BARCELONA
As often happens in my travels, I have combined a business trip with a weekend of travel. I’ve been to Barcelona many times, but most of the time on weekends to visit friends, without seeing the whole city and exploring it. This time, however, after a business trip, in May 2022, I took a long weekend and had the opportunity to visit it well and explore its beauty and various neighborhoods.
Barcelona for me always remains a city with incredible charm, an exceptional climate and full of life. The promenade is ideal for sports enthusiasts, for those who want to take a romantic walk at sunset or a refreshing swim in the sea. It is a city that transmits a lot of energy both for the climate and for the people, and for me it is always a pleasure to come back.
Enjoy here the list of things that you absolutely must not miss, I did them in three days but I think 4 days is ideal to do everything calmly and also enjoy a sunny afternoon at the “Barceloneta” beach without doing nothing and thinking about anything but which restaurant to choose for the dinner!
10 things to do in BARCELONA
1. FALL IN LOVE WITH THE “MURAL DEL BESO”
In the heart of the Gothic Quarter, there is this huge mural made from many small pieces of photographs that put together represent a kiss. It is located in a small and quiet square in front of the cathedral, which despite passing unnoticed by many tourists, is instead sought by others who come from all over the world to see it. In commemoration of the third centenary of the 1714 events in Barcelona, photographer Joan Fontcuberta together with the Periódico de Catalunya launched an appeal on Instagram and other social networks for anonymous citizens to send photos of their “free moments”. 4,000 of these received photos were converted into small tiles, which once placed one by one, all together ended up forming the “mural del beso”. Whether you are traveling as a couple and want to take the opportunity to take a picture together in front of the kiss mural, or whether you are traveling alone, you cannot miss one of the symbols of Barcelona built from photos of volunteers and their expression of freedom.
2. ENJOY AN HAPPY HOUR WITH A VIEW OF BARCELONA CATHEDRAL
Located right in the heart of the city, with a bird’s eye view of Barcelona Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter, the Colon Hotel terrace offers some of the best views in the city. Thanks to its amazing location, this place has the best of both worlds with Mountjuïc and the harbor in sight. Despite being in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, the vibe here is quite relaxing. This place can transport you from the almost too hard-to-walk madness of the city center to a quick escape from the chaotic city between the mountains and the sea. It is good to start queuing before opening time as it is a very popular place. The sunset view of the cathedral while sipping a refreshing cocktail is priceless! And of course what could I have if not a glass of sangria!
3. EAT TYPICAL SPANISH FOOD AT “LA BOQUERIA” HISTORIC MARKET
The most famous indoor food market in Spain is the Boqueria market in Barcelona! The name ‘Mercato della Boqueria’ derives from the ancient Catalan translation which would mean “place where goat meat is sold”. From the Ramblas you can easily reach the colorful and fragrant food market. Fresh fish, Catalan sausages, huge hams, cheeses, fruit drinks and colorful candy stalls. Look, smell and above all enjoy at La Bouqueria market! It is also possible to enjoy tastings in some stalls, I did the tasting of Jamon Iberico, one of my favorite cold cuts of exceptional quality! Boqueria Market is the right place for a quick snack, a gourmet lunch or a tasty aperitif (unfortunately it closes too early for dinner!). A recommendation valid at all times: watch out for your wallets and valuables. Unfortunately, even at the Boqueria market, numerous pickpockets operate, of which tourists are easy victims. The best tapas bars at La Boqueria Market, with stools to eat on the spot, are Ramblero (counter 550), Pinotxo (465), Bar Central (494), El Quim (582). Perfect for a snack or an aperitif! I chose a lunch based on seafood salad, patatas bravas and to drink a glass of sangria of course! Enjoy your meal!
4. STAY ENCHANTED IN FRONT OF THE EXPLOSION OF COLORS OF PARC GüELL
Parc Güell is located on a hill in the Gràcia district, and it is an expression of one of Gaudi’s masterpieces. It can be reached with a long uphill walk or a ride on the subway and then a short walk (guess which one I chose!). A tip is to book your ticket online or arrive early in the morning to avoid long queues. As soon as you enter, you will find a Hansel and Gretel style small house, then a staircase with an extremely colored lizard, and you arrive at an atrium with 86 Doric columns inspired by ancient Greece. Here too, looking up, one cannot fail to notice the explosion of colors of the tiles on the ceiling. Above this atrium there is a huge open space that ends with a bench all tiled with mosaics of a thousand colors, which stand out against the green park in the background. This place remains unforgettable for me and I go there every time I visit Barcelona for its explosion of colors that brings joy. If you are tired after touring the park in the scorching Spanish sun, there are various kiosks to grab a refreshing drink before moving on to the next stop.
5. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE GREEN AT “PARC DEL MONTJUïC”
The Montjuïc park is a pleasant green and relaxing oasis, it doesn’t even seem to be so close to the Barceloneta beach, so crowded and noisy. Here instead it seems to be transported to another dimension. I chose a walk in the park at sunset, and it was so relaxing and peaceful. I took the Teleférico del Puerto (cable car) from Barceloneta, thus arriving at Castell de Montjuc after a panoramic view of the beach and the port. The best way to visit Parc del Montjuïc is to walk the many paths that wind through the woods and gardens. Here you will find a calm and peaceful atmosphere with spectacular views, especially at sunset. Among the best viewpoints are the Jardins del Mirador, with a beautiful panorama over the city and the sea. Towards evening there is also the show of the Font Magica, located in Plaza de Espanya, it is a dancing fountain with lights, sounds and colors.
