When in Barcelona
Barcelona lies on the shores of the Mediterranean at the north-eastern tip of the Iberian peninsula.
It might be the second largest Spanish city and the country's second city after capital Madrid, but don't say that too loudly around the locals, who are fiercely proud of their heritage as Catalans. Most residents of this vast city still consider themselves to be occupants of Spain's premier city – Madrid might have the national government but Barcelona certainly has the culture and heritage to compete with it.
The city has expanded massively in recent years and has been a huge benefactor of the 1992 Olympic Games. Before then, the city was not regarded as a particularly strong tourist destination, but the regeneration that went into transforming Barcelona's image and appearance in time for the Games has ensured it is now one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. The city has an Olympic region which is situated largely on top of a mountain, overlooking the city and the Mediterranean. One of the most breathtaking approaches to the Olympic area is by cable car, which takes visitors from the shores of Barcelona's beach to the top of the mountain.
The focal point of the central city, where 1.5 million people currently live, is Las Ramblas. The wide street, with a central walkway, is popular with tourists and as a result plenty of street performers can be found beneath the trees.
Of course, if you want to enjoy yourself at the heart of the city you will need to be prepared to pay for it. The majority of restaurants and shops which line Las Ramblas are at the upper end of the price range, while it is even difficult to find a bargain in the Boqueria market, which lies at the side of Las Ramblas.
Travel away from this focal point and things not only become cheaper, they also become calmer and a more relaxed Mediterranean pace wafts over the city. This is also an opportunity to see some of the really fascinating architecture offered by Barcelona. Architect Antonio Gaudi inspired a revolution in building methods with his approach in the second half of the 19th century and the results are as stunning today as when he first conceived them. Park Guell is his masterpiece, where gardens intertwine seamlessly with wavy architecture, looking down on the city and over the Mediterranean. But the real jewel in the crown of both Gaudi's work and of Barcelona itself must be the cathedral, La Sagrada Familia. One of the most stunning buildings in the world, the massive structure and its eight turrets reach to the skies despite not yet complete.
Barcelona is in reality a combination of different expansion areas, which means that the city can at times be a contradiction of itself. While near the old cathedral you can find yourself wandering small, convoluted avenues, on arrival in the Eixample quarter, where much of Gaudi's work is featured, you will discover large open spaces and grid-like planning that owes much to modern US cities such as New York's Manhattan.
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Introduction
