Barcelona - An Affair to Remember

Even though it is a 2000 year old city, Barcelona sprang upon the global tourist map only with the help of the 1992 Olympics. Since then there has been a renewed interest in the city’s immense cache of art, history and culture and it has become a highly favored tourist destination in Europe. More and more people are booking tickets to go to Barcelona to see its famous gothic architecture, taste its wonderful food or hit one of its several beaches.

Barcelona can easily be called a hidden gem on the Mediterranean coast; an enchanting city that has escaped the ruddy attention given to other famed cities on this shoreline. Located on the north –eastern coast of mainland Spain, this beautiful city is just two hours south of the French Pyrenees and sees a lot of traffic from other parts of Europe as well as other countries. Barcelona has become a hot spot for younger tourists who come here to savor the beaches, the good weather and the racy nightlife whereas the older tourists come looking for that hidden Gothic church they missed on their last trip, a new look at Picasso or a second round of shopping that doesn’t make you pray for an inheritance.

The ’92 Olympics started a spate of new developments in the city and the makeover mania continued long enough to turn Barcelona into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities on the continent. The city sizzles with its many activities, its hard-play partying culture, its food, fashion and music scene and is the newest place to be seen in. connected well to the rest of Europe and most other large cities in the world, Barcelona attracts a young and young-at-heart crowd to its Picasso, Paia and painted-with-fun beaches.

Before you join the ranks of Barcelona “Wanna-Go es” let us give you the whole story on this wonderful city.

The years gone by

The history of a place inevitably involves the etymology of its name and Barcelona has not one but two legends for how it came to be known by this name. One is that the city was founded by the great warrior Hercules four centuries before Rome was born and the other, more accepted story, attributes the birth of the city to the Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal, who named it “Barcino” after his family name ‘Barca’.

Going with the second and more popular story of the city’s birth, it would follow that the Carthaginians were the first inhabitants of this strategically placed spot in Iberian Peninsula and that they settled here around the year 250 BC. The insatiable Romans took over the Peninsula and by about 15 BC had established a military camp here centered around Mons Taber – the hilly area around today’s Placa de Sant Jaume. The Roman colony was named Colonia Faventia Julia Augusta Pia Barcino and grew in strength and wealth, minting its own coins. Its wealth and strategic location attracted the Germanic tribes and the first waves of invasions started in about 250. By 400 CE, the Visigoths had invaded Spain, moving its capitol south to Madrid, and renaming Barcino, Barcinona. The city went through a few more invasions (Muslims from the North of Africa, and Franks), but they had little lasting influence.

Because of its great location, bordered by France to the North and the Mediterranean to the East, Barcelona eventually rose to prominence as a powerful trading city on the Mediterranean during the middle ages. This period has left a rich legacy of many beautiful buildings in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter.

Attention shifted from Barcelona to new opportunities across the Atlantic with the discovery of the Americas in 1492. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella saw better returns from focusing on the new land and Barcelona ceased to be the seat of the monarchy, and Madrid once again became the capital of the new Spanish Empire. The city’s fortunes dipped lower in the 17th and 18th centuries when a Catalonian revolt against Spain originated in Barcelona and lead to over a decade of decline in wealth and population. Then in 1702, during a struggle for succession to the Spanish throne, Catalonia favored the Archduke of Austria, while the rest of Spain supported the Frenchman, Felipe of Anjou. Felipe’s eventual victory in 1714 meant cultural and political suppression of the whole of Catalonia, including Barcelona for several decades.

However, as the sun rose on the nineteenth century, Barcelona was also witnessing a new period of resurgence and growth. The city’s population grew to three times its current numbers making a city expansion inevitable. This was fuelled by a time of industrial boom leading to a northward change in Barcelona’s economic status. There was resurgence in interest in Catalan traditions and culture, and Barcelona, once again, became an important center in Spain. Though the city continued to blossom with the 1888 Universal Exhibition, and the International Exhibition of 1929, Barcelona, as well as the rest of Spain, saw great social and political unrest through the 19th and 20th centuries.