6.SPEND A ROMANTIC SUNSET TIME ON THE BARCELONETA BEACH
The Barceloneta beach is not very popular with locals because it is considered too touristy, they usually prefer less crowded and less popular beaches. For me it is a magical place and I would stop there on the pier for hours to watch the comings and goings of people strolling, watching people surfing, watching the athletes training in the outdoor gym, looking at the restaurants serving refreshing drinks and then at sunset beginning to prepare for dinner. It is extremely fascinating to walk on the pier at sunset, and watch the sun slowly set behind the mountains, and paint the sea and sky with the colors of the sunset, and then disappear behind the mountains and make way for the evening. After sunset you will be spoiled for choice among all the places overlooking the sea where you can dine on fish.
7. EXPLORE GAUDI’S ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AT CASA VICENS
Imagine a bizarre, colorful and oriental-looking building standing out on the profile of the Gràcia neighborhood, like an oasis in the desert. This is the Casa Vicens, the least known work of Antoni Gaudí, an extravagant residence with a garden full of greenery. Casa Vicens is Gaudí’s first masterpiece, commissioned from Gaudì by the Catalan stockbroker Manuel Vicens.
The main facade of Casa Vicens is decorated in blue and white, with ceramic tiles. Also the interior of the house is all decorated with tiles, and dominates the red color which creates a fantastic contrast with the green of the plants. It has an oriental style and once inside, it seems to be no longer in Spain but in another dimension. Gaudi left his mark throughout the city of Barcelona. My favorite for its variegated colors and its unique style is Casa Vicens, but there are other incredible houses to visit in Barcelona, with the artist’s footprint: Casa Batlló, Casa Milà and of course, Parc Güell.
8. STOP AND STARE AT THE SYMBOL OF BARCELONA, THE “SAGRADA FAMILIA” CATHEDRAL
The Sagrada Familia is an architectural work whose main author is Antoni Gaudí, who in 1883 took over the construction work started a year earlier and changed its style. It is the most visited monument in Spain with 4.5 million visitors a year. Gaudì worked on the church dedicating the last 15 years of his life entirely to it. Gaudí died prematurely in 1926, leaving the project unfinished, but thanks to the projects that are preserved, his dream is becoming reality, little by little, with the work of other masters and thanks to donations and money from visits.
The temple is still unfinished: so far, 8 of the 18 towers designed by Gaudí have been erected. Each of the towers has a different height than the others, based on the religious hierarchy it represents. You can reach the top of the towers, to observe the city from above and see, at a short distance, the details of the outside of the temple.
Because of its history and the fascinating fact that it is still unfinished and is being completed year after year, your visit to Barcelona cannot miss one of the symbols of the city and of the entire country!
9. SIT IN THE RED ARMCHAIRS IN THE PALAU DE LA MÚSICA CATALANA AND ADMIRE THE SYLE AND THE COLORS
The Palau de la Música Catalana was conceived as a “garden of music” and is used for concerts and other initiatives. It is a wonderful triumph of colored tiles, stained glass windows, sculpted columns, as always in Spain and in particular in Barcelona, there is an explosion of colors! Located in the Born district, it has been a point of reference for the social and cultural life of all Catalan citizens for over 100 years. My advice is to enter and sit in one of the dark red armchairs, and admire all around you the stained glass windows, the magnificent colored glass chandelier, the columns of mosaics of various pastel colors. On the stage you can also observe a giant organ (during the visit they will make you hear the type of acoustics it emits!), while from the top of the room the beautiful central skylight descends as if it were a drop of sun, which projects from its thousand colors the light coming from outside. Another very suggestive room to visit, is located on the second floor of the building, and also has a balcony with a double row of columns covered with beautiful mosaics. My advice is to visit the Palau and not miss it, but if you have the opportunity to also see a concert there, even better!
10. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE CROWD WITH A WALK ON THE RAMBLA, THE MOST FAMOUS STREET IN BARCELONA
La Rambla is a one kilometer and four hundred meter long boulevard in Barcelona that connects Plaça de Catalunya with Port Vell.
It is one of the most emblematic places in the city, very popular all year round by both tourists and locals. The word “rambla” derives from the Arabic raml (sand) and designates, as in other Spanish cities, a road obtained from a dry, buried or covered stream. For better or for worse, the Ramblas summarize the liveliness and originality of Barcelona. While they are animated by street performers, cafes and stalls selling various souvenirs, on the other hand they are targeted by pickpockets and are extremely crowded and chaotic. Personally La Rambla is not one of my favorite places in Barcelona, but I recognize that it is one of the symbols of the city so you cannot miss a walk on this avenue. Another certainly interesting central place, where to walk or go shopping but not chaotic like the Rambla, is the Passeig de Gracia avenue, where you will find shops of some of the most famous fashion brands.
When to go?
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
The best time to visit Barcelona is spring, from mid-April to mid-June. September is also a good month, but it is quite rainy. Summer, from mid-June to August, can be hot and muggy, although it is the best time for those who also intend to swim in the sea. Winter is generally mild, but sometimes it can get a little cold and it can rain.
three unmissable stops
Best photos spots
I’m a photographer, so I’m always looking for the best corner in the world to make the perfect picture. Often, with great pleasure of my traveling companions, I also spend hours staring at the landscape, waiting for the perfect moment with perfect light. Therefore, when I decided to create my blog, I could not avoid to include a dedicated section to photography enthusiasts like me, always looking for the landscape that leaves you breathless. Hope you will enjoy these places where, in my opinion, you can enjoy wonderful landscapes and take the best pictures.
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