3 Days Barcelona Top Attractions

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My 3 Days Barcelona Top AttractionsDay 1, Sat Aug 15 2015

Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Sagrada Famlia 1 hour

2. 10:20 Avinguda Diagonal 45 mins

3. 11:10 Casa Mil 15 mins

4. 11:30 Casa Batll 15 mins

5. 11:45 Casa Amatller 15 mins

6. 12:00 Casa Lle Morera 15 mins

7. 12:25 Plaa de Catalunya 45 mins

8. 13:15 La Rambla 1 hour

9. 14:20 La Boquera 45 mins

10. 15:10 Placa Reial 30 mins

11. 15:40 Palau Gell 1 hour

12. 16:45 Columbus Monument 30 mins


Transportation: Metro - Verdaguer or Sagrada

Famlia

Web: www.sagradafamilia.org

Opening Hours: Nov-Mar daily 9:00am-6:00pm,

Apr-Sep daily 9:00am-8:00pm

Admission: 12, audio guide 4, elevator to the

top (60m/197 feet) 3

Phone Number: 93-207-30-31

Address: Plaa de Gaud, 253, 08013 Barcelona,

Spain

09:00 Sagrada Famlia Rating: Religious Sites

Visit Time: 1 hour

This cathedral is hailed as Antoni Gaudi's best work and finest

masterpiece, it is located in the Eixample district and construction

began in 1882 according to the neo-Gothic designs of Francisco de

Paula del Villar. Only a year after construction began Gaudi took over,

he took a more Modernista approach to the project which became his

life work. Gaudi lived to see only one faade, the Nativity Faade, the

apse, crypt and one tower complete. The church plans called for 18

towers and an area capable of accommodating 13,000 worshipers.

Following Gaudi's death in 1926 the building process dragged on

slowly through the Civil War until the 50s when construction began in

earnest. At present there are 8 complete towers and two facades. The

building process continues and it was only in 2000 that the roof of the

main nave was completed. It is hopes that construction will be

complete by 2026 which marks the centennial of Gaudi's death.

The two completed facades are the Nativity Faade and Passion

Faade; they are adorned with motifs taken from nature and Baroque

decoration. The Passion Faade features Jesus' Crucifixion. The two

other remaining facades are the Glory Faade which is under

construction and the faade on the south side of the church. On

careful examination you can see the different color of the building

materials on the facades depending on the age of the work. The tall

thin spires appear to be dripping with Gothic-style decoration.

The interior of the church is just an impressive as the exterior, in the

crypt you can see Gaudi's final resting place; in the nave there are

pillars which resemble thick trees and the ceiling is a remarkable

vaulted structure where the "branches" of the trees meet. Visitors can

take an elevator and walk up into the towers. The church has 5 naves

and a crossing forming a Latin Cross. The central nave is 15 meters

wide; the nave and apse are 90 meters long; crossing is 60 meters

and the width of the crossing is 30 meters. The incredible architecture

and artistry of the Basilica is Barcelona's top must-see site although

construction is still in progress.


Address: Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain

1.3 KM, 18 minutes by walking

10:20 Avinguda Diagonal Rating: Shopping

Visit Time: 45 mins

Diagonal Avenue is the widest and one of the most important avenues

in Barcelona, it was designed by IIdefons Cerda one of Barcelona's

leading city planners. The avenue divides the city is two running from

west to east. The avenue runs for 11km from Les Corts district to Sant

Marti district; from Lleida-Madrid Highway to Ronda del Litoral in the

east. Perhaps the most interesting section of the avenue passes

through the Eixample district where you'll find many stores, hotels and

places of entertainment.

Along the tree lined avenue you can see several impressive buildings

including Casa Serra, Casa de Terrades and the neo-Gothic Casa del

Baro de Quadras which houses the Music Museum, all designed by

Josep Puig I Cadafalch. There is also Casa Comalat designed by

Salvador Valeri I Pupurull; the neo-Byzantine Esglesia del Carme

created by Josep Domenech I Estapa; ME Barcelona Hotel designed

by Dominique Perrault; Palau Reial de Pedralbes; Torre Agbad the

ultra-modern skyscraper designed by Jean Nouvel and Disseny HUB

Barcelona museum. The Casa de les Punxes or House of Thorns is

another stunning piece of architecture on the avenue.

If you're looking for shopping you can find Diagonal Mar, Glories and

El Corte Ingles Avinguda Diagonal among other stores. Entertainment

venues along the avenue include cinemas and the University of

Barcelona has several faculty buildings on the avenue.


Transportation: Metro - Diagonal

Web: www.caixacatalunya.cat/obrasocial

Opening Hours: Daily 10:00am-7:30pm, English

tours Mon-Fri 6:00pm

Admission: 10, 5 students, free for children 12

and under

Phone Number: 93-484-59-80, 93-484-59-00

Address: Carrer Provena, 263, 08008 Barcelona,

Spain


11:10 Casa Mil Rating: Landmarks

Visit Time: 15 mins

Casa Mila is also known as La Pedrera, it is one of the Barcelona

buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi. The apartment building was built

between 1906 and 1912 and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

and the headquarters of the Fundacio Catalunya-La Pedrera. The

house is home to a cultural center.

Pedro Mila I Camps commissioned Gaudi to design the building on

Passeig de Gracia; this was to be the architect's largest civil building.

The unique structure has no straight lines, and no load-bearing walls,

instead it relies on pillars and steel supports. The faade is

self-supporting like a curtain wall. The irregular design includes

ceilings which are of different heights. There are two courtyards which

allow all the apartments in the building to get natural light through their

windows. In all the building covers over 1000m. There are 9 levels

including basement, ground floor, mezzanine, main floor, 4 upper

floors and the attic. Gaudi added underground parking which was

another bold move for his time.

