Barcelona is popularly known worldwide for being absolutely one of the beautiful, visually appealing and creative cities in Europe. It is the capital city of Spain’s autonomous community of Catalonia. Barcelona is the second largest and the second most densely inhabited city in Spain. But what make Barcelona a major draw for tourists from all around the world are its lively Catalan culture, impressive nightlife, rich beaches, sumptuous Catalan gastronomy and highly picturesque streets.
Barcelona is also recognized as the home for a number of interesting sightseeing spots of which some are listed by UNESCO as among the Word Heritage Sites.
1. Park Güell
Be hypnotized by the stunning polychromatic tiled mosaic seats, flabbergasting stone structures and beguiling edifices at the Güell Park. Guests may enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire park and even of the city from the terraced area located at the top of the park. Park Güell is one of the most impressive public park systems in the world. It is located in La Salut in Barcelona’s Gràcia district, on the Carmel Hill which is part of the Collserola mountain range. The park reflects the artistic plenitude of the popular Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984, listed under the works of Gaudí.
2. Casa Milà
The Casa Milà, also popularly referred to as La Pedrera which means the ‘The Quarry’, was architect Antoni Gaudí’s last civil work. This modernist building is considered as an ironic allusion of the similitude of the building’s facade to an open quarry. It is one of the exceptionally stunning structures in Barcelona, Catalonia that was listed on UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Architecturally speaking, the Casa Milà is known for being innovative structurally with a state-of-the-art underground garage. It features self-supporting facade and columns that were made of stone.
3. Sagrada Família
The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, also referred to as Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família or simply Sagrada Família, is one of the renowned architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí. The Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic huge basilica in Barcelona that has been held under construction since 1882. It is considered as the city’s number one tourist attraction. The basilica features three majestic facades. Located on the south section which is still in queue for completion is the Glory facade, on the west section is the Passion facade and on the East section is the Nativity facade.
4. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) or National Art Museum of Catalonia is well known for its slogan “One museum, a thousand years of art”. The museum features Romanesque collection including the 21 mural sections with an overview of the Catalan art dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries. Among the interesting displays found in the museum are some paintings and sculptures from local basilicas like the works of Jaume Huguet and Bernat Martorell. Other displays are the modernista collection like the mural of Ramon Casas and the decorative arts collection.
5. Mammoth Museum
If you have seen and appreciated the stone mammoth at the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, you will surely like seeing this gigantic creation in real size at a closer encounter as well. The Mammoth Museum is a peculiar yet a very interesting museum in Barcelona that displays the largest creature in the world, the mammoth. The museum highlights a couple of incredible historical treasures like the well preserved colossal proboscidean skeletons, cave bear skeletons, millennia-old mammoth’s calcified teeth, dried skin and tusks and the horn of rhinoceros.
6. Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Are you planning to visit Barcelona on a summer? How about catching the spectacular scenery of the dancing water of the Magic Fountain? The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, popularly called the Magic Fountain, is one of the popular attractions in the city most especially during summer. The fountain features a fantastic display of water acrobatically dancing in the rhythm of lively music and vibrant rainbow illuminations that lasts for around 15 minutes. The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc can be found nearby the Poble Espanyol de Barcelona and Plaça d’Espanya, just below the Palau Nacional. It is situated at Avenida Maria Cristina in Barcelona’s Montjuïc district.
7. Poble Espanyol
Unwind and stroll around the cobbled streets of the open-air architectural museum of the city, the Poble Espanyol or “Spanish village”. It is one of the magnificent creations of Catalan Spanish architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, another brilliant Modernist of Barcelona. The view of the scenic squares, enchanting characteristic porticoes and superb architectural structures, added with the entrancing array of flamenco clubs, discotheques, cafes and restaurants are more than enough reason to visit the museum.
8. Picasso Museum
Whether or not you are a huge fan of the 20th-century most influential Spanish artist Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, you will surely enjoy taking a closer look at his masterpieces. The Picasso Museum is absolutely a must see tourist attraction in Barcelona that you should not miss. You need not to be an art aficionado to appreciate the beauty of Picasso’s magnum opus. The Museu Picasso or Picasso Museum houses the most extensive and exclusive collection of the work of art of Picasso. Included in the 4,251 works displayed at the museum are Picasso’s first major creations like the “The First Communion” and the “Science and Charity”.
9. Placa Reial
When visiting Barcelona, you must include in your itinerary touring around the most iconic square and widely known sightseeing spot in the city, the Plaza Real or Placa Reial. This beautiful quadrangle is located next to La Rambla at the heart of the historic center of Barcelona, the Gothic Quarter. The Plaça Reial is comparable to Mexico’s Plaza Garibaldi. Around the square dwell a great number of famous restaurants and discotheques like Karma or Jamboree. It is a popular venue for public gatherings like summer activities, open-air concerts, New Year’s Eve celebration and the La Mercè festival every September.
10. Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya or Plaza de Cataluña is another spacious square in the central area of Barcelona famous for being the venue where the 19th century-built Eixample and the old city meet. Plaça Catalunya is thought to be the geographical heart or the center-most spot of the city. Adorning the square are a few statues, flora, pigeons and fountains.
11. La Seu Cathedral
The La Seu Cathedral is the Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in the heart of Barcelona. It is located in Gothic Quarter. Officially named as Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia or Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, La Seu Cathedral is known for being the seat of the city’s Archbishop. The interior as well as the arches and pinnacles of the cathedral are such a magnificent sight to behold. The abbeys are bursting with palm, orange and medlar trees as well as with thirteen geese which represent Saint Eulalia’s young life.
12. Santa Maria del Mar
Another iconic church in Barcelona that is more than worthy of your visit is the Santa Maria del Mar located in the city’s Ribera district. The church was built between 1329 and 1384 during the height of the maritime and mercantile supremacy of Catalonia. Santa Maria del Mar is popular for its purity and unity of architectural style which is considered uncommon in colossal medieval structures.
13. Montjuïc Castle
Montjuïc Castle is one of the less visited sightseeing spots in Barcelona but is also one of the interesting places that you should not miss. The Montjuïc Castle is dated back from 1640. This ancient military fortress built at the peak of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona is presently utilized as a municipal facility of the city. Apart from the vintage military museum, you can also enjoy the breathtaking view from the castle which was built on top of the 170m high cliff. The stunning view of the port of Barcelona which you can’t witness at the ground level as well the thrill of riding the Montjuic cable car going up to the mountain are just among the things that make Montjuic Castle worth visiting for.
14. Caixa Forum
Another interesting spot to visit in the Montjuïc area is the Caixa Forum. This art gallery designed by Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch houses contemporary art exhibits. It is located on Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia. The contemporary culture space is open every day and can be accessed by the general public, free of charge.
15. Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, commonly referred to as CCCB, is one among the most visited and most interesting art and exhibition centers in Barcelona. It is located at the Raval district. Apart from art displays, the CCCB also produces a variety of events including concerts, debates and festivals. It also organizes in-house productions to other local and global museums, institutions and art centers. The center also designed an open space intended for associations, in-house productions and creators.
16. Sant Miquel del Fai
About 50 kilometers away north of Barcelona in the middle of the leafy valley of vall del Tenes stands an 11th century medieval abbey known as Sant Miquel del Fai. Surrounded by greenery, rocky ridges, unperturbed waterfalls and breathtaking landscapes, the monastery is one of the most tranquil and laid-back tourist magnets in Catalonia. The Sant Miquel del Fai also highlights a bizarre square in the front area that offers a very stunning view of nature and small lakes, a Gothic-style exhibition gallery and restaurant which was once a Priory House as well as a Romanesque chapel which is the only chapel built inside a grotto in the entire Catalonia.
17. Gran Teatre del Liceu
A visit to Barcelona would not be complete without a look at the cultural life in the city. And the best way to witness the culture in Barcelona is by visiting the heart of the city’s cultural life, the Gran Teatre del Liceu. This ancient theater was established in 1847 on La Rambla and was once regarded as the most gigantic opera house in the entire Europe.
18. Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d’Estudis d’Art Contemporani
The Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d’Estudis d’Art Contemporani, also called the Joan Miró Foundation, is one of the contemporary art museums in Barcelona, Catalonia. This award winning museum is dedicated to Spanish sculptor, ceramicist and painter Joan Miró. The building was built on the Montjuïc hill and was designed by Josep Lluis Sert. The museum houses 14,000 pieces of Joan Miró’s creations.
19. Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona
The Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona or MACBA, translated in English as the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art is a museum that is located in El Raval, Ciutat Vella, particularly in the Plaça dels Àngels. The museum, which was opened for public access on November 28, 1995, was designed by Richard Meier, an American architect. It holds a permanent Catalan and Spanish art collection dating from the 1940s and onwards that totals to around 5,000 works. The museum building stands out with its glass and white concrete design.
20. Museu de la Xocolata
Regardless of whether you are a child, kid at heart or adult, you will surely love everything about this extra ordinary museum in Barcelona, the Museu de la Xocolata or the Chocolate Museum. The museum displays the chronological history of Europe’s chocolate including how it got to the continent from South America. The museum also shows how chocolate is manufactured. Apart from the chocolate aroma that occupies the atmosphere, the museum also highlights a number of chocolate sculptures including some structural buildings in Barcelona.
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