| Like many Spanish resorts, most people associate | | | | Away from the modernist buildings, Barcelona has its |
| Barcelona with sun, sand and sangria, but this is far | | | | fair share of narrow atmospheric streets, rustic stone |
| from the complete picture of a city that is rich in | | | | houses and palatial mansions. This is a city with a bit |
| culture and year round sightseeing. | | | | of everything and something for everyone. |
| Barcelona benefits from a climate that sees hot | | | | Barcelona's catalaunian attributes continue with its |
| summers and comparatively mild winters. But although | | | | parks and open spaces and these range from the |
| Barcelona is a good beach destination, terms like | | | | city centre Plaza de Cataluna, to the city's three main |
| "beaches" and "sunbathing" undervalue this amazing | | | | "green" parks of Guell, Montjuic and la Ciutadella. |
| city. | | | | These parks are truly outstanding in their scale and |
| To see the real Barcelona you need to leave the | | | | beauty and each has a different character. Parc Guell |
| beach resorts and the seafront areas behind and | | | | is Gaudi inspired and features many of his |
| explore the city that sits beyond these sun | | | | characteristic trademarks, whilst Ciutadella is a central |
| worshiping zones. | | | | city park with fountains, a lake and a zoo. |
| If you do this you will not be disappointed and you | | | | When it comes to shopping, Barcelona has chic |
| will experience a city that has something to see and | | | | boutiques like Zara and Mango plus many trinket and |
| do twelve months of the year. | | | | keep-sake shops to keep the tourists happy. |
| What to see and do in Barcelona | | | | There is a massive Corte Ingles department store, |
| Barcelona is one of Spain's most culturally rich | | | | the famous las Ramblas and the spectacular Mercat |
| metropolises with masses of museums and galleries. | | | | Boqueria. You will also see large shopping complexes |
| These galleries range from the Caixa Forum and the | | | | like el Triangle and Maremagnum. |
| Museum of Contemporary Art, to the Barcelona | | | | Barcelona has an active nightlife around the city |
| Football Club Museum. | | | | centre and marina areas. Here you will find everything |
| For anyone with an interest in architecture or | | | | from bars and traditional Flamenco shows, to Jazz |
| buildings, Barcelona will be associated with Antonio | | | | clubs, blues clubs and alternative music bars that |
| Gaudi and the modernist architectural movement that | | | | cover almost every genre of music. |
| he pioneered. | | | | Eating out is always a pleasure in Barcelona and, |
| Gaudi is a monumental figure in Barcelona and his | | | | during the evenings, the menus and atmosphere of |
| breathtaking buildings can be found all over the city. | | | | most restaurants change from the informality of |
| These buildings stand out because of their unique | | | | lunch time. Fish and seafood dishes tend to be the |
| designs, designs that saw Gaudi redefine structural | | | | big favourites, but it is Barcelona's tapas bars that |
| beauty on his own terms. | | | | offer the most varied dining experience of all. These |
| Many are aware of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia cathedral, | | | | tapas bars serve up a huge variety of snack sized |
| but a number of his other buildings like Casa Milla and | | | | dishes and you can eat as much, or as little, as you |
| Casa Batllo are as good, if not better. | | | | want. |