The building exterior has undulating wrought iron balconies

resembling waves; these were designed by Josep Maria Jujol. The

building exterior is not as colorful as his other creations as it was left in

its natural stone. The irregular shapes and stone color caused locals

to nickname the building "the quarry" or La Pedrera.

Visitors can visit the attic and the floor top where the unusual design is

consistent with the exterior. Gaudi made use of Art-Nouveau and

Catalan modernista architectural styles. The roof top chimneys have

surrealistic colors and resemble science fiction warriors and other

fantastical characters. The chimneys were functional but also so

decorated with mosaics, marble pieces and shapes that they are more

like sculptural works of art.


Transportation: Metro - Passeig de Grcia

Web: www.casabatllo.cat

Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 9:00am-8:00pm

Admission: 17.80, 14 and students, free for

children of 7 and under


Address: Passeig Grcia, 41, 08007 Barcelona,

Spain


11:30 Casa Batll Rating: Historic Sites

Visit Time: 15 mins

Casa Batllo is one of three unusual buildings along Passeig de Gracia,

together with Casa Amatller and Casa Lleo-Morera which make up the

"Block of Discord". The house was originally built for a middle class

family and in 1904 Gaudi was commissioned to refurbish the building.

Casa Batllo reflects Gaudi's playful side and the strange and fantastic

style he is known for. The building can generally be classed as

Modernisme or Art Nouveau but it is really in a league of its own.

Gaudi replaced the original facade with a work in glass and stone. The

facade wall was made to curve and bend like a wave, this was then

plastered and covered with a mosaic of colored glass and ceramic

fragments. The top of the building looks like the back of an animal,

generally referred to as a dragon. It appears to have scales and a

spine adorned with round pieces of masonry which seem to change

color as you look at it from different angles. Montjuic stone was used

to create pillars on the first 2 levels; the thin pillars resemble the

shapes of bones and are decorated with floral designs. The Noble

Floor or main suite which faces the front on the building has a unique

window system which opens and closes with counterweights. The

projecting balconies resemble masks made of wrought iron. The

faade uses organic shapes and colors.

The interior of the house is just as remarkable, there is a staircase

banister which looks like the spine of an animal; a room which is

decorated to look like it is under water; relief glazed tiles; a wooden

elevator which still functions; a huge central skylight; stained glass;

mosaics and unexpected details in many of the fittings. In all the

building's ground floor, main floor, four self-contained floors, roof top

terrace, loft and courtyard cover 5,000m.



Web: www.amatller.com

Opening Hours: Ground floor open to public

Mon-Sat 10:00am-7:00pm, guided tours Mon-Fri

12:00 noon

Admission: 5


Address: Passeig Grcia, 41, 08007 Barcelona,

Spain


11:45 Casa Amatller Rating: Historic Sites

Visit Time: 15 mins

Casa Amatller is a house which stands together with Gaudi's Casa

Batllo and Domenech i Montaner's Casa Lleo-Morera on a stretch of

Passeig de Gracia called the "Bock of Discord" because of its unique

architecture. The house was bought by chocolatier Antoni Amatller in

1898 who then commissioned Josep Puig i Cadafalch to redesign the

building to suit his family. The architect worked with skilled artisans

including sculptors Eusebi Arnau and Alfons Jujol to create a

modernista-style home for the Amatller family.

The design was based on a typical Catalan mansion but used

architectural elements from Germany and Holland. The German

influence can be seen in the Gothic windows and the stepped gable

was borrowed from classic Dutch architecture. There are delicate

porticoes on the balconies of the 1 floor, a ridged cornice, brightst

ceramic tiles and stained glass windows. The fantasy faade includes

figures of knights, dragons and other characters. In the foyer there are

pillars and a grand staircase reminiscent of story book castles.

On the ground floor visitors enter the lobby and see the beautiful

staircase and stained glass then go through to the back of the building

to an exhibition space which hosts temporary exhibitions. The house

underwent extensive renovations in 2012 and you can take a tour to

see the early 20 century furniture and dcor. The mansion isth

intended to house the Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art's extensive

library and photographic archives. Visitors can also see photos

Amatller took on his travels and even taste Amatller chocolates in the

house kitchen.



Web: www.gaudiallgaudi.com/EA101.htm

Address: Passeig de Grcia, 35, 08007

Barcelona, Spain


12:00 Casa Lle Morera Rating: Historic Sites

Visit Time: 15 mins

This is one of the three unique buildings which make up the Block of

along Passeig de Gracia. The building is noteworthy for itsDiscord

unique architecture created by Lluis Domenech i Montaner. The

renowned architect was commissioned in 1902 to remodel the building

which had originally been constructed in 1864. Domenech i Montaner

worked together with several prominent artisans like Eusebi Arnau

who made the sculptures; Antoni Rigalt i Blanch worked on the stained

glass windows; Antoni Serra i Fiter who was responsible for the

ceramics and Gaspar Homar who took care of the interior decoration

and furniture design. The modernist Art Nouveau building was inspired

by nature and organic motifs.

The faade of the building features many elements of fantasy and

small touches which can be discovered on close examination. Among

the shapes and figures of the faade is a telephone and light bulb both

of which were invented during the architect's lifetime. Also featured

are a lion and several references to the humble mulberry bush which

is the literal translation of the owner's name. The faade features

several ornate balconies and a corner turret which has been likened to

a wedding cake because of the multiple layers and heavy decoration

which looks like cake frosting.

