I never forget a face but in your case I think I'll make an exception :)
I never forget a face but in your case I think I'll make an exception :)
Member since:31.08.2002
Reviews:151
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Barcelona lies on the North Eastern peninsula of Spain, the shores of the Mediterrean. It is the second largest City in Spain with a population of 3 million and is a commercial and Industrial centre. As well as being an important port it is the capital of Catalunya, a mountainous area of Northern Spain. The Catalunyans are highly proud of their steeped history and the Catalunyan language is as widely spoken as Spanish in Barcelona as well as all the signposts being in both languages much like the signs are in Wales. Barcelona has a cosmopolitan and cultured feel to it, a bit like Paris which makes it an ideal location for a romantic weekend getaway. The architecture is varied ranging from the medieval, gothic old town to the modern grid-style buildings near the Olympic village.
~BARCELONA'S RICH AND EVENTFUL PAST~
Barcelona was founded in 230 BC by the Carthaginians and in it's infancy it was made a Roman colony and then sacked by the rampaging tribes of the Visigoths. Muslims took over the town but were forced back by the Frank tribes, about this time the Catalans from the mountains began to live in Barcelona. Catalans flourished as did the City and centuries passed by until a mini-rebellion by the Catalans in 1462 angered the ruling Castillians and the City was devastated and annexed into the realm of Castillia. Catalans were excluded from the Spanish Conquistadors plundering of South America at this time, heightening the feeling of discontentment of the Catalan peasants. Rebellions were continuous until again in 1714 the city was destroyed by the Franco empire. The Catalunyan language was banned and an attempt to stamp out the culture was attempted but failed. In more recent times Barcelona began a renaissance during the Industrial revolution with cotton, wine, cork and Iron merchants bringing great wealth to the City once again. Although recent generations of Catalans have courted with gangsters, anarchists and terrorists the Catalunyan culture has never been greater and talk of independence continues to this day, something which one day all Catalunyan's believe will happen.
~TRANSPORTING AROUND AND ACCOMODATION~
Barcelona's serving
airportis 12 miles west of the city and is a thirty to sixty minutes drive away depending on whether you have arranged transfer by coach or by the taxi drivers which are quicker but more expensive. Barcelona has a metro system much like London and Paris and it is a very good, cheap way to get around, and for that matter a much quicker way than using taxis. Metro stations are located at all of the major places of interest and trains come and go every few minutes. You can purchase a day pass on the Metro which allows you to travel around all the zones in the city for around 15 Euros which is great value. Again much like London and Paris, Barcelona has tour buses which travel around the city showing visitors to the City all of the sights to be seen and it's an excellent idea to get on one to see as much as you can, you can 'hop on-hop-off' at any time and get back on your bus at a later stage, this service is 20 Euros but is worth it and there are two different companies offering it. Considering Barcelona is a very large City, it is very easy to get around and most of the main sights are compacted into a smaller area making it relatively easy to visit Barcelona's highlights and meaning you aren't wasting time in traffic jams or travelling around getting lost.
Accomodation wise, Barcelona has a very large number of places to choose from ranging from 1 to 5 starhotels, bed and breakfast and youth hostels. Being a very large City there are literally hundreds of spare beds every night therefore it isn't neccesary to pre-book accomodation although personally I don't like to leave things as important as that until I get there, as well as the time this method consumes. The price of hotels vary in price, with the costlier hotels being located in the old town where most of the sights are. The further you move away from the centre, the cheaper rooms you will find, it depends on what budget you are on I suppose.
~PLACES OF INTEREST IN AND AROUND BARCELONA~
La Rambla - This area lies to the west of the harbour and breaks off into several tree lined boulevards. The atmosphere is fantastic and is a must visit if you find yourself in the City. As well as the countless street cafes and bars are buskers, living statues and street entertainers (including a singing dog)! Theres also the amazing sight of a Spanish bird market although I found this cruel and the colourful, gravity defying fish and food markets. Theres also a seedy side to the Ramblas with many peep shows and strip clubs although much more inhibited than the likes of Soho and Hamburg. The harbour end of the Ramblas is worth a trip with the sight of gigantic, luxurious super liners and mazy Chinatown.
Barri Gotic - This is the medieval, old part of the town. Some of the architecture here is hundreds of years old and is very atmospheric. The narrow lanes and back streets are peppered with Tapas bars, shops, squares, street markets and hidden churches. As it's name suggest, this area has some splendid eyecatching Gothic buildings and is home to the artisans and creatives.
La Sagrada Familia - This is perhaps Barcelona's most famous landmark, an awe inspiring Cathedral started by Barcelona's most famous son Antoni Gaudi. It is still unfinished with work continuing for at least another fifty years before the many facades and towers will be completed, it is rather a sore point with the locals much like the Millenium Dome is with Londoners.