A new round of cultural and political suppression started with the dictatorship of Primo de Ribera and Spain as a whole was experiencing an economic recession and a feeling of powerlessness. This culminated in a rebellion led by Francisco Franco, and eventually resulted in the Civil War. Catalonia stood by the legally established republic, and in 1939, when Barcelona, along with Madrid, fell, the war ended. Thus began a long period of even greater repression of Catalonian identity, as well as a stunt in economic, social, and cultural growth for Barcelona.

With the death of Franco in 1975, and the establishment of the first democratic elections in 1977, Spain was finally on its way toward reestablishing itself. At the same time, there was a surge of nationalist and autonomous ideas in Catalan, resulting in the administrative status of Catalonia as an Autonomous Community in 1979. During this time, Barcelona continued recovering and developing. The city proved itself to be a leading presence in the world as an artistic, cultural, and industrial city when it was chosen to host the 1992 Olympic Games. This event, in itself, produced many extensive changes to the city, including parks, museums, roads, and urban development.

The history of Barcelona has had many ups and downs, however, it demonstrates just how culturally independent, colorful, and spirited this city’s inhabitants are.

The best time to go

Being on the Mediterranean Coast, Barcelona is blessed with a large number of sunny days – all the better for tourists for whom Barcelona’s beaches are a strong magnet. This sunshine glut also helps Barcelona play host to people from all over the world throughout the year. Winters are mild and slightly humid and although summers make you reach for that bottle of water, the large straw hat and the tube of sunscreen more often, it is still very pleasant.

Cool Mediterranean winters and hot summers translate into year round activity and if one had to still pick the best time to go to Barcelona it would be the months of May, June and September. July and August see fewer tourists as the barometer sometimes gets to a scorching 30 degrees centigrade. The upside is better availability of hotels, easier reservations in restaurants and fewer people to jostle with at city attractions.

Being close to the sea means more humidity round the year with the worst time being September, surprisingly, that doesn’t stop the camera obsessed tourists. If the vagaries of weather bother you little you could also time your visit to coincide with one of the many festivals Barcelona hosts throughout the year. There is Festes de la Merce held on September 24 each year, Barcelona’s annual festival, Festes de Grácia held on August 15th every year and marked by revelry, excitement and colorful processions or Sant Jordi (April 23rd) and Revetlla De Sant Joan – the midsummer solstice celebration held on June 23rd every year.

A Foot in the door: How to get there

Barcelona is a very affordable vacation destination – one of the reasons for its immense popularity among younger tourists – and the economy starts from the time you book a seat on one of the several low cost carriers (Jet2.com, ClickAir, Vueling, EasyJet, RyanAir, Blue Air, Sterling Airlines or flyGlobespan).

The city is serviced mainly by the El Prat – Barcelona International Airport – with its three terminals. El Prat is about 10 kms away from the city center and connected very well to it by Taxi, the half-hourly RENFE suburban train or bus. Other nearby airports are in Girona – 100 kms north from the city center and in Reus equidistant to the north.

You can also decide to take an overnight train from another destination (most people from France take the rail to Barcelona) in Europe. Regular & reliable train system connects Barcelona to most large cities on the continent and arriving by train you are most likely to disembark at one of the two main stations in the city: Barcelona – Sants (in the south-west) and Barcelona- Avinguda Marqués de Estació de Franca in the old town.

Barcelona is connected to Genoa, Rome and the Balearic Islands by ferry which docks on the Ramblas. If you want to opt for bus travel, get in touch with Barcelona Nord for options.

Getting around

One of the best ways to experience the city, soak in its sights, smells and sounds is by traveling around in a bus. You don’t necessarily have to have a plan – get romantic and hop on and off several buses visiting myriad sights in the city. Of course you can get all organized and take a pre-decided bus – tour, but can you imagine the wonder of discovery on an unplanned tour of the city, not intent on arriving anywhere?

