A Tourist’s Guide to Barcelona
Have you ever fallen in love with a place you visited and wished to make it home? If you haven’t, a visit to the city of Barcelona in Spain is exactly what you need. The country of Spain in the European continent is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea, the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic Ocean and the borders of France and Andorra and has always been a popular tourist destination. The release of the cult movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ a few years back led to Spain topping the tourist charts as it showcased the vibrancy and dramatism of Spanish culture by showing glimpses of the all things that are Spanish, including the Flamenco dance, the bullfights, and of course the popular La Tomatina festival. But there is so much more to Spain than just these and a visit to the seductive and entrancing city of Barcelona exposes these hidden depths of the country.
My trip to Spain with my family included a visit to the cities of Madrid and Barcelona in Spain, however, it was Barcelona that captured our imagination and our hearts. Though we were in Barcelona for a measly three days, the limited time we enjoyed here made a lasting impression on our minds. The charm of Barcelona lies in its intimate relationship with art and culture. Whichever part of the city you might be in, the architecture is distinctive and unique to the city. This is after all the city of the Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi, who is known for his unique craftsmanship which cannot fit in any one style or classification. The city provides the perfect foil for his many works such as the Casa Mila, La Sagrada Familia, Guell Park and many more. Wherever you move in the city, the presence of Gaudi’s work is omnipresent.
We were staying in the Barri Gothic area, also known as the Gothic quarter, which was also the centre of the oldest parts of Barcelona. Therefore, we spent our first evening exploring this neighbourhood. The area is characterised by winding lanes dotted with Catalan restaurants, most of who were offering outdoor seating, ensuring you can absorb the sights around while digging into a plate of paella and that is exactly how we spent our first evening here.
Barcelona Cathedral is known for its Gothic Architecture
The Barcelona Cathedral, which we first visited, dominates the architecture in this area. The Gothic façade of the church is absolutely stunning and once you enter inside, the interiors are breathtaking too. It is an absolute must visit when you are in Barcelona. A tiny elevator inside the cathedral will take you right to the top of the cathedral, where you can appreciate a view of the city. Also, the square outside the cathedral is the place to be if you want to spend a relaxing evening with your folks enjoying the sunset and the gentle breeze that blows here.
Amateur musicians can often be found here, playing evergreen Coldplay hits. We chanced upon a group of senior citizens participating in an impromptu singing competition, right here in the open! It was a blissful start for our stay in Barcelona.
Our second day here was spent visiting the well-known tourist spots and other architectural marvels of Barcelona. Like most of the popular tourist destinations in the world, Barcelona offers hop-in and hop-off bus services, which cover most of these spots and is an easy and the most cost-effective way for tourists to explore the city. Hopping onto the bus, we were all set to explore this beautiful city. One of the first places we visited was the Picasso Museum that showcases the master’s work. An audio guide was made available at the entrance for the visitors that makes the experience more enjoyable and informative.
This was followed by a visit to Basílica de Santa María del Pi, a beautiful cathedral with attractive rose windows which are considered to be one of the largest in the world. This was followed by a visit to the La Sagrada Familia, one of the most iconic structures of Barcelona, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi and was the last project he undertook in his lifetime. He died before he could complete it and the structure is still being built today following Gaudi’s original design.
Antoni Gaudi is buried here, and the site is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unusual geometric design which comprises of 3 grand facades and an ambitious 18 spires out of which around only 8 are complete as of now.
A trip to Barcelona is incomplete without visiting FC Barcelona, one of the most popular football clubs in the world and the high-class football stadium, the largest in Europe. Even if you are not a football fan, it is worth visiting it to just take in the sheer size of the stadium. Football fan? You will join exploring the museum and kicking a football on the field, probably imagining that you are playing for your favourite team.
Benedictine Abbey
On our last day in Barcelona, we took a day trip to the nearby Montserrat Mountain, which is an extremely scenic ride. The ride takes you along the mountain ranges that are rugged, sharp, and saw-shaped and offers stunning views of the Spanish countryside as you ascend the range. The Benedictine Abbey can be found here that houses one of the few black Madonna statues in Europe and this particular statue is renowned for its healing powers. The surrounding areas have some interesting treks that can be attempted by the adventurous. The musically inclined should listen to the Boys choir which performs in the abbey and is known for its high standards of music throughout Europe. Assimilating their performance brought a sense of peace and tranquillity to us.
With this visit to Montserrat, our sojourn to Barcelona came to an end. We prepared to depart with heavy hearts and a firm resolution to return for a longer stay in Barcelona and take-in more sights of this quaint and lovely city. Barcelona is definitely a must visit in the European continent. Whether you are visiting the popular tourist spots, exploring the winding streets and by lanes or simply enjoying a glass of wine with a hot meal in any of the outdoor cafes, what you feel is an overwhelming sense of freedom and happiness.