Over the years vandalism and thoughtless remodeling has destroyed

part of the building, specifically the ground floor space which was

cleared to make room for a store. It is possible to arrange guided tours

of the interior from the Casa Lleo I Morera website.


Address: Plaa de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain


12:25 Plaa de Catalunya Rating: Squares

Visit Time: 45 mins

Placa de Catalunya is a large public square covering about 50,000m

bordered by monumental and historically important buildings; it is the

city's busiest square. Placa de Catalunya is located between the old

city and Eixample district where nine streets meet including the

Rambla and Passeig de Gracia.

When first established the square was outside of the city walls in the

rural countryside but when the walls were taken down in 1858 it fast

became a center of urban activity. At the same time the new district of

Eixample was built according to the designs of Ildefons Cerda. The

local officials were unsure about the intersection of the old and new

areas and how they would be made to merge. Several plans were

proposed, Cerda wanted to continue the Rambla into the new district

and a plan by Rovira i Trias was for a wide esplanade which joined up

with the Rambla at the site of the present plaza. However the final

plan chosen was by Puig i Cadafalch and resulted in the square we

see today, Placa de Catalunya. The construction took place in the

1920s.

The square has an oval center surrounded by a line of trees, within the

oval there are benches. The square is home to several works of public

art and monuments like by Pablo Gargallo; sculpturesPastor de Pau

by Josep Llimona; the (the formerMonument a Francesc Macia

president of Catalan government) and statue byLa Deessa o l'Enigma

Josep Clara. In the northern portion of the square there are a number

of fountains which are lit up at night. The buildings surrounding the

square include El Corte Ingles department store, several theatres,

cafes, restaurants, hotels, banks and below the square you can find a

major transport hub or metro lines, railways and subway stations.


Address: La Rambla, Barcelona


13:15 La Rambla Rating: Shopping

Visit Time: 1 hour

La Rambla is a 1.2 kilometer long boulevard in the center of

Barcelona, it is the one place that all visitors are bound to pass

through on a visit to the city. The middle section of the boulevard is

pedestrian-only. Along the route which stretches from the Canaletes

fountain to the Columbus Monument there are many historic buildings

like the Liceu theatre. The boulevard began as a small river which

flowed just outside the city walls. A university and several convents

lined the banks of the river. When the city walls were taken down the

buildings found themselves lining the dried up river. The boulevard

was laid in 1766 and the old buildings were torn down, however each

of the 5 sections of the boulevard was named after the buildings which

once stood there. Because the boulevard has 5 sections it is often

referred to as Las Ramblas.

The sections of Las Rambles include near theRambla de Canaletes

Canaleta fountain; where the university onceRambla dels Estudis

stood and today is the site of Reial Academia de Ciences i Arts;

where a convent once stood and today is theRambla de Sant Josep

site of the Mercat de la Boqueria and the Joan Miro's pavement

mosaic; where a Cupuchin monastery onceRambla dels Caputxins

stood and today is the site of Placa Reial a small square with street

lamps designed by Gaudi; where a formerRambla de Santa Monica

convent stood leads to the Columbus Monument and Rambla de Mar

which takes you down to the seafront.

In a city where the streets are rather narrow this one is wide. The

boulevard soon became a popular hang-out and place to see and be

seen. The landmark buildings along La Rambla include the Palau de

la Virreina and the Boqueria Market. You'll find many tourist attractions

along Rambla like the Wax Museum and Erotica Museum as well as

street performers, artists selling their paintings and souvenir stores.


Web: www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm

Address: Rambla, 91, 08002 Barcelona, Spain


14:20 La Boquera Rating: Markets

Visit Time: 45 mins

The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is an enormous indoor

market located in Ciutat Vella at the entrance to La Rambla. The

market began as a traveling market in 1200 and was then established

at the top of La Rambla where the stalls were likely to attract passing

traffic. At first it was an open-air market near one of the city wall gates.

Farmers would arrive from the rural areas at the city gates to bring

their produce to the stalls. In 1827 the market was merged with a

nearby market and became La Rambla de Sant Josep. The first stone

of the new market building was laid 1840 and construction began

according to the design of architect Mas Vila. In 1871 gas lighting was

added to the market and in 1914 the market with a metal roof was

inaugurated. The modernization continued and the structure and stalls

became a popular tourist site. In 2005 the market won the prize for

best market in the world, awarded by the World Market Congress.

Many of the stall owners are 3 and even 4 generation traders. Therd th

market sells a wide range of goods but specializes in fresh produce of

every kind. There are over 900 stalls arranged in square blocks

around the perimeter and in the center of the market an oval shaped

configuration of stalls. You can find unusual and unique foods like

bulls' tails, black eels, herbs, hand-made pasta, legumes, dry fruit,

charcuterie, offal, salted fish, seafood, meat, cheese, fruit and

vegetables and wine. In addition there are flower stalls and other

non-food related stalls. The market offers a Culinary Classroom where

cooking lessons are given by different leading experts. There are

several restaurants, tapas bars and cafes in the market place.


Address: Placa Reial, Barcelona, Spain


15:10 Placa Reial Rating: Squares

Visit Time: 30 mins

Placa Reial or Royal Square is entered from Rambla in Barcelona's

Old Town. During the 19 century Placa Reial a Cupuchin monasteryth

stood here and in 1822 the city acquired the space. In 1835 the

monastery burnt down and after plans to construct a theatre were

abandoned, planning began for the new square. The municipality

opened a competition to architects who vied to create the square.

