Sagrada Familia
(1882-?)
The master piece of the Catalan architect, The Sagrada Familia can be considered a Bible in stone, due to the great quantity of catholic symbols which Gaudí chose to mold into his façades. But the importance of Gaudí's unfinished building is not only religious; it may be considered the "Gaudí Guide" because it is the clearest explanation of his method of construction.
April-Aug. 9am-8pm, elevator 9:30am-7:45pm. Guided tours Apr.-Oct. daily 11:30am, 1pm, 4pm, and 5:30pm.
1886-1890
Palau Güell is situated in the Nou de la Rambla Street, in Barcelona and it was an assignment that Gaudí received from his patron, Eusebi Güell, the future count Güell, in 1885. The Palau Güellis currently the starting point of the Modernist Route of Barcelona.
Visits by guided tour only, departing every 15min. Open M-Sa 10am-1pm and 4:15-7pm
(1900-1914)
This may be the most unique of the many works which Eusebi Güell entrusted to Gaudí. It was declared a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO in 1984. Güell originally wanted his property to be a "garden-city" for the rich bourgeoisie of Barcelona, like those which were built in England,. Park Güell is an example of ecologic construction due to its complete respect to the environment, as well as the use of recycling in the creation of the majority of the mosaics, since the ceramics came from factory wastes.
Entrance: Free
La Casa Batlló
(1906-1908)
Casa Batlló is located at Number 43 Passeig de Gràcia, in Barcelona. It forms a part of the block of buildings known as the "manzana de la discordia" (block of dissension) because its buildings belong to so many different architectural styles. Due to its appearance, the Casa Batlló received a nickname "La casa dels Badalls" (House of Yawns). It is also called "La casa dels Ossos" (House of Bones), due to the similarity of the gallery’s fine columns with a bone structure.
(1906-1910)
La Pedrera was the last great civil work with Gaudí performed before he dedicated all his time to the construction of the Sagrada Família. Pere Milà saw the Batlló house and was delighted with its beauty, so he encharged Gaudí to construct a big building of rental flats on his new land. La Pedrera was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on November, 2nd 1984.
Open daily 10am-8pm, last entry 7:30pm. Guided tours M-F 5:30pm (English and Catalan) and 6pm (Spanish), Sa-Su 11am (English and Catalan) and 11:30am (Spanish).
Barri Gòtic
The Barri Gòtic and Las Ramblas are the oldest parts of the city and also the main tourist centers. Barri Gòtic was founded by Romans in the III century BC and its original Roman name was Barcino. The Catholic Middle Age covered Barcino with a labyrinth of small, narrow streets and historic and artistic landmarks. The modern tourist industry has added shops, hotels, hostels, and bars.
Las Ramblas is a pedestrian-only street where you can see street performers dance, fortune-tellers survey palms, human statues shift poses, people selling birds and flowers, and artists sell caricatures. A stroll along this bustling avenue can be an adventure at any hour, day or night.
Montjuïc
(The mountain of Jews)
The Magic Fountain, Spanish village, Joan Miró foundation, The Castle and the Military museum, National Palace, Catalonian Art museum, Olympic Stadium, The funfair, offer to a visitor many facets of the Mountain of Jews – history, culture, entertainment and sports.
he Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, designed by an engineer Carles Buigas, was made for The World Exposition in 1929. It took some 3000 workers to build it in less than a year. The beauty of the water, light and music show is well-known all over the world. The celebration of the patroness of Barcelona, Saint Mercé (September, 24th) takes place here, adding the magnificent fireworks to the already existing water, light and music show.
From Thursday to Sunday each 30 min. from 9.30pm till midnight. Free.
(Spain in miniature)
It was designed by Francesc Folguera y Ramon Reventós. The objective of this construction was to show the best examples of the Spanish popular and noble architecture in a reduced space. It is like a Spain in miniature from different ages. It contains two museums: The Art, Industry and Popular tradition museum and the Graphic Arts museum, but also many restaurants, show halls, discos, bars and clubs.
Open Su 9am-midnight, M 9am-8pm, Tu-Th 9am-2am, F-Sa 9am-4am. Price: €5,80. Guided tour can be appointed.
