by bus or by helicopter, ask our concierge for more details.

We recommend to do some excursions out of the city, for instance: Montserrat Abbey; Sitges, a picturesque Mediterranean village or Dali Museum in Figueres.

Art

Barcelona has a wide range of museums, the most important ones are:

• Museo Picasso    www.museupicasso.bcn.es
  The Picasso Museum is located on Carrer Montcada, a street known for several elegant medieval palaces. Picasso spent several of his formative years in Barcelona (1.901-06) but he often returned repeatedly. Displays include most pictures from the Rose and Blue periods.
• Museu Nacional d´Art de Catalunya - MNAC    www.mnac.es
  The museum is installed in the National Palace on Montjuich hill, a building erected for the International Exposition of 1.929. The MNAC gives an overview of almost one thousand years of Art in Catalonia from 10th to 20th century, through its collections of paintings, sculptures etc.
• Fundació Miró    www.bcn.fjmiro.es
  The Miró Fundation is located in an exceptional building designed by Josep Lluis Sert, with magnificent views over city and its harbour.The Fundation was opened in 1.975 and houses the largest public collectionof the artist and organises temporary exhibition.
• Fundació Antoni Tapies    www.fundaciotapies.org
  It is situated in a modernist building and opened in 1.990 after a hard renovation. The Fundació Antoni Tapies exhibits one of the most complete collections of Tapies´work.
• Museu D´Art Contemporani de Barcelona - MACBA    www.macba.es
  The MACBA, designed by American architect Richard Meier, has a longitudinal floor plan and every floor is bathed in natural light. Through the Collection and the exhibition/activities calendar, the MACBA hopes to construct a critical memory of Art of the latter half of the 20th century.

Music lovers can enjoy an unforgettable performance in two of the most important theatres around the world and architectural jewels, such as:

• Gran Teatre del Liceu    www.liceubarcelona.com
  One of the most important Opera House in Europe.It is located in the famous Ramblas, it was built in 1.848 que calcinó totalmente su interior en 1.994, siendo reinagurado en 1.999. Existe una visita diaria guiada a las 10.00hs.
• Palau de la Música Catalana    www.palaumusica.org
  

Shopping

Barcelona has a great variety of retail offering which suits all tastes, you can visit classic or modern shops, design or top world brands ones. You have different shopping areas:

• Downtown. You can combine culture and leisure in the most famous Barcelona´s street: Paseo de Gracia where you will find top international brands: Gucci, Prada, Dior, Carolina Herrera, Loewe etc. El Corte Inglés, the main department store , is located in Plaza de Cataluña as well as Fnac.
• We strongly recommend to visit Born or Gracia if you prefer modern and alternative shops. These districts are plenty of promising and young designers.
• Some of the most important malls are: L´Illa on Diagonal Avenue and Glorias.La Roca village outlet is located 30km. away from Barcelona.

We can offer our personal shopper service. Our concierge is at your disposal.

With children

In case you come to Barcelona with your children, we strongly recommend you to visit the following places that you will really enjoy.

• You can spend a lovely day on the Tibidabo hill where you have incredible panoramic views, we suggest visiting:The Cosmocaixa. As known as the Science Museum, it is divide in different areas: Geologic Museum, Flooded forest, planetarium etc….You will be all the time in an interactive environment.
• The centenary Tibidabo Amusement Park, the highest point of the city,has an offer that combines virtually all the different types of key attractions within the sector, some of which are far from being state of the art models.
• The Aquarium. It is located in the old harbour, at the end of the Ramblas, with gorgeous views over the marina. It is one of the biggest in Europe and even, you can dive with sharks. The Imax cinema is situated just besides the aquarium, in Imax you can enjoy three different kinds of projections, depending on your choice.
• Zoo. It is located in Ciutadella Park where you can see a romantic lake and it is plenty of picnic areas.

Weather

Barcelona has a Mediterranean weather with humid summers and warm winters,It rarely snows.
If you want to know weather forecast, please visit: www.meteosat.com