Francesc Daniel Molina i Casamajo won the competition and Placa

Reial was completed in 1859. The symmetrical square is surrounded

by large buildings each with grand neo-classical facades. Arcades on

the ground level of the buildings give the square a decidedly Italian

feel and the palm trees planted in the square lend a tropical and

casual feel to the space.

The square has several outstanding features including a fountain in

the center. by Antoni Rovira i TriasThe Fountain of the Three Graces

and has three goddesses, charm, beauty and fertility at the base. The

square also has two lamp posts designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1879.

The lamp posts are decorated with various symbols including one of

the God of commerce and of Mercury.

Since the 1980s the square has been pedestrian-only and has

become a popular site for tourists and locals who come to enjoy the

oasis just off the Rambla and to have coffee in the cafes under the

building arcades.


Transportation: Metro - Drassanes

Web: www.palauguell.cat/index_en.html

Opening Hours: Open Tueday to Sun. Summer

hours (April 1 - Sepember 30) 10 am to 8 pm (last

admissions 7 pm). Winter hours (October 1 -

March 31) 10 am to 5.30 pm (last admissions 4.30

pm)

Admission: General admission 10 students under

25, seniors over 65 and groups 8


Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 5, 08001

Barcelona, Spain


15:40 Palau Gell Rating: Landmarks

Visit Time: 1 hour

Guell Palace is a mansion located in El Raval; it is a UNESCO site as

part of the great works by artist and architect Antoni Gaudi. Eusebi

Guell was a wealthy industrialist and Gaudi's patron, he commissioned

Gaudi to design the mansion in 1888 and the house became Guell's

family home until he died. Later the building was used by the police

during the Civil War for torturing political prisoners.

On the front of the building are high parabolic arched entrances with

iron gates adorned with intricate patterns in the metal work. Carriages

could enter through the archways into an inner courtyard or hall, from

here animals were taken down into the basement and people went up

into the living area of the house. The main hall soars three stories high

with arches and a cupola in the middle, creating the feel of a Gothic

cathedral. Inside the building the main focus is on the central room

which was used to receive visitors. High upon the walls are small

windows where the owners of the house could secretly look in at their

guests. In the main room there are gaps in the top of the wall where

lanterns were hung. The house has a magnificent music room with an

organ which is played during visiting hours.

In true Gaudi style there are Gothic, Islamic and art-nouveau

influences in the decoration and architecture. The house is rich with

color, angles, stained glass, polished plain stone, parabolic arches,

mosaics, murals and domes.


Transportation: Metro - Drassanes (Green Line,

L3)

Admission: free

Phone Number: +34 933 02 52 24

Address: Portal de la Pau, Barcelona, Spain


16:45 Columbus Monument Rating: Landmarks

Visit Time: 30 mins

At the end of La Rambla in Placa del Portal de la Pau you can find a

monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. The Columbus

Monument was constructed in 1888 as a tribute to the discovery of the

New World (America) and to mark the Universal Exhibition of that

year. Stone, iron and bronze were used to create the monument. The

monument is a 60 meter tall Corinthian column, 2.25 meters in

diameter topped with a 7.5 meter tall bronze figure of Christopher

Columbus pointing out to sea. Columbus stands on a capital adorned

with images of Africa, Asia, America and Europe and topped with a

large crown.

At the foot of the iron column is a circular base raised by four

stairways, 60 meters wide, there are eight lions marking the base, one

on either side of the staircases. Other figures on the base depict

prominent people from the Age of Discovery. 8 bronze reliefs depict

Columbus' accomplishments including when he met King Ferdinand

and Queen Isabella in Cordoba. Within the column is an elevator

which takes visitors up to a viewing gallery where they can look out to

sea together with Columbus and also up along La Rambla. It is

possible to walk around the entire viewing gallery and get views of the

city in all directions.


Day 2, Sun Aug 16 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Palau de la Msica Catalana 1 hour

2. 10:05 Museu Frederic Mars 1 hour, 30 mins

3. 11:35 Barcelona Cathedral 1 hour

4. 12:35 Plaa del Rei 30 mins

5. 13:05 History Museum of Barcelona 1 hour, 30 mins

6. 14:40 Museu Picasso 2 hours

7. 16:45 Santa Maria Del Mar 1 hour


Transportation: Metro - Urquinaona

Web: www.palaumusica.org

Opening Hours: Guided tours daily, every

half-hour 10:00am-3:30pm

Admission: Tour 9, 7.50 students. Tickets can

be bought up to 1 week in advance from the gift

shop adjacent to the building

Phone Number: 93-295-72-00 for information,

902-442-882 to buy tickets

09:00 Palau de la Msica Catalana Rating: Historic Sites

Visit Time: 1 hour

Located in La Ribera is this fine example of moderniste architecture

which is a UNESCO Site. The building was designed by Lluis

Domenech i Montaner who also designed the Hospital Sant Pau. The

building was completed in 1908 to house the Orfeo Catala (Catalan

Choral Society). The group was extremely popular at the time and

would tour the country performing folk songs.

The building's faade is adorned with a rippling sculpture representing

Catalan song, there is an allegorical mosaic of the Orfeo beneath the

sculpture and busts of famous composters. An arcade links the foyer

with the street, and each column is covered with beautiful mosaics.

The auditorium is on the 1 floor and every possible modernismst

technique has been employed. Every surface is adorned with features

like stained glass, sculptures, mosaics and murals. The only source of

light during daylight hours in the auditorium is the inverted stained

glass dome which is surrounded by figures representing a choir. The

entire ceiling appears to be of stained glass. On the wall at the back of

the stage is , terracotta female figures holdingMuses del Palau

musical instruments. The proscenium arch which frames the stage

was created by Pau Gargallo; it is a flurry of activity with Josep Clave,

the Orfeo director coming out of the "Flowers of May" on one side and

the composer Beethoven looking through Wagner's Valkyries on the

other.

