Great Cities of Europe: Barcelona

What to Do, and Where to Go in Barcelona.believed. There are hundreds of stalls selling every kind
The vibrant city of Barcelona has got something forof food imaginable, and of course, this being Spain,
everyone thanks to its fabulous parks, architecture,samples for tasting are freely and willingly offered!
shops and beaches. Add to that, countless art galleriesFive things you MUST do in Barcelona.
and museums and you truly have a city brimming with1- Stroll slowly along Las Rambles, Barcelona’s
an exciting mixture of fun and culture!wonderful shopping boulevard, and enjoy the shops,
It is a great destination, summer or winter, and in theseand street stalls. Stop for a coffee or a drink at one of
credit crunch times, there is accommodation availablethe many cafes and bars, and just people-watch!
to suit every pocket.2- Visit the famous church of La Sagrada Familia,
If you are a fan of art, this is the place to be as, overGaudi’s famous masterpiece. This is the
the centuries, this Catalan city has been home to manycity’s most iconic building, and will feature on any
famous artists and architects.tour of Barcelona. And no, from the outside, it really
The most famous of these is without a doubt Antonidoes NOT look real! Truly a fascinating building.
Gaudi, and many of the buildings in Barcelona are3- Don’t forget Picasso! Even if you are not a
monuments to his very distinctive style. Not tofan of his style of art, you really must not leave
everyone’s taste, but an absolute must-see forBarcelona without viewing his paintings at the Picasso
every visitor.Museum. The entrance fees to all the museums and
The most famous landmark in the city, the Sagradagalleries in the city are very reasonable, but do check
Familia Church, is his masterpiece and is a fabulousthe opening times, as they can vary quite a lot.
fairytale building. It was started in 1852, and5- Visit Sitges, the historical seaside district, which is
unbelievably, is still being worked on today.just a short train ride from the city centre. As well as
Pablo Picasso lived in Barcelona for many years, andits historic sites, Sitges is well known for its night-life
there is a permanent exhibition of his paintings in theand beaches.
Picasso Museum. There are dozens of other4- Eat Paella! There are so many different versions of
museums and art galleries, but don’t worry ifthis national dish, with each region claiming theirs is the
culture is not your thing.authentic one! You will find dozens of restaurants in
Head for Las Ramblas, a wide tree lined boulevardBarcelona each with their own receipeĀ….take your
that stretches over a kilometre all the way to thepick and enjoy with a glass or two of cava!
waterfront. It is home to all sorts of shops, cafes andWhatever you decide to do in Barcelona, you will find
bars, and boasts one of the biggest and best indooryourself wanting to return again and again to this most
food markets in Europe. It really has to be seen to becolourful of Spanish cities.