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Articles > Europe > Spain > Barcelona > Five Great Reasons to Visit Barcelona!
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Five Great Reasons to Visit Barcelona!
On the banks of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is the second city of Spain and currently a hotspot for business and tourism alike. So what's taking everyone to the Catalan Capital? Here are 5 reasons to find out why!
Great Architecture. Barcelona has some of the most breathtaking architecture in the world, and UNESCO crowned the city with 9 sites of Cultural Heritage. It's no surprise to hear that Gaudi is behind most of these buildings, and no visit to Barcelona is complete without visiting such examples of his work such as the Holy Family Temple (Sagrada Familia), Park Güell, Palau Güell (Güell Palace), Casa Mila or Casa Batllo on the wonderful boulevard of Paseig de Gracia to name but a few.
The city's Cathedral is another imposing structure and an excellent example of Gothic architecture. However, more recently it's the modern architecture that has been making waves and stealing the headlines. The Torre Agbar (Agbar Tower) is the Water Board's new headquarters, and is a smooth, projectile building which is best seen at night. Over 4000 LED's light up the building with a sophisticated hardware and software system.
Another new triumph is the new Gas Company's headquarters, in the Olympic Village. This is a mirrored façade and challenges the idea of straight lines to make buildings. The public are also waiting with baited breath for the completion of the old Bullring at Plaza Espanya "Las Arenas". This is to be transformed completely into a new, multi level shopping Mall complete with glass curved rooftop. Work seems to be taking longer than planned, so let's hope it's worth the wait. Something tells me it won't disappoint.
Great Food. Spanish cuisine has always been highly respected and Mediterranean cuisine is renowned for its fantastic balance and recommended by nutritionists worldwide. Ferran Adria's restaurant north of Barcelona, El Bulli, was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2005, 2006 & 2007, so Barcelona is no exception to the rule. I recommend a wander around the Boqueria market on Las Ramblas to sample the delights on offer. Some fantastic fruits, Iberian hams, fish and seafood, and many imported products from around the world make this a real one stop shop for an introduction to Barcelona cuisine. If you happen to visit in the autumn, then make sure you try the "chocolate con churros" which is a thick hot chocolate drink with doughnut like sweets to accompany – not round, but piped through a nozzle, so great to dip into the chocolate!
Great weather. Barcelona enjoys around 280 days of sunshine a year, and with an oasis of gardens and parks, as well as the stretch of beaches on offer from the old fisherman's port of La Barceloneta all the way down to the Forum of Cultures building, it's a welcome like no other for the sun to be shining down on you when you get off your plane, train or car and arrive into your holiday location. Much of Barcelona was designed around the sun, and there are chairs for example in the Plaça Reial with each receive exactly the same amount of sun each day, depending on the time of day. Also many of the sand-coloured buildings look so dreary on the few days of rain the city receives, and so radiant for the rest of the year!
Great shopping. Barcelona is again renowned for its great shops and Malls. Spanish designers such as Custo (the only Spanish designer on 5th avenue in New York City), Zara, Gonzalo Comella, Massimo Dutti and Agatha Ruiz are all well known across the globe, and the city centre has many other quirky markets and shops to fill your shopping bags. Visitors from outside the EU can also claim back the tax paid on most goods at the airport before they go, making even more savings.
Great culture. The city centre of Barcelona is one of the most Ethnically Diverse spaces on the planet, meaning that there is a rich culture to be enjoyed. Along with the greats of the Picasso Museum, the Chocolate museum and the Miro foundation, smaller galleries can be found, History museums underground within the Gothic quarter and Modern Art museums coupled with sporadic festivals and fairs in each neighbourhood makes this city an un-missable stop for anyone visiting Spain.
Great Architecture. Barcelona has some of the most breathtaking architecture in the world, and UNESCO crowned the city with 9 sites of Cultural Heritage. It's no surprise to hear that Gaudi is behind most of these buildings, and no visit to Barcelona is complete without visiting such examples of his work such as the Holy Family Temple (Sagrada Familia), Park Güell, Palau Güell (Güell Palace), Casa Mila or Casa Batllo on the wonderful boulevard of Paseig de Gracia to name but a few.
The city's Cathedral is another imposing structure and an excellent example of Gothic architecture. However, more recently it's the modern architecture that has been making waves and stealing the headlines. The Torre Agbar (Agbar Tower) is the Water Board's new headquarters, and is a smooth, projectile building which is best seen at night. Over 4000 LED's light up the building with a sophisticated hardware and software system.
Another new triumph is the new Gas Company's headquarters, in the Olympic Village. This is a mirrored façade and challenges the idea of straight lines to make buildings. The public are also waiting with baited breath for the completion of the old Bullring at Plaza Espanya "Las Arenas". This is to be transformed completely into a new, multi level shopping Mall complete with glass curved rooftop. Work seems to be taking longer than planned, so let's hope it's worth the wait. Something tells me it won't disappoint.
Great Food. Spanish cuisine has always been highly respected and Mediterranean cuisine is renowned for its fantastic balance and recommended by nutritionists worldwide. Ferran Adria's restaurant north of Barcelona, El Bulli, was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2005, 2006 & 2007, so Barcelona is no exception to the rule. I recommend a wander around the Boqueria market on Las Ramblas to sample the delights on offer. Some fantastic fruits, Iberian hams, fish and seafood, and many imported products from around the world make this a real one stop shop for an introduction to Barcelona cuisine. If you happen to visit in the autumn, then make sure you try the "chocolate con churros" which is a thick hot chocolate drink with doughnut like sweets to accompany – not round, but piped through a nozzle, so great to dip into the chocolate!
Great weather. Barcelona enjoys around 280 days of sunshine a year, and with an oasis of gardens and parks, as well as the stretch of beaches on offer from the old fisherman's port of La Barceloneta all the way down to the Forum of Cultures building, it's a welcome like no other for the sun to be shining down on you when you get off your plane, train or car and arrive into your holiday location. Much of Barcelona was designed around the sun, and there are chairs for example in the Plaça Reial with each receive exactly the same amount of sun each day, depending on the time of day. Also many of the sand-coloured buildings look so dreary on the few days of rain the city receives, and so radiant for the rest of the year!
Great shopping. Barcelona is again renowned for its great shops and Malls. Spanish designers such as Custo (the only Spanish designer on 5th avenue in New York City), Zara, Gonzalo Comella, Massimo Dutti and Agatha Ruiz are all well known across the globe, and the city centre has many other quirky markets and shops to fill your shopping bags. Visitors from outside the EU can also claim back the tax paid on most goods at the airport before they go, making even more savings.
Great culture. The city centre of Barcelona is one of the most Ethnically Diverse spaces on the planet, meaning that there is a rich culture to be enjoyed. Along with the greats of the Picasso Museum, the Chocolate museum and the Miro foundation, smaller galleries can be found, History museums underground within the Gothic quarter and Modern Art museums coupled with sporadic festivals and fairs in each neighbourhood makes this city an un-missable stop for anyone visiting Spain.
About the Author
David Brydon is an Englishman living in Barcelona, Spain. He is married and has 2 children. He has been working in the vacation apartment rentals business for 7 years. For more information on Barcelona, see this Barcelona Old Town Guide and Apartments for groups in Barcelona.
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