Later additions to the building include rehearsal rooms, a library and

an underground auditorium. The theatre is used for regular

performances by a range of artists from jazz and orchestra recitals to

folk music performances.


Transportation: Metro - Jaume I

Web: www.museumares.bcn.es

Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 10:00am-7:00pm, Sun

10:00am-3:00pm. Free Wed 3-7:00pm

Admission: 3, free for children 15 and under


Address: Carrer Comtes, 6, 08002 Barcelona,

Spain


10:05 Museu Frederic Mars Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 1 hour, 30 mins

This museum is situated in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, in a section of

a palace which once belonged to the Counts of Barcelona. The

museum holds sculpture Frederic Mares' private collection, he

amassed an extensive collection of sculptures with pieces from

antiquity to the 19 century. There are two sections in the museum,th

one of sculptures and the other is a collection of historic everyday

objects called Gabinet del Coleccionista. This section gives us a

glimpse into the day-to-day lives of people in the 15 to 16 century.th th

The sculpture section includes works from all regions of Spain

spanning from the pre-Roman Era to the 19 century. Some of theth

highlights include Medieval and polychrome religious carvings; works

from the Renaissance; Baroque sculptures and more recent works.

There is a wide range of styles, each of the many Spanish schools of

sculpture are represented.

The Gabinet del Coleccionista shows Mares' passion for history and

art. The collection of 15 to 16 century everyday items shows theth th

customs and lifestyles of that period; it is divided into three sections:

The features artifacts used by women in theirSala Femenina

everyday lives, specifically from the Romantic period. Among the

items on display are combs, hair accessories, kitchen items, jewellery,

fans and clothing. The highlights the things thatSala de les Diversions

people used to do for recreation and entertainment like toys, theatre,

books etc. The displays a collection of pipes. OtherSala del Fumador

items on display include weapons, photographs, cameras, clocks,

ceramics, glassware and walking sticks.


Transportation: Metro - Jaume I and Liceu

Web: www.catedralbcn.org

Opening Hours: Cathedral daily 9:00am-1:00pm

and 5:00pm-7:00pm, museum daily

10:00am-1:00pm and 4:00pm-6:30pm

Admission: free to cathedral, museum 1. Elevator

to roof 2


Address: Portal de l'ngel, 14, 08002 Barcelona,

Spain


11:35 Barcelona Cathedral Rating: Religious Sites

Visit Time: 1 hour

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia is the church of

Barcelona's Archbishop. It is located on an elevated piece of land in

the Barri Gothic district in the heart of Barcelona and is also known as

La Seu. The site where the church stands was also the location of a

Roman temple, a mosque and later a 1 century church which wasst

destroyed by the Moors. The beginnings of the construction of the

present church began in 1298 under King Jaume II. War and plagues

slowed down the construction and the main building was only

completed in 1460. However work continued on it until the early 20 th

century with the Gothic facade being completed in 1889. The design of

the faade and spire were based on the plans by Charles Galters. The

Gothic faade is adorned with statues and figures while the bell towers

have Gothic pinnacles and the windows and doors have Gothic

arches. The architecture has touches of Gothic, medieval and

Renaissance styles.

The church is 93 meters long, 40 meters wide and 28 meters high in

the central nave. The octagonal bell towers reaches 54 meters from

the ground and the central spire reaches a height of 70 meters. Within

the cathedral there is one nave and behind the altar there are 15th

century stained glass windows. Down the sides of the nave are 28

chapels where you can see the tombs of prominent figures in

Barcelona history including Count Ramon Berenguer I. The crypt

beneath the church altar holds the sarcophagus of Santa Eulalia,

Barcelona's patron saint. Around the enclosed choir are reliefs which

tell the tale of Saint Eulalia's life. It is possible to take an elevator to

the church roof for great views across the city.

The adjoining church cloisters date back to the 14 century and areth

surrounded by Gothic portico with vaulted galleries. In the chapter

house you can visit a small museum which displays liturgical artifacts

including by Bartolome Bermejo.La Pietat


Address: Plaa del Rei, Barcelona, Spain


12:35 Plaa del Rei Rating: Squares

Visit Time: 30 mins

The King's Square is located in the Gothic Quarter and is surrounded

by historical Medieval buildings. The square is associated with

Christopher Columbus who is thought to have been received here by

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella on his return from the New World.

The Palau Reial Major is the main architectural attraction on the

square, the building was once the home of Barcelona's counts. The

palace began as a Romanesque fortress which was constructed

against the Roman city walls. The Gothic elements of the architecture

were added later. Within the Palau Reial Major visitors can see the

Salo del Tinell, a beautiful grand 14 century hall. The King Martin'sth

Watchtower or Torre Mirador del Rei Marti stands to the left of the

Tinell Hall and was a 15 century addition. On the right side of theth

Tinell Hall is the Royal Chapel of St. Agatha which has an interesting

octagonal bell tower. Visitors to the bell tower can see the painting by

Jaume Huguet called Epiphany. The Palau del Lloctinent is a 16 th

century Gothic building, it has a beautiful courtyard which is open to

the public. At the southeastern end of the square is the Palau

Clariana-Padellas which was relocated here from Carrer del

Mercaders brick-by-brick in 1931. The Palau Clariana-Padellas is the

entrance to the City History Museum. Within the museum you can see

the remains of Roman Era Barcelona which were uncovered during

the relocation of the palace.