This is one of the most representative churches of the Catalan gothic architecture, built in the 14th century. At that time, Santa Maria del Mar (Mary of the Sea) was especially important to the growing population of sailors living in La Ribera, the part of the Barcelona city. This temple is the work of the architect Berenguer de Montagut. The first stone was placed as a coronation of the Cerdeña conquest which completed the Catalan dominance in Mediterranean. The interior of the church is extremely beautiful and it possesses acoustic conditions which make this religious building an ideal space for concerts, in which, in various occasions there were jazz sessions, besides the classical and oriental music concerts.
Open M-Sa 9am-1:30pm and 4:30-8pm, Su 9am-2pm and 5-8:30pm.
Cathedral
The history of this magnificent work of gothic architecture starts with a Visigothic chapel from the VI century. Then, in the XI century, at the same site, a Romanesque basilica was constructed. In 1298, during the reign of the king Jaume II, the construction of the Gothic Cathedral as we know it now started and it lasted until 1913, when the dome base, two lateral towers and principal façade were finished. It is dedicated to the Saint Cross (from the VI century) and to Saint Eulália (from the XI century).
Masses: M-Sa: 9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.00am y 7.00pm ; Su 9.00am, 10.30am, 12.00am, 1.00pm, 6.00pm y 7.00pm
It was built by the architect Lluís Domènech y Montaner between 1905 y 1908 and it is considered as one of the leading architecture examples of Catalan Modernism. In 1997 it was declared a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO.
Guided visits every half an hour M-Su: 10am - 3.30pm.Languages: Catalan, Spanish and English. Duration of the visit: 50 minutes.
Visiting times may vary or visits may be cancelled, according to the availability of the Concert Hall.
Forum 2004 will be a space where the citizens of the world can gather, engage in dialogue, and debate the most urgent issues of the 21st century.
Three main themes define the Forum: Cultural diversity, sustainable development and conditions for peace.
Over the course of 141 days, the Forum will provide a multicultural setting that will facilitate a process of renewal of attitudes and beliefs.
Web: www.barcelona2004.org
In order to commemorate the centenary of Salvador Dalí's birth, exhibitions and events are organized with the participation of museums, institutions, collectors, companies and government departments.
The global organization of the Dalí Year has been organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through the creation of a National Commission which coordinates, promotes and schedules the main events.
Web: www.salvador.dali.org
Museums
National Museum of Catalan Art
Address: National Palace of Montjüic
Collection of Catalan romanesque and gothic art, mural paintings, Spanish and European baroque art.
Picasso Museum
Address: C/Montcada, 15
Visiting hours: Tu-Sa and holidays, 10am-8pm. Su 10am-3pm Monday closed.
Museum of Modern Art
Address: Parque de la Ciutadella. Plaza de Armas
Visiting hours: M-Su 9am-9pm Thursday closed.
Paintings and sculptures from XVII century until nowadays.
Miró Foundation
Address: C/Av. Miramar 71-75
Visiting hours: Tu, W, F y Sa, 11am-7pm Th 11am-9.30pm Holidays 10.30am-2:30pm
Monday closed.
This white and bright building, private cultural foundation of the very same painter, has a permanent exposition of the artist's works.
Museum of Ceramics
Address: C/Av. Diagonal 686
Visiting hours: Tu-Sa 10am-2pm Monday closed
Museum of Decorative Arts
Address: C/Av. Diagonal 686
Visiting hours: Tu-Sa 10am-2pm Monday closed
Valuable collection of tapestry and other artistic objects.
Museum of Art, Industry and Popular Tradition
Address: Pueblo Español de Montjuïc
Visiting hours: Guided visits.
The building is a reproduction of a rural Pyrenean house from the beginning of the XX century, a pharmacy from the XVIII century.
Museum of Graphic Art
Address: "Pueblo Español".
Visiting hours: Guided visits.
Museum of Holography
Address: C/ St. Jaume 1(Junto a la Plaça de Sant Jaume)
Visiting hours: M-Sa 10am-1.30pm & 5.30pm-8.30pm. Sundays and holidays closed.
Museum of Archeology
Address: Montjuïc. Paseo de Santa Madrona
Visiting hours: 9.30am-1.30pm & 3.30pm-7pm. Su & holidays 10am-2pm Monday closed.
Museum of Chocolate
Address: Plaza Pons i Clerch (Princesa esquina con Comerç)
Visiting hours: M, W-Sa 10am-7pm Su 10am-3pm Tuesday closed
Ethnological Museum
Address: "Av. de Santa Madrona".
