Barcelona, capital of Catalonia and of the homonymous province, is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Walk along Roman ruins and medieval city and even into the modern neighborhoods, with characteristic buildings, square blocks, tree-lined streets and avenues too wide, but first get a cheap flight to the city and a hotel in Barcelona.

Let’s start the tour of Las Ramblas, a promenade located in the Plaza Catalunya. In it you will see typical newsagents, flowers, birds (if birds!), Street performers, cafes, restaurants and large shopping district. Right there, you will see important buildings as the Palacio de la Virreina, the Boqueria market and even the well-known to theater Gran Teatro del Liceo. If you take a side street you come to the Plaza Real, with its palm trees and buildings with porches, houses pubs and restaurants where you usually meet collectors of stamps and coins. Something worth watching!

Down with the promenade of Las Ramblas near the old port, where the statue of Christopher Columbus pointing toward the sea. Here you can also enjoy the Maritime Museum, built in honor of naval history in the Mediterranean, where it is displayed full-scale reproduction of an ancient galley battle. Besides, the old port features an entertainment center, shops, restaurants, an IMAX cinema and an aquarium of the Mediterranean marine fauna. Could not ask for more!

It’s time to go to other places and better than the Gran Teatro del Liceo de Barcelona, also known as the «Lyceum». Do not miss the oldest and most prestigious theater in the city, which develop mainly operas and is considered even today as one of the largest in the world. It is located on La Rambla for more than 150 years has been the site of works and prestigious meeting place of the aristocracy and bourgeoisie in Catalonia.

You know it’s El Raval? A neighborhood of Barcelona, located in the Ciutat Vella district that was born from the expansion of the medieval walls of the city. Today is the hostel for many locals and even people worldwide who migrate to Barcelona. It is for this reason that the streets are flooded with trade in all places and shops to fashion new and different trends. El Raval is bounded by La Rambla, Calle Pelai, Ronda Sant Antoni, Sant Pau Ronta, Paral-lel Avenue and Paseo Josep Carner. Interestingly, also known as Calle de la Cera wax by rivers formed by the many candles that put people before the virgin who is on that street.

Talking about Barcelona and facilities not to mention the 1992 Olympics. Many facilities are located in the Montjuic Mountain, where there is the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium which includes the Olympic Museum, the Palau Sant Jordi, the Picornell swimming pools or diving pool Montjuich. Getting away from the mountain will find the facilities of FC Barcelona, where the Camp Nou, or Palace Azulgrana Palau Blaugrana, the Mini Stadium and the Museum of FC Barcelona, which is the second most visited museum in Catalonia. 

Now go through the parks of Barcelona. One of the best known is Parque Guell, which was designed by renowned Antonio Gaudi and is in the district of Gracia. Another is the Montjuic Park, located on the mountain that receives the same name and of which we have spoken. Finally, in the downtown is the Parc de la Ciutadella, where the Parliament of Catalonia and the Barcelona Zoo, known for being the home of the albino gorilla Snowflake. Recently inaugurated the Diagonal Mar Park, designed by Enric Miralles and is considered the largest park in the city. Worth to visit!

Have you ever heard of Barcelona as the capital of modernism?. The reason is that is so called because in it is the most important works of the famous and renowned architect Antonio Gaudi. The most representative work that the city is the Temple Expiatori of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi which could never finish. Today, still under construction, but the funny thing is done with private donations and contributions, as did the cathedrals in the middle ages. Is estimated to be completed by 2020. Some other works are the Parque Guell Gaudi, Casa Mila (also known as La Pedrera) and Casa Batlló.

Do not think that all works are modernist Barcelona because the city will also find some belonging to other historical periods. For example, the medieval period include Gothic works, such as the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia or the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. In the various styles in the works, the most prevalent is the Catalan Gothic. 

We have traveled throughout much of Barcelona, but we cannot leave without first having gone shopping. The most commercial area is located in the historical center, on the streets of Portaferrisa, Pelayo, Rambla, Portal del Angel and Plaza Catalunya. If we go north to Plaza Catalunya in the Paseo de Gracia, Rambla de Catalunya and Avenida Diagonal, find shops of international brands in fashion, leather goods and jewelry. But if what you’re looking for designer items, then you better go to the streets in the neighborhood of Borne, which has become increasingly popular since the late 90s. Other shopping areas you can find on the street Grande de Gracia or Sants Street and the malls of La Illa, The Machinist, Les Glories and Diagonal Mar.

A fact that few tourists know is that at the Mercat dels Encants and Plaza de las Glorias, you can find articles hand or second hand. La Plaza de las Glorias open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Good Luck!