Transportation: Metro - Liceu or Jaume I

Web: www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat

Opening Hours: June-Sep Tue-Sat

10:00am-8:00pm, Oct-May Tue-Sat

10:00am-2:00pm and 4-8:00pm, year-round Sun

10:00am-3:00pm

Admission: 6, free for children 16 and under



13:05 History Museum of Barcelona Rating: Museums


Located on the Placa del Rei are two museums, the Royal Palace

which represents a fine example of Gothic architecture from

Barcelona's medieval past and the City History Museum where you

can see part of Barcelona's Roman era history. Placa del Rei is

located beneath part of the remaining city walls.

Visitors enter the City History Museum through a Gothic mansion,

Casa Clariana Padellas. The mansion was not originally built here but

was relocated in the 1930s. In the mansion there are temporary

exhibitions about Iberian culture and Mediterranean culture as well as

an exhibition about the history of Barcelona. Visitors continue through

the mansion and descend beneath ground level to reach an excavated

section of Barcino, a Roman city which predated Barcelona. The

archeological site has been covered by criss-crossing elevated

walkways so that visitors can look down on the ancient Roman

squares, homes, streets, forum and stores. One of the highlights is

mosaics which have been left where they were found inin situ

ancient Roman homes.

From here visitors go above ground to see the Royal Palace complex

which dates back to the 10 century. The palace and the buildingsth

associated with it look on to an enclosed square. The palace dates

back to the 11 century and was once the home of Catalan countsth

during the 13 to 15 century and then the Kings of Aragon. It isth th

believed that it was here, in this palace, that the King and Queen

welcomed Columbus back from his adventures in the New World in

1493. Visitors can see temporary exhibitions in the palace chapel,

Capella de Santa Agueda. In the chapel is the Contestable altarpiece

by Jaume Huguet. Next door to the chapel is the grand Gothic

banquet hall, Salo del Tinell, where you can see the largest stone arch

in Europe. Alongside the building is King Martin's Tower, constructed

in 1555. The 5 storey watch tower was constructed during the reign of

Barcelona's last count-king to help protect the palace. Opposite the

palace is the Lieutenant's Palace.


Transportation: Metro - Jaume I, Liceu, or Arc de

Triomf

Web: www.museupicasso.bcn.es


10:00am-3:00pm

Admission: museum and temporary exhibition

combined 9, 6 students and 25 and under, free

for children 16 and under. Temporary exhibition

5.80, 2.90 students and those 25 and under


Address: Carrer Cremat Gran, 4, 08003

Barcelona, Spain


14:40 Museu Picasso Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 2 hours

The Picasso Museum opened in 1963 in a row of five 13 and 14 th th

century Catalan-Gothic style palazzos which were brought together to

hold a collection of more than 4,000 works of art. Most of the collection

was donated to the museum by one of Picasso's close friends Jaume

Sabartes y Gual and in 1970 Picasso donated 2,500 of his own

works. Later, after his death, Picasso's widow donated more of the

artist's works to the museum. Picasso was born in Malaga but he had

a strong connection with Barcelona. Picasso (1881-1973) lived in

Barcelona from 1895 until the Civil War.

There are works of art from all Picasso's artistic periods but the core of

the collection reflects his earlier works. The collection includes

paintings, ceramics, sculptures, drawings and engravings as well as

Picasso's sketch pads and note books. One of the highlights of the

museum is series of 59 paintings which Picasso createdLas Meninas

during his Blue Period. was Picasso's interpretation ofLas Meninas

Velazquez's work of the same name. One of Picasso's best known

paintings, is also part of the collection. The works areThe Harlequin

arranged in chronological order so that visitors can easily see the

progression and development in his work. In addition to the displayed

art work there are regular activities, workshops and events to promote

Picasso's work and creativity in general.


Transportation: Metro L4, stop Jaume I. Bus 17,

19, 40 and 45. Barcelona Bus Turstic, stop Pla de

Palau

Opening Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00am-1.30pm and

4.30pm to 8:00pm. Sun and public holidays,

10.30am-1.30pm and 4.30pm to 8:00pm

Admission: free

Phone Number: +34 933 10 23 90

Address: Plaa de Santa Maria, 1, 08003

Barcelona, Spain


16:45 Santa Maria Del Mar Rating: Religious Sites

Visit Time: 1 hour

The Church of Saint Maria of the Sea (Our Lady of the Sea) stands in

the Ribera district at the end of Passeig del Born; it was constructed

from 1329 to 1383 at a time when Barcelona was a leading Maritime

power. An earlier church stood on this site in 998. The present building

was designed by Ramon Despuig and Berenguer de Montagut and

commissioned by Alfonso IV in commemoration of the conquest of

Sardinia (1325). An earthquake in 1428 destroyed the church's rose

window which was replaced with a Flamboyant style window in 1459.

In 1936 the church suffered fire damage and the Baroque altar and

central choir had to be replaced. Later in the 19 century the Chapelth

of the Blessed Sacrament was added adjacent to the apse. The

church has two thin octagonal towers from the 15 century. th

Within the church there is a wide central nave with an aisle on either

side. Almost all the church decoration was lost or destroyed during the

Civil War but the interior is large and spacious with a high cross

vaulted ceiling supported by several thin octagonal columns. The

church has beautiful stained glass windows which brings natural light

into the church. You may be able to attend one of the regular music

recitals held in the church.


