| |
|
 Barcelona
is Spain's second city - but
don't tell the inhabitants that. To them Barcelona is the most fabulous city on
earth. And they may just be right.
Barcelona is one of the few great European cities by the sea. While Madrid
withers in the summer sun, Barcelona chills out on its beach. Its main
thoroughfare, Las Ramblas, runs all the way from the quayside through
the heart of the city and it is here that you should start your tour of
one of Europe's most exciting cities.
Barcelona is busy all day, but really comes into its own at night when
Spanish and foreign visitors come out to parade up and down the streets
and relax in the hundreds of bars and restaurants on offer. The Catalan
capital is widely known as a party city and you will inevitably get carried
along with the spirit. But don't stay out too late - there is plenty to
see by day.
You particularly don't want to miss the fabulous architecture of Gaudí,
Barcelona's favourite son. His work litters the city, but his greatest
monument is the Sagrada Familia - an unfinished cathedral that looks like
something between a vast Gothic church and a space ship from a sci-fi
movie. Other Gaudí highlights include La Pedrera - a brilliantly weird
converted terrace block in the heart of the city - and le Parc Guell,
a surreal haven on a hill high above the bustle of the city.
The Gothic Quarter and Montjuic are also well worth exploring, with ancient
and ornate architecture everywhere you look. Amidst all this stands Barcelona's
other cathedral, the imposing edifice of La Seu. Sports fans won't want
to miss the Olympic area or the museum at the Nou Camp, FC Barcelona's
famous stadium, where the hundreds of trophies the illustrious club has
won are on display.
And as soon as the sun goes down on all this, it's time to party once
more. You certainly won't have too much spare time on your hands...
|
|
