Barcelona
Tourism in Barcelona
An impressive historical legacy
Of course, all these vicissitudes and many more experienced by the city left a deep mark on it, an architectural and artistic heritage of great richness, which today we can contemplate in perfect harmony with modern and cosmopolitan Barcelona. Among its most important works, we will mention a few.
The Cathedral: built between the 13th and 15th centuries and declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument, it is a beautiful Gothic style building. In addition to its beautiful façade, its different doors, chapels, gargoyles and impressive cloister stand out.
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar: essence of Catalan Gothic, began to be built in the fourteenth century, and is one of the most impressive works of the city. It is a building of great beauty, whose austerity and the lights that enter through its stained glass windows can not fail to impact the visitor, generally moved to detect the spirituality that breathes within its walls.
The Holy Family: it is the unfinished Basilica of Antoni Gaudí, converted into a symbol of Barcelona and declared World Heritage by UNESCO, a majestic and impressive work.
The Castle of Montjuic: is located on top of the mountain that gives it its name, and has great weight in the history of Barcelona. It was built to defend the city, but the truth is that normally the use given to it has been the inverse, and has served to repress it on many occasions, becoming a "sinister" building for Barcelona. Recently, the Town Hall decided that the castle would house a space for memory and a Peace Centre inside, so the Catalans have begun to reconcile with it.
The Palau de la Música Catalana: built at the beginning of the 20th century with money obtained from popular subscriptions, it is a symbol of Catalan culture. Its façade stands out, with a multitude of statues related to music.
The Columbus Monument: another of the city's charismatic works, located at the point where the Ramblas and the old port meet. From a height of 60 metres, the navigator welcomes all those who arrive in Barcelona by boat.
Casa Batlló: A real example of Catalan modernism, built by Antoni Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century, a combination of mosaics, balconies and oval windows that make up a work that gives off joy, light and beauty.
Tourism all year round in BarcelonaBarcelona is one of the most touristic and beautiful cities in Spain. Every year it receives a constant influx of tourists, who not only travel attracted by its renowned culture, but also by its beaches, monuments and bars.
In Barcelona, we can make different walks and enjoy magnificent leisure options such as shopping in the streets of the historic center of Portaferrisa, Rambla, Pelayo, Portal del Angel and Plaza Cataluña.
Among its tourist centres, the following stand out: the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, as well as monuments and temples -the Sagrada Familia, Parque Güell or La Pedrera-. Its architecture includes the Agbar Tower, a famous 144-metre high skyscraper created by Jean Nouvel.
Barcelona is also an ideal destination to enjoy. It is possible to enjoy its incredible shows in the Gran Teatro del Liceo, or in the famous National Theatre of Catalonia.
We should also mention its beaches, which have been significantly improved. The most visited beaches are Barceloneta and Nueva Mar Bella. Finally, it should be noted that there is a wide range of flights to Barcelona, which greatly facilitates accessibility to tourism.
Tourist Offices in Barcelona, essential
Locating the nearest tourist offices is one of the first things to do when arriving in new cities that we are going to visit. In them they can inform us about everything that can be seen in the city, the activities that there are, even we will be able to buy tourist vouchers or tickets for this or that spectacle.
In this sense Barcelona is no exception and the tourist offices, strategically located, offer us all kinds of information and warnings about the city.
Barcelona's central tourist office is located in Plaza de Catalunya. Being located in the heart of the city, in a place of obligatory passage for tourists and locals, this tourist office can offer us vital information on the places of interest, on public transport, accommodation, culture and leisure.
This office also has another type of activity or function as it serves as a central booking office for last-minute accommodation in hotels, guesthouses and official hostels. Next to this office you will find the BCN Original shop, a shop with souvenirs made in Barcelona.
In spite of being the most important and the reference place of all the tourist offices, the one in Plaça de Catalunya cannot cover, much less, the tourist demand of the centre of Barcelona. For this reason, in Plaza Sant Jaume, in the Town Hall building, we will be able to find another office that will offer us information on places of interest, accommodation, public transport, culture and, in a special way, publications referring to the city.
There are also tourist offices in the Sants train and bus station and in El Prat Airport, very strategic places through which almost all the tourists who do not come by car enter. The Sants is specialized in providing information on transport and the Airport, in addition to informing, also has a wide range of souvenirs for the absent-minded who leave without anything.
Finally, tourist offices tend to be and function in the same way in almost all cities and, in this case, those in Barcelona are no exception. With opening hours ranging from 9:00 to 20:00, they are an essential visit for those visiting the Catalan capital for the first time.