Day 3, Mon Aug 17 2015Hour Where Recommended Visit Time

1. 09:00 Montjuc 2 hours

2. 11:10 Fundaci Joan Mir 1 hour, 30 mins

3. 12:50 Museu d'Art de Catalunya 2 hours

4. 15:00 Magic Fountain 30 mins

5. 15:30 Pavell Mies van der Rohe 1 hour

6. 16:40 Plaa d'Espanya 1 hour


Address: Sants, Barcelona, Spain

09:00 Montjuc Rating: Hill

Visit Time: 2 hours

Montjuic is a broad low hill 213 meters high, southeast of Barcelona's

city center, on one side it juts out above the port and on the other it

faces Placa Espanya. The origin of the name is Jew Mountain or Hill

of Jove. The relatively flat top hill was settled by the Iberic Celtics and

later by the Romans, today the hill is an intricate part of Barcelona city

life. The hill is best known as the site of the 1929 International

exhibition and the 1992 Olympic Games.

The many attractions on Montjuic include the Palau Nacional which

was the central pavilion of the 1929 International Exhibition. Today the

neo-baroque building is home to the Museu Nacional d'Art de

Catalunya. Another Montjuic attraction is the Magic Fountain located

in front of the museum. The fountain is beautifully lit up at night as it

"performs" to music. The Mies van der Rohe Pavilion is another

remnant of the 1929 International Exhibition, the original was

dismantled following the exhibition but as the pavilion was considered

a superb piece of architecture it was reconstructed in 1980 and is now

a museum. The building is a modern, glass, marble and steel

structure. The Spanish Village or Poble Espanyol is an architectural

open-air museum where you can see over 100 houses brought from

across the country; it too was created for the 1929 International

Exhibition.

The Olympic Ring or Anella Olimpica is a sports complex with facilities

for a number of sports. It was built in 1992 together with the Olympic

Tower which was designed by Santiago Calatrava. Other Montjuic

sites include the Montjuic Gardens, the Fundacio Joan Miro modern

art museum, the Montjuic Cemetery, the Museum of Ethnology, the

Olympic and Sports Museum Joan Antoni Samaranch and the Castell

de Montjuic, an 18 century fortress and the oldest structure on theth

hill.

Visitors can reach the top of the hill by the Funicular de Montjuic

(Teleferic de Montjuic) or by cable car, the Transbordador Aeri which

leaves from Torre de Sant Sebastia and arrives at the highest point of

Montjuic.


Transportation: Bus: 50 or 55 at Plaa Espanya or

55. Funicular de Montjuc

Web: www.fundaciomiro-bcn.org

Opening Hours: July-Sep Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat

10:00am-8:00pm, Oct-June Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat

10:00am-7:00pm, year-round Thur

10:00am-9:30pm and Sun 10:00am-2:30pm

Admission: all exhibitions 8.50, 6 students, free

for children 14 and under, temporary exhibitions

4 adults, 3 students


Address: Plaa de Nept, 1, 08038 Barcelona,

Spain


11:10 Fundaci Joan Mir Rating: Museums


The Joan Miro Foundation is a museum devoted to the works of Joan

Miro who was a native Catalan born in Barcelona. The museum is

located amidst the greenery of Montjuic. The foundation was

established by Miro and Joan Prats in1975, they chose to have Josep

Lluis Sert design the center's building. Miro's purpose was to create a

place where young artists could experiment with contemporary art and

also have a place to display their work to the public. So the architect

designed a space which had a natural flow through the building

together with courtyards, terraces and exhibition space. Sert was a

good friend of Miro and he had spent many years in the USA as the

Head of the Harvard School of Design. The building is hailed as one of

the top museum buildings in the world. Later the building was

expanded to include a library which holds much of Miro's personal

book collection and an auditorium.

Visitors to the museum can see many works by Miro himself including

(1935); Man and Woman in Front of a Pile of Excrement Naked

(1937); (1944) and Woman Climbing a Staircase Barcelona Series

(1967). In all there are about 220 Miro paintings,The Caress of a Bird

180 sculptures and about 8,000 sketches and drawings. One of the

highlights of the museum is a brightly colored tapestry by Miro.

Among the other works on display there is a space for up-and-coming

artists and works by Peter Greenaway, Rene Magritte and Alexander

Calder among others. Temporary exhibitions are held in the basement

area, called Espai 13. Also in the basement is an exhibition of photos

of Joan Miro and a short video presentation about his life.


Transportation: Metro - Espanya

Web: www.mnac.cat


10:00am-2:30pm

Admission: for combined permanent and

temporary exhibits 8.50 (valid for 2 days), 6

students and youths 7-21, free for children 7 and

under



12:50 Museu d'Art de Catalunya Rating: Museums

Visit Time: 2 hours

The MNAC is an art museum located in the National Palace, on the

north slope of Montjuic Hill; the palace was the main pavilion during

the World Fair of 1929. The National Museum opened in 1934 and

traces the history of Catalan art by Catalan artists from the 10 th

century through to the 20 century highlighting Romanesque, Gothic,th

Renaissance, Baroque and Modern art. Among the collection there

are paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, photography,

coinage, posters and objets d'art.

The collection is arranged in chronological order so that you can see

the development of Catalan art over the years. All the various styles of

Catalan art are represented including Flemish Gothic and Italianate

Gothic. Visitors can see Jaume Huguet's where he used aRetablos

blend of Flemish and Italianate Gothic styles. There are also works by

Jaume Cascells, Bernat Martorell and Pere Serra. Among the 19 th

and 20 century Catalan artists featured are Ramon Casas, Angladath

Camarasa, Antoni Tapies, Maria Fortuny and Joaquim Mir.

There is a display which covers the history of European painting from

the 14 century onwards. The museum is home to theth

Thyssen-Bornemisza Painting Collection, which focuses on European

art from Gothic to Rococo and includes works by Fra Angelico,

Tiziano, Tintoretto and Piazzetta. Other foreign artists have been

included in the collection like El Greco, Valazquez, Rubens, Zurbaran

and Cranach.

