BARCELONA and its surroundings

Barcelona is located in the northeastern region of the Iberian peninsula, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. It is Spain's second largest city in both size and population (1.5 million inhabitants), and is the administrative and cultural capital of Catalonia, an old country that nowadays is one of the 17 Autonomous Communities that make up Spain. There are two oficial languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally spoken in all of Catalonia, and Spanish. The capital of Catalonia is unequivocally a Mediterranean city, not only because of its geographic location but also and above all because of its history, tradition and cultural influences. The documented history of the city dates back to the founding of a Roman colony on its soil in the second century B.C. The original name of the city was Colonia Iulia Augusta Faventia Paterna Barcino.

Modern Barcelona experienced spectacular growth and economic revival at the onset of industrialization during the second half of the 19th century. The 1888 World's Fair became a symbol of the capacity for hard work and the international outlook projected by the city. Culture and the arts flourished in Barcelona and in all of Catalonia; the splendor achieved by Catalonian Modernism is one of the most patent displays. The Barcelona of today is far more than an open air Modernist museum, but what gives it its seal is precisely this artistic current, just as in Rome it is the Renaissance or in London it is Victorian. Barcelona is, of course, Gaudí, it is Lluís Domenèch i Montaner and it is Josep Puig i Cadafalch, three architects who sum up the city’s Modernist spirit.

Barcelona lies between the mountain and the sea. The great transformation of the city due to the 1992 Summer Olympic Games opened the city even more to the sea, opening new beaches to enjoy.

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ENJOY BARCELONA:

There are many thing to see, do and enjoy in Barcelona and its surroundings. The following links may help you to have a feeling of what you can do:

• Barcelona information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona
• Barcelona information: http://www.bcn.es/english/ihome.htm
• Barcelona Interactive Map: http://www.bcn.es/guia/welcomea.htm
• Public Transportation Maps: http://www.tmb.net/en_US/barcelona/moute/planols/planols.jsp

• Turisme de Barcelona (http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/)
• barcelona prestige (http://www.bcn-guide.com/default.htm)

If you get ovewhelmed by so many things, do not despair, stay longer.

Some typical suggestions:

BARCELONA CITY

Famous touristic places

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La Rambla: La Rambla is a 1.2 Km walkway through the very heart of the city centre. Here you will see all sorts of stalls, restaurants, bars and street performers along with the many thousands of people that promenade up and down La Rambla until the early hours of the morning. It stretches from the Colon Monument in the south to Plaça de Catalunya in the North and many important streets and squares lead off from La Rambla.

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Barri Gòtic ("Gothic Quarter"): The Barri Gòtic is the area in which the old town of Barcelona is situated. It is situated on the right hand side of La Rambla as we look towards Plaça de Catalunya. Its streets vary considerably in style but the old quarter is generally characterized by narrow cobbled streets with tall old buildings.

• Barcelona Cathedral: is based in the old town and around the Cathedral you'll see many fine examples of Gothic architecture and Roman walls.
  

           

Gaudi Architecture and Modernism

• Sagrada Familia: A giant Gothic cathedral, probably Gaudi's greatest works and is the No.1 most visited attraction in Barcelona (http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/index.php)

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Park Güell: A magical park with amazing buildings, sculptures, and tile work designed by Gaudi. You will also find Gaudi's old home in Park Güell which is now open to the public as a small museum.

• Casa Batlló: One of the most interesting and unusual houses in Barcelona. (http://www.casabatllo.es/)

• Other Gaudi buildings: http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/index.htm
• Ruta del Modernisme http://www.rutadelmodernisme.com/default.aspx?Idioma=en

Museums and Art Galeries

• Picasso Museum
  Official Web Site: Picasso Museum (http://www.museupicasso.bcn.es/index.htm)
• Fundació de Joan Miró
  Official web site: Joan Miró (http://fundaciomiro-bcn.org/)
• Museu National d'Art Catalunya (MNAC) - Montjuïc
  Official web site: MNAC (http://www.mnac.cat/index.jsp?lan=001)
• Museu Nacional de la Ciència i de la Tècnica de Catalunya
  Official web site: http://www.mnactec.cat/
• Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)
  Official web site: MACBA (http://www.macba.es/)
• Museum of Science Cosmocaixa (http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/centros/cosmocaixabcn_es.html)
• Olympic Gallery: http://www.fundaciobarcelonaolimpica.es/intro.html
• Torre de Collserola: http://www.torredecollserola.com/

Sports

• Football Club Barcelona http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/
• Football Club Espanyol http://www.rcdespanyol.com/

Beaches

Barcelona has seven beaches, totalling 4.5km (2.8mi) of coastline. Sant Sebastià and Barceloneta beaches are the largest, oldest and the most frequented beaches in Barcelona. The Olympic port separates them from the other city beaches: Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant.

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BARCELONA SURROUNDINGS

Nearby Barcelona you have lots of things to see and enjoy:

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Sitges and other coastal villages (http://www.sitgestour.com/index.php?lang=en)

• Astonishing landscape in Monserrat : http://www.abadiamontserrat.net/angles/index.htm

http://www.montserratvisita.com/

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Modernism and romanic treasures in Terrassa:

Masia Freixa: http://viewat.org/?i=es&id_pn=1490&sec=pn

Esglésies de Sant Pere : http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18323085

• Romanic Monastery in Sant Cugat: http://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monestir_de_Sant_Cugat

• Cava and wineries, etc..