For the ‘organized’ segment Bus Turistic links all the popular sights in the city, has three routes for you to choose from and costs between € 20 and € 26 for a day’s or two days’ consecutive passes. The Metro, as in any other city, will take you places…and with speed. Buy a T-10, a multi-person 10 ride ticket for € 8 or a personal 50-ride monthly ticket for € 28. These tickets are also valid on buses and trams.

If you plan to do some feverish sightseeing or traveling a lot in the city then the Barcelona Card was invented just for you. Get a € 24 card for 2 days and a € 34 card for 5 days of unlimited free travel on public transport and free admissions and discounts at nearly 100 city attractions.

However, the best and most economical way (also very safe) of getting around Barcelona is by bike. In recent years Barcelona has graduated from being a “bike-candy man” city to being very bike-friendly and two-wheeling it can be bliss for the strong muscled. Take a look at Bicing for the nuts & bolts.

A Place to call home

Being a hotbed of tourist activity, Barcelona offers robust choices in accommodation that fall in every budget bracket. Although most people head to the oh-so-touristy, nevertheless beautiful Ramblas, looking at options in other parts of the city can get you more bang for your buck.

If you are in the mood for splurging you can also book a room at one of the top hotels in Barcelona. Some of the most celebrated and top-end hotels are:

The Hotel Ritz opened in 1919 and has been a silent witness to the tumultuous history of the city and has hosted international royalty, dignitaries and celebrities, balancing the traditional with the modern with aplomb. Take refuge in all the gilt and marble but book at least a month in advance.

Hotel Case Fuster at Passeig de Gracia was an emblematic building in the city before it was reborn as a luxurious five-star hotel. It is opulent structure with all the modern conveniences earning it loyal customers.

Hotel Arts, Marina is the rock-star among all five-star hotels in the city. It oozes attitude just like the popular musicians and models it plays host to.

Get central with a room at the Le Meridian in the Ramblas – world class service coupled with a choice location make this one a popular choice among tourists

Hotel Espana is an establishment brought back as a souvenir by the time-traveler. Stay here to experience the heady combo of comfort, luxury and Old World Charm.

Two other hotels that must be mentioned here are the Eurostars Grand Marina Hotel and the Palace Hotel.

Among the moderately priced hotels three names come up tops: Hotel Peninsular, Hostal D’Uxelles and Marina Folch. Also consider: Best Western Premier Hotel Regina Bergara, Hotel Barcelona Catedral and Grand Hotel Central.

Not everyone wants to spend their entire budget on lavish hotels and looks for easier on the pocket options while at the same time enjoying good service, comfort and privacy. Bed & Breakfasts and pensions offer, in such cases, offer the best of both worlds. You can consider one of the following options:

Pension

Pension Alamar in the Gothic Quarter; Chic & Basic Tallers near Placa Catalunya; Pension Barcelona City Ramblas in the Central Square and Hostal Campi near Plaza Catalunya and the Rambla.

Bed & Breakfast

The seafront Marina View Bed & Breakfast in Paseo de Colom, Bonic B&B at the southern most tip of La Rambla, Nisia in Gracia near Plaza Catalunya, Anita’s Bed & Breakfast near Mt. Tibidabo, The 5 Rooms in Pau Claris, Barcelona Bed & Breakfast in Passeig de Garcia, Residencia Australia in Ronda Universidad, Ana’s Guest House in Eixample, Barcino 147 in Carrer de Rossello, Ramblas Guesthouse in Duc de la Victoria, The Praktik in Deputacion , Sagrada Familia Bed & Breakfast in Napoles and Amiga Barcelona Bed & Breakfast in Gomis.

For the young traveler going to Barcelona would mean staying more outdoors than indoors and not many services except a solid bed to catch forty winks between partying and beach-bumming and proximity to train/bus stations, good eating places and city attractions. Hostels like the ones we’ve culled out for you from a sea of possibilities fulfill all of the above and are popular places for single or young travelers:

Alberg Palau and Hostel New York in Barri Gotic, Gothic point Hostel, Itaca Hostel, The Welcome Inn, Hotel Kabul, Paraiso Travelers Hostel, Centric Point Hostel, Alberguinn Youth Hostel, Sant Jordi Sants Hostel, Sea Point Hostel and Barcelona For Fun Hostel.

