La Rambla
It is a street in central Barcelona where you are most likely to stay while on vacation. A 1.2 kilometer-long tree-lined pedestrian mall between Barri Gòtic and El Raval, it connects Plaça Catalunya in the center with the Christopher Columbus monument at Port Vell. Enjoy the architectural buildings along with a great nightlife around the neighborhood. Must visit places on la Rambla are The Boqueria Market (Mercat de Boqueria), Opera House (Gran Teatre del Liceu) and Columbus Monument where La Rambla ends.

Sagrada Familia

The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is a work on a grand scale which was begun on 19 March 1882 from a project by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901). At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea.

Main Gaudi Buildings in Barcelona
While you are in Barcelona, you should dedicate plenty time to seeing Gaudi’s works and not just the Sagrada Familia which is his most famous attraction. The most visited of his works after the unfinished Gaudi cathedral include Park Guell, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo.

The Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona (entrance shown, right) is in the heart of the old city on the Carrer Moncada and since its recent expansion now sprawls over a row of five Gothic palaces once - in late medieval times - home to Barcelona's aristocrats.

About Miró
Joan Miró was born in Barcelona in 1893 and studied at the Barcelona School of Fine Arts and the Academia Galí. His early works were reminiscent of Catalan folk art, yet one could detect the flavor of cubism in his paintings. After he moved to Paris and studied there in the 1920s, he began to develop what was to become his signature style, Surrealism. He also experimented with other media besides painting, including etchings, lithographs, and ceramic sculptures. Miro died in 1983.


Port Vell
At the bottom of La Rambla beyond the Columbus Monument is the bustling of Port Vell. This was formerly the old port of Barcelona but today is an ultra modern leisure zone with bars, restaurants, shopping arcades, the Barcelona Aquarium and an Imax cinema. Another fun thing to do down here is to take a boat excursion on one of the 'golondrinas' which takes you around the harbour and along to Port Olímpic where the sailing events at the 1992 Olympic Games took place.

La Barceloneta & Port Olímpic
If you're happy strolling around just continue north along the seafront from Port Vell until you reach Barceloneta. Traditionally this was the living area of the port's fishermen and is still a heavily populated area of narrow streets criss crossing one another with washing hung out to dry from the upstairs windows of run down looking apartments. In spite of its earthy appearance it has become a popular place to visit attracting many locals and tourists to its fine selection of fish restaurants lining Passeig de Joan Borbò. Where the sea meets la Barceloneta you'll find Barcelona's best sandy beaches which were created as part of the city's pre-Olympics regeneration programme. They are very popular at weekends being only a stone's throw from the city. The Passeig Marítim is a walkway overlooking the beaches which connects La Barceloneta with Port Olímpic which is now a marina with many bars and restaurants. The area is overlooked by the five star Hotel Arts which has become Barcelona's residence of choice for celebrities visiting the city. There's an interesting transport option called the 'Transbordador Aeri' which is a cable car linking La Barceloneta with Montjuïc.

Montjuïc & La Font Magica
Montjuïc is the hill which overlooks Barcelona from the southwest and is home to the Olympic Stadium which was used in the 1992 Olympic Games. It also has some excellent art galleries including the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and the Fundació Joan Miró. The best approach is to get to Plaça d'Espanya then climb the steps (or use the escalator) or take the Metro to Parallel and then the funicular railway up the Montjuïc hill

On the terraces below the Palau Nacional de Montjuïc are a number of fountains including the largest one known as La Font Magica. Here you can watch a spectacular water, light and music display several times in the evening. From October to the end of June these take place every 30 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights between 7pm and 8.30pm. Between June and September there are displays every 30 minutes between 9.30pm and 11.30pm from Thursday to Sunday nights.

Olympic Stadium
The Catalan capital hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, an event that redefined the face of modern day Barcelona. The main athletics events took place at the Estadi Olimpic in Montjuïc. This impressive stadium with a capacity of 65,000 was originally constructed in 1929 when Barcelona hosted the World Fair. Having fallen into disrepair it was restored for the 1992 Games. Today it is the temporary home of RCD Espanyol who play their matches there whilst their new stadium is under construction. The stadium id open to the public at no charge on non-match days. There's a brilliant swimming pool complex at the Piscines Bernat Picornell right next to the stadium if you a dip during the hot summer months.

Barri Gòtic
The Gothic Quarter is just east off the Ramblas and contains medieval Gothic buildings dating from the 14th and 15th century in what was the centre of old Barcelona. It's a maze of interconnecting dark streets joining together medieval squares. The main tourist attractions are the magnificent Gothic cathedral, the Ajuntament, Plaça del Rei and the Palau de la Generalitat. The city's history museum on Carrer de Veguer is well worth a look. There's a good selection of cafés and bars, especially around Plaça de Sant Jaume, so refreshments are never far away.