Visiting hours: W & Th 10am-7pm. W, F, Sa & Su 10am-2pm. Monday closed.
Museum of the City History
Address: "Casa Clariana Padellàs. Plaça del Rei".
Visiting hours: Tu-Sa 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm. Su & holidays 10am-2pm. Monday closed. July, August, September 10am-8pm
Museum of the History of Medicine
Address: C/Pasaje Mercade, 11.
Visiting hours: M-Th 10am-1pm
Historical review through 2.500 objects, many of them owned by great masters of Catalan medicine.
Maritime Museum
Address: Porta de la Pau, Av. Drassanes
Visiting hours: M-Su 10am-7pm
It contains the history of navigation with important documents such as "El Libre de Consolat de Mar", the most antique compilation of the Maritime law that exists, and other cartography objects and naval miniaturism.
Wax Museum
Address: C/La Rambla 4
Visiting hours: M-Su 10am-10pm
Taurine Museum
Address: C/Gran Vía de les Corts Catalans 749
Visiting hours: 10.30am-2pm & 4pm-7pm in taurine season.
Bull fight days: 10am-1pm
Museum of Music
Address: C/Av. Diagonal, 373
Visiting hours: Tu, Th, F, Sa, Su 10am-2pm; M, W 5pm-8pm
Museum of Perfume
Address: C/Passeig de Grácia, 39
Visiting hours: M-F 10.30am-1.30pm & 4.30pm-8pm. Su 4.30pm-8pm. Su & holidays closed.
Valuable collection of perfume recipients from antiquity until nowadays.
Military Museum
Address: "Castillo de Montjuïc"
Visiting hours: M-Su 9.30am-12.30pm & 3.30pm-7.30pm.
Museum of Barcelona Football Club
Address: Av. Arístides Maillol, next to the stadium
Visiting hours: November-March: M-F 10am-1pm & 3pm-6pm.
Sa, Su & holidays, 10am-2pm
Restaurants
Berriketa
Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 596 , between C/Balmes y Pza. Universitat
Tel: +34 93 342 41 44
The experts in Basque cuisine and tapas. They have a great selection of "pinxos" (little pieces of meat on a stick) and casserole. They offer lunch and evening menus, and a special degustation menu. The clients who order "an carte" have a parking place free.
La Fonda
Address: Moll del Gregal, 7-9, Puerto Olímpico
Tel: +34 93 221 22 10
If you like sea food and fish, this is the right place to eat with pleasure. The delicious seafood and fish are always served fresh with the best wines in a pleasant ambient with the view to the sea. They also serve typical Spanish meals, such as paella or tortillas.
Les Quinze Nits
Address : C/Pl. Reial 6
Tel : +34 93 317 30 75
One of the most famous restaurants in Barcelona. They don't make reservations by the phone, but it is worth to wait a little in line (it moves very rapidly). The food is exquisite.
Can Calvet
Address : C/Casp, 48
Tel : +34 93 412 40 12
Casa Calvet is situated in the beautiful modernist zone created by Gaudí. The experts of this restaurant offer the most representative dishes of the Mediterranean cuisine, masterly elaborated and presented with taste.
Els Quatre Gats
Address : C/Montsió 3
Tel: +34 93 302 41 40
"Els quatre gats" is a Catalan expression used when you want to say that there is nobody or a few people at some place. At his time, Picasso and other famous modernist bohemians used to come to this place. Now their works decorate this place. Live music, violin and piano.
Los Caracoles
Address:C/Escudellers 14
Tel: +34 93 301 20 41
They started as a snail shop in 1835. Now it is a restaurant with an interesting decoration - all kinds of kitchen utensils on walls. The food is excellent, including snails, the specialty that gave the name to this restaurant.
7 Portes
Address: C/Passeig d' Isabel II, 14
Tel: +34 93 319 30 33 y 93 319 29 50
This restaurant is visited both by tourists and native Barceloneses. It offers the most representative dishes of Spanish and Catalan cuisine.
L'Oliva
Address: Calle Jovellanos, 2
Tel: +34 93 317 02 31
L'Oliva is a pleasant and family restaurant in two levels. It offers Catalan dishes and its grilled meat and vegetables are well-known.
Tragaluz
Address : Passeig de Concepció, 5
Tel : +34 93 487 06 21
In the very same city center with a creative and Mediterranean cuisine. The meeting place of beautiful and famous people. This is the right restaurant for gastronomy, architecture and design lovers.