Chow Time

Daily sightseeing in Barcelona can make you so ravenous that it would be hard to resist any kind of food. Luckily, Barcelona serves only the best and in every little nook and cranny you would be able to find a gem of a restaurant that not many know about. But if you want to be fed in style, there is no dearth of places that wouldn’t wait on you hand and foot. Take your pick from some of the best restaurants in Barcelona:

Comerc 24 – playground of the Hottest Chef in Europe, Carles Abellan; this one is the best place to sample Catalan cuisine

Hisop – Barcelona’s hottest restaurant where everyone wants to be seen is also worthy of the adjectives Chic and Innovative

Méson David – is ‘the’ place to go when a joyous occasion presents itself. You can sample dishes from literally every part of the country and celebrate anything with the fine collections of wines

La vinya Del Senyor – This is the place to go to when you want to be spoiled rotten for choices of finest wines. There are 300 varieties the Sommelier will present you with and delirious joy is almost always the end game

Can Majo – is the place you go to when you want Paella. Period.

Via Veneto – is Barcelona’s most celebrated traditional Catalan cooking hot –spot that exudes old fashioned charm in everything; right from its cutlery to the décor to well, some of the patrons.

Get the best Tapas in town at Cal Pep, the most delectable fish dishes at Els Pescadors, the most inviting fusion of French and Catalan cuisines at Ca l’Isidre and slump down at the Cuines Santa Catarina for a choice of cuisines from Asian, Mediterranean, Italian and Vegetarian.

NightBirds!   

A huge array of choices in dance clubs, bars and live music places make Barcelona one of the most hip and happening cities when it comes to having a night life. There is plenty to do once you are through with shopping, sight seeing and eating for the day because Barcelona knows how to shake a leg, all night long.

Barcelonians are famous for their easy going attitude and this reflects in the city’s club culture as well. A small gathering of friends can get a bunch of inexpensive drinks and some groovy numbers to dance on at The Benidorm played by national and international DJs. If you want to stomp away till the sun comes up then Club Apolo is your best bet. Old Motown hits, funk and Soul music keep La Boite alive with a palpable buzz that turns into frenzy when the DJs start playing disco and rock after midnight.

It is hard to get a full night’s sleep in Barcelona when you have distractions like the La Terrazza that promises to keep you up, dancing away to glory till the wee hours of the morning and Octopussy in Port Vell making you grind right under a blanket of stars!

Want more? Try resisting the temptation of Otto Zutz or the trendy Partyular, the Penultimo, Tijuana Morning café that stays open till 11 in the morning and Torres de Avila for some techno madness.

A city to feast your eyes upon

In 2004, more than two million people visited the semi-finished Sagrada Familia making it the most visited tourist spot in the city. The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is an enormous Roman Catholic Church that has been under construction since 1882 and is considered to be one of the most celebrated works of the famous Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece is expected to take another two decades to complete but that has not deterred tourists from visiting the monument where its eccentric architect lies buried in the crypt.

La Rambla is Barcelona’s most famous boulevard and connects the Placa de Catalunya to Monument a Colom. Laced on both sides by lush trees, La Rambla was once a small stream boasting of convents and a university built on its banks in the 16th century.

Montjuic is the city’s central hill featuring a number of attractions like the Spanish Village and the Montjuic Castle. Montjuic is also home to the National Palace, the Magic Fountain famous for its breathtaking views of the Palace, the Pavello Mies Van Der Rohe – built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as the German pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. Also catch a look at the Anella Olimpica which houses a number of sporting facilities built for the 1992 Olympics.

Any visit to Barcelona would be incomplete without a trip to the Parc Guell – an intriguing park designed by Gaudi. The snaking staircases and the pavilions with their curved roofs seem straight out of a fairy tale.