Olympic Village and Nou Camp - This is at the very top of the hills overlooking the harbour of Barcelona. I would recommend a trip to the Olympic stadium at night when you can witness the fantastic sight of the fountain light-show which became famous when Barcelona hosted the Olympics in 1992. The views overlooking the City are fantastic and great for photo opportunities, you can get a cable car from nearby Montjvic down to the harbour but you will need a strong stomach believe me. The Nou Camp is a must visit for any football fans. The Nou Camp home to the Barcelona football team is a massive three tiered stadium, and an amazing sight in itself. You can do a tour of the ground and have a look around the trophy room and training pitch which is better than most English football grounds (the Barcelona reserves get 30, 000 fans a match)!
Barcelonas many parks - Barcelona has over a dozen public parks to visit but the most interesting is the main park located in the old town near La Rambla. The park is home to a Zoo with the highlight being 'Snowflake' an incredibly rare albino Gorilla. A mini-train runs around the perimeter of the park, so getting around is not time consuming.
Museums - Again Barcelona has a wide array of Museums to visit. The two most famous are the Gaudi Museum which is where Gaudi lived with his niece, a pink 'Alice in Wonderland' style building which is now a monument to his life and works. Theres also a Picasso museum with a large collection of paintings from Picasso as well as other artefacts.
Beaches - Barcelona's beaches have gone about a complete transformation. They were cleaned up when the Olympics were to be held and are now a feature in there own right whereas before they were in a terrible state. The beaches are located to the east of the Port and are completely packed in high summer. Bars, cafes and showers are numerous and walkways lead you up to the very trendy beach front area.
~LOCAL DELICACIES AND SHOPPING FOR BARGAINS~
The Catalunyan area of Spain is famous for it's seafood and in particular it's Paella. Most of the restaurants concentrate on authentic Catalunyan seafood dishes and a variety of different Paella's although you will still be able to find different cousines of the World if your palette is not very varied. Personally I think it's part of the enjoyment of a holiday to try out local delicacies. Another feature is the literally hundreds of Tapas bars lining the main streets where you can pick your preferred food from endless menus then wash it down with a beer or two whilst lazing out in the sun. Spain is a fully fledged member of the E.U therefore Euros is the order of the day, Spain is very cheap compared to 'Rip-Off Britain' and food-wise there is great value to be had. Other foods and drinks famous in Catalunya are fruits, pulses, olive oils and high quality wines.
Barcelona has 6 very large shopping centres where you can shop side by side with the locals but I would strongly recommend shopping in the street markets down in the old town where you find far more authentic souvenirs and have more fun in the process. Barcelona isn't as exclusive as Madrid, Paris, Milan or Rome for it's fashions but it still has more than enough names for you to explore if your in Barcelona for that reason.
~NIGHTLIFE~
The nightlife in Barcelona is very lively and undoubtedly the hub of the fun is located in the port area by the beaches. Cocktail and Champagne bars are numerous and are much cheaper than you would imagine. Also on offer are the great sights of a traditional Flamenco show which appear in many of the clubs plus places called Cafe-Theatres where you can order a late night coffee and watch a small-scale show, something I'd never encountered before until visiting Barcelona. For the more energetic, Discotheques (as they are known) exist in large numbers and are very cheap to get in, do remember that although food is much cheaper in Spain, drinks are much more expensive, especially in the night-clubs.
Barcelona isn't as blessed with Theatres as some of it's European competitors but it does have a couple of good ones offering the latest shows located in the new town.
~MY VERDICT~
I enjoyed Barcelona immensely, as much as any European destination I have visited. As a rule the Mediterraen climate is very warm indeed in the summer (35 degrees +) and that allows a perfect backdrop to a visit around a beautifully, varied City. Although it is large, Barcelona is easy to get around, much easier than Paris or London. I found it very interesting, with something to be seen around every corner, whether it be a statue, a fountain or a piece of architecture. The Catalans are very warm to European visitors including the Brits, perhaps because Barcelona is very cosmopolitan (Barcelona took over 300, 000 immigrants when it was expanding in the early 20th century). This has allowed for a very atmospheric City, especially in the old town area. There is much to see and do whether it be day or night in Barcelona and although a weekend should enable you to see much of the City, you will still be able go back another time and find different things to do. Several airports in England now travel to Barcelona with budget tickets becoming more and more common, this can give you a fantastic experience without breaking the bank. Spain is much cheaper than Britain and is a cheaper holiday than staying in Cornwall for example. Watch out for taxi drivers charging over the odds but in the main, negatives are thin on the ground. I would recommend Barcelona to anybody, it is one of the most vibrant Cities in Europe.
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WormThatTurned2004
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Jun 29th, 2004
(Jun 30th, 2004)
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