The museum holds a collection of frescoes, religious icons and

sculptures which were relocated from old churches in the Pyrenees.

The churches have been faithfully recreated to create a realistic

setting for the pieces. There are photos and maps to show where the

original churches were. One of the best Romanesque pieces in the

collection is the Apse mural brought from oneof Santa Maria de Taull

of the Pyrenees churches.


Opening Hours: 30 Apr-30 Sep Thu-Sun,

9:00pm-11:30pm, Musical displays 9:00pm,

9:30pm, 10:00pm, 10:30pm and 11:00pm. 1

Oct-30 Apr Fri and Sat, 7:00pm-9:00pm.

Christmas and Easter Thu-Sun 7:00pm-9:00pm

Musical displays 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm and

8:30pm

Admission: free

Phone Number: +34 934 02 70 00

Address: Pl. Carles Bugas, 1, 28080 Barcelona,

Spain


15:00 Magic Fountain Rating: Landmarks

Visit Time: 30 mins

The Magic Fountain is located in front of the Palau Nacional at the

start of Avenida Maria Cristina in the Montjuic neighborhood. The

fountain was created as part of the attractions for the 1929 Barcelona

International Exhibition. The fountain stands on the former site of The

Four Columns which were a symbol of Catalanism and demolished in

1928 under the Primo de Rivera dictatorship to make room for the

International Exposition. In 1999 The Four Columns were recreated at

the nearby Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona.

The fountain was designed by Carles Buigas and at the time it

seemed too ambitious to accomplish in the time they had before the

opening of the exposition. The original design included the water

fountains and lighting. However with the use of 3,000 workers the

fountain was completed and had its first performance on May 19 ,th

1929, the day before the exposition opened. During the Spanish Civil

War the fountain was damaged to such an extent that it could not be

operated until repairs were made in 1955 under the watchful eye of

Buigas. In the 1980s music was added to the spectacular light and

water fountains so that the water "dances" in-sync with the rhythms of

the music and the changing lighting effects. The music used ranges

from movie themes and classical music to local Spanish music and

modern music.

The fountain pool is 3250m and can hold 3,100,000 liters of water; 5

pumps are used to move the water through to 3,620 water jets. There

are 29 water arrangements; the lights are in 8 colors and 4,760 lights

are used.

Visitors can see the fountains in operation every half-hour after

sundown (7pm-8:30pm) from October to April on Fridays and

Saturdays and from May to September from Thursday to Sunday (9pm

11pm).


Transportation: Metro - Espanya. FGC - Espanya

Fax: 93/488-36-85

Web: www.miesbcn.com

Opening Hours: Daily 10:00am-8:00pm

Admission: 4.75, free for children 16 and under

Phone Number: 93 215-10-11

Address: Plaa de Carles Bugas, 7, 08038

Barcelona, Spain


15:30 Pavell Mies van der Rohe Rating: Historic Sites

Visit Time: 1 hour

This pavilion was constructed as the German Pavilion for the 1929

Barcelona International Exhibition. The pavilion was designed by one

of leaders of modern architecture, Mies van der Rohe and today is

also referred to as the Barcelona Pavilion. The building underwent

careful reconstruction in the 1980s to return it to its former glory.

Mies van der Rohe was the director of the German Bauhaus school,

which gave its name to a specific style of architecture. The pavilion

structure is made out of 4 types of marble together with glass and

steel. The materials used represent the principles of modernism

symmetry, open-plan spaces, minimalism and precisely measured

dimensions. The luxurious and extravagant materials contrast with the

plain building design. The design was intended to be tranquil and to let

the internal and external areas run smoothly one into the other.

The Alba (Dawn) statue created by Georg Kolbe stands at one end of

the decorative pool (water basin) and its image is reflected off of the

shiny marble surfaces and in the glass sections of the building. The

gentle contours of the female figure are thus multiplied in the many

reflections and make a sharp contrast to the geometrical shapes and

angles of the building. Mies van der Rohe designed the furniture for

the building including a chair called the Barcelona chair, the white

leather and metal chair has become an iconic design piece.


Address: Plaa d'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain


16:40 Plaa d'Espanya Rating: Squares

Visit Time: 1 hour

This busy square is considered the gateway to Montjuic as it is located

at the foot of the Montjuic Hill and is a major traffic intersection as well

as a hub of entertainment venues and attractions. Before 1715 the site

was used for public hangings. In 1929 it was redesigned and

smartened up for the International Exhibition. The planning began in

1925 when architect Josep Amargos submitted his designs for the

square. The construction took four years to complete, just in time for

the Exhibition.

Special features of the square include the fountain at the center of the

square which was designed by Josep Maria Jujol. The architect had

collaborated on previous projects with Gaudi and the modernist

influence can be clearly seen. The sculptures which adorn the fountain

were made by Miguel Blay Fabregas. A pair of Venetian Towers stand

where the square opens onto Avinguda de la Reina Maria Christina

which leads to the Magic Fountain and the Palau Nacional. The towers

are 47 meters tall and the design is based on the Bell Tower of Saint

Mark's in Venice. The towers were designed by Ramon Raventos for

the 1929 International Exhibition. Another site on Placa d'Espanya is

the former bullring, Arenas de Barcelona which is now a modern

shopping and entertainment center. The Parc de Joan Miro borders

the square and is home to Miro's 22 meter high modern sculpture of

.Woman and Bird

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3 Days Barcelona Top Attractions