Port Vell used to be a sad looking, over the hill harbor that got a new lease on life because of the ’92 Olympics. Today it is a happening yacht-basin and entertainment center favored by the young, well heeled crowd that comes to Barcelona to see more than Gaudi’s whimsical architecture. Gaudi’s architectural legacy has left the city of Barcelona with several memorable landmarks and a visit to at least a few of these would make your trip more interesting. Take your pick from: Bellesguard’s Tower, Casa Milá, Casa Battlo, Casa Calvet, Casa Vicens and Church of Colonia Guell.

Visit Arc de Triomf, a beautiful arch built in the mudéjar style for the 1888 Universal Exposition at the Parc de la Ciutadella – another popular Barcelona attraction – designed by Josep Vilaseca I Casanovas. Another Barcelona attraction worth visiting is the Parc Joan Miró featuring the colorful artist’s surrealistic sculptures.

Barcelona is home to more than 55 museums with the most famous ones being:

Museu del FC Barcelona dedicated to the city’s famous football club and its century old history

Fundació Joan Miró in Parc Montjuic founded by the artist himself exhibits more than 11000 pieces of his work

Fundació Tápies (left) shows more than 300 pieces of work by the Catalunya’s most famous contemporary artist

Museu d’Historia de Catalunya gives the download on everything to do with Catalonian history

Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat is also dedicated to Catalonian history

Museu d’Art Contemporani & Center de Cultura Contemporan has been home to Spain’s most important contemporary and International artists since 1995

Museu Maritím displays Barcelona’s impressive marine history

Museu Picasso is dedicated to everything Picasso who lived in the city since the age of 14.

Shopping, Anyone?

Shopping and eating usually go hand in hand in Barcelona and it is hard to decide when to switch over from one to the other. With more than 35,000 shops in the city, Barcelona is the compulsive shopper’s Disneyland! And then there is the 5 Km shopping strip with its own bus service TomBus, running up and down the road all day long.

The shopping line starts at the top of the Ramblas, meanders through Placa de Catalunya and ends at Avenue Diagonal. You can shop for anything here and get the best names in the business like Versace, Armani, Burberry, Bally, Cartier and Calvin Klein. If you are more interested in classic local Spanish styles there is a wide array of choices, too and the department store addicts have a choice between El Corte Ingles and FNAC.

Here is a list of the ten best places to shop in Barcelona, see how many of these you can tick of your list:

BD – Ediciones de Diseno for home accessories

Coronel Tapiocca for travel clothing and accessories

Dom for wonderful home décor items and gifts

Itaca for the best handmade Spanish handicrafts

Items de Ho for creative gifts

Jacardi for an astounding collection of kids clothing for all occasions

La Boqueria for mouth watering selections of herbs, cheese and seafood

La Manual Alpargatera for signature Catalan shoes, bags and hats

Loewe for the best leather stuff, and

Vincon for the best of Spanish furnishings household items, wooden children’s toys and furniture.

One Day in Barcelona

If you could afford to spend only one day in Barcelona one thing is for sure – you are going to be real busy! There is so much to see and do that if you had just a day you would have to choose very carefully. We would suggest getting out real and heading off to Placa Catalunya. The circular plaza, with its fountains and sculptures is the center of the city and the epicenter of all activity. Pack in a sumptuous breakfast at one of the several open air cafes that dot the plaza and yes – people watch! There are few things more fun and more cash-free than gawking at other people.

Once you are through feeding pigeons and soaking in the early morning sights at the plaza trot off to the mile long avenue – the lovely La Rambla to see the most creative side of the city. Human Statues make you wonder (and perhaps even touch them to see if they are real!), jugglers and singers jostle for space, radiant flower stalls promise flowers can make almost anything better and the sea of humanity strolling past you makes you wonder if one city is too different from another. Don’t leave the Ramblas without sampling some hot coffee and a bite at one of the little Parisian cafes standing guard for the snackers!

Placa Reial is the city’s grand old square, a relic from a different age. Its beautiful pillars and arches, its curious mix of people from transvestites to marginals, the lush green trees framing the whole scene and the fact that your wallet can be picked anytime make this one of the most realistic tourist spots in the city.