Web: www.grupotragaluz.com
Via Véneto
Address: Ganduxer, 10-12
Tel: +34 93 200 72 44
Since 1967, Via Vieneto has been one of the best and the most cosmopolitan restaurants of Barcelona with excellent Catalonian food. It was the place where some of the genial anecdotes in respect to the unique painter, Salvador Dalí, took place.
Torre d'Altamar
Address: Passeig Joan d'Borbó, 88
Tel: +34 93 221 00 07
Situated on the top of the San Sebastián Tower, it offers an impressive city view. The access to the restaurant is facilitated by a magnificent elevator. At night, it is very quiet and it is a perfect place for a dinner in privacy. This restaurant offers traditional Mediterranean cuisine, specialized in seafood. Besides fish and seafood specialities, they offer the products from the interior of Spain, such as jam from Jabugo or foie de gras with mushroom sauce.
Bestial
Address: Ramón Tria Fargas, 2-4
Tel: +34 93 224 04 07
Situated in front of the sea, under the Hotel Arts, the “Bestial” offers an interesting decoration of unique animals, created by Frederic Amar which justify its name (Beasty) and which cover the walls of the place. The food is excellent natural and very Mediterranean, treated in a cuisine which runs away from the fusion of the complex tastes and textures.
Barceloneta
Address: L'Escat, 22
Tel: +34 93 221 21 11
Just in front of the fishermen’s dock of Barcelona, there is a place that takes care of the fishermen palates. Since 1994, it is anchored in the part of Barcelona traditionally inhabited by fishermen. It is a privileged zone of Port Vell where the most vivid part of the Mediterranean coast can be seen from its balconies and terraces.
Botafumeiro
Address: Gran de Gracia, 81
Tel: +34 93 217 96 42
It offers the best cuisine of Galicia, from the best fish and seafood, to tripes “a la madrileña”, from clams with harical beans to magnificent meat dishes, as wel as the home made typical Galician deserts, such as the Cake of Santiago, “canutillos” and “filloas”.
Brasserie Flo
Address: Jonqueres, 10
Tel: +34 93 319 31 02
Centrally located in Jonqueres Street, next to the Palau de la Música Catalana, Brasserie Flo offers an exquisite selection of Mediterranean dishes with a French touch. All in an impeccable and elegant atmosphere.
El Principal
Address: Provença, 286
Tel: +34 93 272 08 45
Modern design, a lot of light, wide front rooms which become easily private space, and a menu of the vanguard Mediterranean cuisine with light dishes.
Gorriá
Address: Diputació, 421
Tel: +34 93 245 11 64
One of the oldest Basque restaurants of Barcelona. A high consideration in the gastronomic world with very professional service. Typical northern decoration with its own personality.
La Dida
Address: Roger de Flor, 230
Tel: +34 93 207 23 91
This restaurant is specialized in dishes based on comestible Catalonian mushrooms. It offers a a great variety of seasonal mushrooms dishes.
La Venta
Address: Plaza Doctor Andreu 1
Tel: +34 93 212 64 55
A nice terrace with tables during summer at the bottom of Tibidabo. Gratineed sea hedgehogs, an ox steak, tiramisu.
Laurak
Address:La Granada de Penedés 14-16
Tel: +34 93 218 71 65
The Restaurant Laurak was born in 1998, in Barcelona. It is a place where you can enjoy typical Basque food. We can recommend warm salad of mushrooms and apple with the Idiazábal cheese sauce, or red beans from Toulouse, cod “a la Club Ranero” or an ox steak with vegetables and duck foie de gras.
Little Italy
Address: Rec, 30
Tel: +34 93 319 79 73
A pleasant atmosphere where you can enjoy jazz in live. Open from 10pm. Free entrance with obligatory drink. Excellent Italian food.
Petit Paris
Address: Paris 196
Tel:+34 93 218 26 78
A restaurant with domestic and pleasant atmosphere, very quiet and romantic which offers French cuisine. Specialized in reindeer steak with goose foie, and as a desert, bitter chocolate cake. Besides, for vine lovers, they offer a wide selection.
Ruccula
Address: World Trade Center, Moll de Barcelona
Tel: +34 93 508 82 68
This restaurant is located in a priviledged place, Moll of Barcelona, in the commercial building World Trade Center. Ruccula offers elaborated dishes of Mediterranean food, taking maximum care of the details in its presentation, service and decoration.
