Added: 01/30/2006 |
Feel the unique atmosphere of cosmopolitan city with Barcelona toursJust decades ago, only few tourists would have considered visiting the northern Spanish city of Barcelona. However, this once rather rundown industrial centre that seemed to have little to offer, has undergone a seismic change that culminated in the hosting of the Olympic Games in 1992, an event, which completely transformed Barcelona. Indeed, Barcelona has entered the millennium as one of Europe's most popular short break destinations.
Today, Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city that has a special and unique charm. The city is prosperous, dynamic and enchanting, but most of all full of contrasts and surprises. Here, an avant-garde glass and steel new office block can rest happily within a striking distance of a gothic cathedral. Barcelona has become something of a Mecca for the world's top architects, who have flocked here to conjure up an array of modern structures and avant-garde designs. Many have drawn their inspiration from the seminal work of Barcelona's most famous son, the modernist architect Antoni Gaudi, whose unique style can be still savored around the city in a number of key buildings.
Most of the Barcelona tours begin by visiting the heart of the city. The central section, where the majority of tourists spend their time, is divided by Las Ramblas, the main artery of Barcelona?s life. The famous "Las Ramblas? is a street of two km long that starts at the "Plaza de Cataluna" and runs all the way down to the sea. It is the best place, offered by Barcelona tours, to experience the spirit of the city. The most colorful spectacles take place here: pedestrians of all ages and classes, numerous selling flowers stands, fruits or birds selling stands and an abundant number of street performers, cafes, terraces and theatres really complete the magnificent atmosphere. Walking down this dazzling street is truly a unique experience.
The atmospheric Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), the area to the right of Las Ramblas, heading in the direction of Plaza de Cataluna, is a charming center of the old city. Use an opportunity to relive the atmosphere of medieval Barcelona by strolling through the Gothic Quarter around the Cathedral, the Royal Palace and other ancient buildings. They have remained the homes to the government institutions right down to the present day: the City Hall (el Ayuntamiento) and the Palau de la Generalitat (the seat of the Catalan autonomous government).
Nearby you can see the Eixample, a grid of streets, laid out in the nineteenth century, in which much of the city's finest modernist architecture and boutiques are to be found. The Picasso Museum and the splendid Gothic church of Santa Maria del Mar are located nearby the Ribera district (el Borne).The Cuitadella Park, which contains a Zoo, several museums and the Catalan Parliament, are only a little farther away. From here you can walk along the seafront to La Barceloneta, a district, built in the 18th century, which has preserved its old seafaring atmosphere and now offers numerous fine seafood restaurants.
Barcelona tours certainly cannot overlook such points of particular interest, as Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau and the Palau de la Musica Catalana, both designed by Gaudi's contemporary, Domnech i Montaner. The Montjuc mountainside has successfully managed the transition from being the site of the 1992 Olympic Games to a permanent Barcelona tours destination, boasting of the remaining Olympic installations, museums and great views of the city.
Finally, while choosing among numerous Barcelona travel options, do not forget that the Mediterranean Sea is also conveniently close, always inviting you to take a refreshing dip. Around Barcelona you have an opportunity to relax on one of the delightful beaches of "Costa Brava" and "Costa Dorada?. Only keep in mind to book your tours to the coast with some time in advance, as such popular tours might be sold out quickly.
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