Loose yourself in the narrow-alleyed Barri Gotic and try to find your way to the Catedral – the journey is engrossing. You can also go to the Museu d’Historia de la Ciutat before getting to the Catedral. Coming out of the Catedral, take a break at Barcelona’s oldest restaurant Can Cuelleretes, established in 1786 and still regaling people with its traditional food and fantastic wines.

Visit the Montjuic area for its many treasures before you inevitably saunter off in the direction of the Sagrada Familia – Antoni Gaudi’s ambitious project, still under construction. Don’t call it a day before you’ve taken a stroll in the Parc Guell and marveled at what goblins and fairies live in those little structures!

The Barcelona in Hiding

Did you know that there is a Barcelona hiding away from tourists? Bet you didn’t! If it ever disclosed its secret coordinates, this is what the hidden Barcelona would reveal:

Hotel 1898: named for the year Spain lost the Philippines in the Spanish-American war, this specialty hotel is on the busiest stretch of La Rambla, a block away from the Boqueria, Barcelona’s wonderful open-air market. A slice of empire-era luxury, this one comes to you only if you know where to look for it.

Bar Marcella: is the oldest bar in Barcelona and serves the eccentric wormwood and herb brew – Absinthe. For just about € 5 the Green Fairy can be yours for the evening at a place that isn’t hard to find but most don’t know about

Bike Tour: Sure you can walk it or take a bus but try seeing Barcelona on a bike tour and you would see things you almost missed before. Try Fat Tire Bike Tours and get ready for some surprises.

Contribuciones: Get the best discounts on designer wear here. So what if they belong to the last season!

The Barcelona Tipster

Make your life easier and your Barcelona vacation more fun with these tips:

General

Dinner in Barcelona starts later than most other places in Europe

Most restaurants offer three course lunch menus and the prices are higher in the evening

There are no fixed rules about tipping and topping up the bill by about 5% is considered enough

The right way to tip is to leave the money on the table when you get up

Always keep your belongings guarded as bag snatching is common in crowded places like La Rambla

Families

Blend in with the locals to not get marked out as a tourist family and you have one less thing to worry about

Pick pocketing is quite frequent; assign one item of baggage or belongings to every member of the family and increase your safety quotient

Make sure younger children are always being supervised by one of the adults

Kids tend to get hungry more often, so it would be wise to carry some packed snacks and water

Try putting together a mix of activities for everyone in the family so that no one gets bored. Keep places like Parque Zoologico and Cataluna en Miniatura on the menu and everyone will be happy

Catch a FC Barcelona Game! What keeps a whole family together better than a football game?

Couples

Barcelona is a fun place for couples to be in but it is all too easy to get immersed in each other and the moment that you forget all about your belongings – avoid getting robbed by staying alert

Instead of getting a room in a hotel, rent an apartment in Barcelona. It will be fun, safe, economical and very, very romantic to start off a dinner that ends with breakfast!

If cooking dinner on a vacation is a no-no, try Limbo at Calle Merce – the food is delicious and the place romantic

Hit the beach at every opportunity…spending a day on the sun-kissed sands at a Mediterranean beach is oh-so romantic

Plan for an evening of just cocktails at Mirablau in Tibidabo

Give your better half a splendid view of the city from your very own horse and carriage! Hunt Las Ramblas for one – they are easy to find

Look who else is talking about Barcelona!

Fodor’s recommends Condes de Barcelona and Continental Palacete as the best choices if you are looking for a historical hotel to stay in. Also, on their recommendation give a shot to La Tinaja for the best wine in the city.

Frommer’s insists attending a concert at the Palau de la Musica Catalana is a better experience than dancing away the night at a dance club. Also recommended: taking a train and Funiculur to Tibidabo – the views are breathtaking.

Barcelona virtual Tour

If you want to explore Barcelona from your computer, you can do this downloading this files to use with Google Earth software:

Barcelona churches, museums, places virtual tour (kmz file)

Barcelona monuments virtual tour (kmz file)