Usually, in all the places that offer flamenco show, you can choose between two options: dinner with show or drink and show.
El Tablao Cordobés
Address: La Rambla 35
Tel: +34 93 317 57 11
Founded in 1970 and decorated by the best artists from Granada, Tablao Cordobés is considered as one of the most important "tablaos" of Spain, due to its most demanding artistic peculiarities and it has achieved a great international prestige. A lot of famous flamenco personalites have passed through its stage, such as, Farruco, Camarón Manuela Carrasco, El Güito, Lole y Manuel, and artists of a modern dance - Eva la Yerbabuena, Belén Maya, Israel Galván o Rafael de Carmen.
Web: www.tablaocordobes.com
You can make the booking on Internet
El Tablao de Carmen
Address: Avenida Marques de Comillas, Poble Español
Tel: +34 93 325 68 95
“Tablao de Carmen” offers one of the best flamenco shows in Barcelona in beautiful surroundings. Located inside the Poble Espanyol, in Montjuïc's tourist area. The reservations include admission to the Poble Espanyol in the evening. You can enjoy a delicious dinner of traditional Spanish cuisine and the best tapas.
Web: www.tablaodecarmen.com
You can make the booking on Internet
El Patio Andaluz
Address: Aribau, 242
Tel: +34 93 268 90 70
Las tapas are small quantities of food eaten between main meals that allows the body to endure until lunch or dinnertime.
According to one anecdote, the Spanish king Alfonso X, the Wise suffered from an illness that obliged him to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. Once recovered from the disease, the wise king ordered that in all inns of Castile's land, wine was not to be served without something to eat.
On the other hand, the roots of tapa can be also found in the need of farmers and workers of other walks of life to take a small amount of food during their working time, that allowed them to continue the job until the main meal's time.
Las tapas can be many things, but always in small quantities: olives, slices of sausages or smoked short loin, slices of cheese or smoked-ham, fresh anchovies in vinegar, calamari, hot-dogs, fritter, croquets, potatoes, rasher (slices of fried bacon), form a part of the fried tapas. As far as the casserole stews are concerned, we have the tripe "a la madrileña " or the egg plant from Almagro, or dressed beans. And finally, the secular recipes like the potato tortilla, the codfish fritter, croquets and "escabeches" (a kind of sauce).
To all these traditional snacks, we must add the new ones, such as the "paella" or the stewed potatoes with meat; and others from foreign recipes that finally ended up into our tapas world like canapés, pate or caviar, spring rolls with vegetables, smoked fish from the Northern countries, the German sausages, melted cheese from Switzerland and France and cakes or pates from Central Europe.
Las tapas are a very characteristic part of the Spanish cooking tradition that has become popular anywhere in the world.
Berriketa
Address: C/Gran via Corts Catalanes, 596
Tel: +34 93 342 41 44
Amaya
Address : C/La Rambla, 20 -24
Tel: +34 93 302 10 37
Txirimiri
Address: C/Princesa 11
Tel: +34 93 310 18 05
Cal Pep
Address : C/Plaza de les Olles 8
Tel: +34 93 310 79 61
Euskal Etxea
Address: C/Placeta Montcada 1-3
Tel: +34 93 310 21 85
Txapela (Euskal Taberna)
Address: C/Pg. de Gràcia 8-10
Tel: +34 93 412 02 89
Shopping is one of Barcelona's greatest attractions with a bountiful five kilometer shopping strip, all the way from the water's edge at Port Vell, right up La Rambla, and all along the Passeig de Gràcia, to Diagnal Street.
Barcelona is a city with many faces and all of them can be seen in a great variety of shops. L'Eixample (Pl. Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal) is full of designer stores, while other areas, like La Ribera and El Raval, have more unique and unusual shops.
International chains, designer shops and modern department stores can be found in the area around Plaça de Catalunya, Passeig de Gràcia and along the Diagonal Street.
The most famous shop in the city is the imposing El Corte Inglés on Plaça de Catalunya - Barcelona's answer to Harrod's in London - where you can find everything that you can think of.
La Rambla and the Barri Gòtic are the places to look for souvenirs.
Shops open at 9am or 10am and close again for an extended lunch between 1.30pm and 4pm or 5pm. In the evening shops close at 8pm or 8.30pm. Big department stores do not generally close for lunch.
All shops are open on Saturday afternoons but are closed all day on Sunday.