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Best Barcelona Views
The Barcelona Olympics in 1992 were held up on Montjüic Mountain and around. This is where the main Olympic Installations are and today the Olympic Stadium holds RCD Espanyol's home games – at least until their new Stadium gets built (it started this year). Perhaps one of the best memories of the Olympic Diving in 1992 was the amazing backdrop provided by the outdoor diving boards. This gave a panoramic view of Barcelona looking all the way across the old town, and capturing the metropolis that is Barcelona.
One of the city's best restaurants, El Xalet, is just next door, and offers unbeatable views whilst dining on some of the best Barcelona cuisine. Visitors today can't access the boards, but can take the city's Cable car ride, which has been recently renovated (January 2008) and takes you all the way to the peak of Montjüic where the castle still stands, complete with cannons pointing out to sea. There used to be a military museum, too, but this has now been scrapped (you weren't missing much, don't worry).
The view from the Castle gives some amazing views of the workings of Barcelona – remember it's an affluent Port and almost all cruise lines dock in the Catalan Capital, too. Following the road around Montjüic you can reach the MiraMar (Sea look out – roughly translated) and another cable car treats you to some breathtaking views of Montjüic from behind, as you sail over the cruise ships (often with many people sunbathing on decks or swimming in the on board pools), and cross over the middle tower continuing to Barceloneta's beach.
One of the emblematic statues of Barcelona stands at the bottom of its most famous street, Las Ramblas, where Christopher Columbus (who some say was Catalan) stands aloft pointing out to Las Americas. This is also a good viewpoint for those interested in seeing Las Ramblas from a height. It's not as high as the views reached from the cable cars, but still gives a nice view from the lift up, and the observation deck also looks down towards Port Vell (old Port) and the Maremagnum leisure complex. You can also see right at the back, the other mountain of Barcelona – Tibidabo.
Tibidabo has a few good vantage points, but it needs to be a clear day for you to see all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea. It's still worth a visit though, and is like a different city up there. Take the old Tramvia Blau (blue tram) and the Funicular train up to the top where the Sacred Heart Church perches on the peak and the funfair is undergoing some new renovations, too. Further along Tibidabo is also Norman Foster's unmistakeable communications tower – complete with observation deck and probably the best panoramic views of Barcelona, and even the surrounding towns such as Sant Cugat. Tibidabo is also surrounded by the Parc de la Collserola – called the lung of Barcelona, and it's not uncommon to see wild boar trotting around the windy roads alongside the more adventurous cyclists.
It's impossible to discuss sights of Barcelona with views without mentioning two of Barcelona's UNESCO Heritage sites, either. Park Guell was designed by Antonin Gaudi - author of many works of wonder around Barcelona and the surrounding areas – and again offers some spectacular views. The Barcelona tourist buses stop at the gates to the Park, which is the most ornate, as it was finished first, but it's also the lowest point of the park, and hence the views are not as good.
The best way to take advantage of the inclines in this park and save your feet some trekking in the meantime is to see the park backwards. The streets around Vallcarca metro station are cousins of some of the streets in San Francisco, but you'll be pleased to hear that outdoor escalators will take you right up to the back of Park Güell, where you start with the best views, and meander on down taking in all the sights and ending with the best foreground for your photos – the entrance previously mentioned.
The second of Barcelona's UNESCO sits with a view is the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia – or the Church of the Holy Family. This is an unfinished work by Gaudi and whilst the views again are not too high, the spectacular setting and the walk up the steps to reach the outer towers make the whole experience well worthwhile. This also gives an amazing up close view of the amazing expanse that is the Eixample - literally the extension of the old town – with its parallel lines and rooftop terraces galore.
One of the city's best restaurants, El Xalet, is just next door, and offers unbeatable views whilst dining on some of the best Barcelona cuisine. Visitors today can't access the boards, but can take the city's Cable car ride, which has been recently renovated (January 2008) and takes you all the way to the peak of Montjüic where the castle still stands, complete with cannons pointing out to sea. There used to be a military museum, too, but this has now been scrapped (you weren't missing much, don't worry).
The view from the Castle gives some amazing views of the workings of Barcelona – remember it's an affluent Port and almost all cruise lines dock in the Catalan Capital, too. Following the road around Montjüic you can reach the MiraMar (Sea look out – roughly translated) and another cable car treats you to some breathtaking views of Montjüic from behind, as you sail over the cruise ships (often with many people sunbathing on decks or swimming in the on board pools), and cross over the middle tower continuing to Barceloneta's beach.
One of the emblematic statues of Barcelona stands at the bottom of its most famous street, Las Ramblas, where Christopher Columbus (who some say was Catalan) stands aloft pointing out to Las Americas. This is also a good viewpoint for those interested in seeing Las Ramblas from a height. It's not as high as the views reached from the cable cars, but still gives a nice view from the lift up, and the observation deck also looks down towards Port Vell (old Port) and the Maremagnum leisure complex. You can also see right at the back, the other mountain of Barcelona – Tibidabo.
Tibidabo has a few good vantage points, but it needs to be a clear day for you to see all the way down to the Mediterranean Sea. It's still worth a visit though, and is like a different city up there. Take the old Tramvia Blau (blue tram) and the Funicular train up to the top where the Sacred Heart Church perches on the peak and the funfair is undergoing some new renovations, too. Further along Tibidabo is also Norman Foster's unmistakeable communications tower – complete with observation deck and probably the best panoramic views of Barcelona, and even the surrounding towns such as Sant Cugat. Tibidabo is also surrounded by the Parc de la Collserola – called the lung of Barcelona, and it's not uncommon to see wild boar trotting around the windy roads alongside the more adventurous cyclists.
It's impossible to discuss sights of Barcelona with views without mentioning two of Barcelona's UNESCO Heritage sites, either. Park Guell was designed by Antonin Gaudi - author of many works of wonder around Barcelona and the surrounding areas – and again offers some spectacular views. The Barcelona tourist buses stop at the gates to the Park, which is the most ornate, as it was finished first, but it's also the lowest point of the park, and hence the views are not as good.
The best way to take advantage of the inclines in this park and save your feet some trekking in the meantime is to see the park backwards. The streets around Vallcarca metro station are cousins of some of the streets in San Francisco, but you'll be pleased to hear that outdoor escalators will take you right up to the back of Park Güell, where you start with the best views, and meander on down taking in all the sights and ending with the best foreground for your photos – the entrance previously mentioned.
The second of Barcelona's UNESCO sits with a view is the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia – or the Church of the Holy Family. This is an unfinished work by Gaudi and whilst the views again are not too high, the spectacular setting and the walk up the steps to reach the outer towers make the whole experience well worthwhile. This also gives an amazing up close view of the amazing expanse that is the Eixample - literally the extension of the old town – with its parallel lines and rooftop terraces galore.
About the Author
David writes about Barcelona apartments for groups and cheap Barcelona apartments.
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Total views: 166
Word count: 780
Character count: 4621
Article rating: none yet
Number of votes: 0
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