bconnected index 1 2 3 5 6 7 9 10
LIVING BARCELONA BaRCELONA A fashionable city
baround Barrios de Barcelona
bnight & bbarcelona Bars, clubs, shopping, beaches
bdelicious Gastronomía
bperfect
CHURCHES & MONUMENTS
barcelona
MUSEUM & EXHIBITIONS
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
RESERVATIONS RESERVATIOSN GLOBAL
Phone + 34 902 306 106 Fax + 34 934 188 447 E-mail reservations@theperfecthotels.com
Local Numbers BERLIN London ROMA PARIS DUBAI HELSINKI
+ 34 902 306 106 + 44 203 051 4664 + 39 069 926 8272 + 33 170 617 378 + + 358942599745
Stockholm Oslo New York Brussels praga IRLANDA
+ 34 902 306 106 + 34 934 188 447 + 1 212 796 5628 + 32 280 80 929 + 420246019267 + 353766060052
Tokio + 34 902 306 106 Sydney + 34 934 188 447 Montreal + 1 514 667 9588 Zurich + 41 435 004 261 Amsterdam + 31 202 629 673 luxemburgo + 35220203608
ON CITY HELP CITY TROUBLES
Phone + 34 931 842 761
1
Barcelona, A fashionable city B
arcelona is today one of Europe’s most popular cities. It has evolved in recent years to become an unmissable destination for travellers wishing to combine culture and tradition with leisure and modernity. Both sea and mountain are accessible and the climate is mild both in summer and in winter, without extreme temperatures. This is a particularly good time for the city: the 1992 Olympic Games opened the city up to the world and included a number of transformations that have continued until today. Barcelona offers so many activities that it is impossible not to connect with the city in some way. The culture on offer in Barcelona is extensive: there are more than 50 museums in the city, ranging from the most classical - such as the Museu d’Història - to the most modern - such as MACBA or the Centre de Cultura Contemporània. You can enjoy the city’s historic side, reflected in the Gothic district with its narrow mediaeval streets; appreciate the ordered aesthetic of Eixample; or the em-
blematic modernist architecture of Gaudí in buildings such as the Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Sagrada Familia. Don’t forget that this is a city that is strongly linked to the sea. So, don’t miss a visit to the port where you will have the opportunity to enjoy open-air terraces and walk through the traditional district of Barceloneta. In short, you will enjoy a modern city that is completely up-to-date with the latest trends and which, at the same time, maintains all the charm of tradition. Barcelona, A fashionable city Barcelona is today one of Europe’s most popular cities. It has evolved in recent years to become an unmissable destination for travellers wishing to combine culture and tradition with leisure and modernity. Both sea and mountain are accessible and the climate is mild both in summer and in winter, without extreme temperatures. This is a particularly good time for the city: the 1992 Olympic Games opened the city up to the world and included a
number of transformations that have continued until today. Barcelona offers so many activities that it is impossible not to connect with the city in some way. The culture on offer in Barcelona is extensive: there are more than 50 museums in the city, ranging from the most classical - such as the Museu d’Història - to the most modern - such as MACBA or the Centre de Cultura Contemporània. You can enjoy the city’s historic side, reflected in the Gothic district with its narrow mediaeval streets; appreciate the ordered aesthetic of Eixample; or the emblematic modernist architecture of Gaudí in buildings such as the Pedrera, Casa Batlló and Sagrada Familia. Don’t forget that this is a city that is strongly linked to the sea. So, don’t miss a visit to the port where you will have the opportunity to enjoy open-air terraces and walk through the traditional district of Barceloneta. In short, you will enjoy a modern city that is completely up-to-date with the latest trends and which, at the same time, maintains all the charm of tradition.
Living Barcelona B
arcelona is a city full of life, in all areas: cultural, popular, night-time, gastronomic…one visit to Barcelona should try to take in all the possible fields which it offers the tourist; we are conscious that this very wide offering can become disconcerting, and we therefore give you some paths and make some recommendations, divided into sections, 1
which will help you to organise your journey and routes. Nevertheless, Barcelona is not only a city to be looked at: you should experience it, and we therefore offer you a small guide to the best shopping areas, both high-fashion and popular ones. And, of course, when one visits a city, it’s nice to have the sense of eating well; in Barcelona, this is an easy
task, since the gastronomic quality is excellent, but, once again, we give you some guides so that you do not get lost among so much diversity. Barcelona is an ideal place to lose oneself in and let oneself be carried away; We have created this guide to help you to “lose yourself”.
Book Restaurants, Shows and Activities with simple call +34 932 547 268 2
artist. This foundation drove new artists to innovate and gave them a space to exhibit. Walking through Eixample, you will not be able to miss the grand modernist buildings, including Casa Batlló, a major architectural work by Antoni Gaudí. You will also appreciate La Pedrera, an impressive seven-story building by the same architect and built between 1906 in 1910. Likewise, Casa Terrades, by the architect Joseph Puig i Cadafalch offers a fascinating mix of styles: it includes mediaeval, Renaissance and Gothic features without losing its modernist essence. The Mansana de la Discordia includes the Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Amatller and the Institut Amatller d’Art Hispànic (The Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art). One of Eixample’s unquestionable symbolic promenades is Rambla de Catalunya, which runs parallel to Passeig de Gràcia and extends from Plaça de Catalunya up to Avenida Diagonal. This great boulevard is full of shops and terraces. Eixample is Barcelona’s economic centre and it’s plenty of commercial life, with highquality shops especially in the area that is known as the Quadrat d’Or (the Golden Quadrant).
baround Ciutat Vella:
(Old Town), The mediaeval heart of the city If you want to get to the heart of old Barcelona, you cannot miss a walk through it. Historically, Cuitat Vella is the old Roman Barcino, from which the medieval Barcelona arose. The central part of Cuitat Vella is the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), it contains many vestiges of the old Roman Barcino, as well as many mediaeval monuments – including the Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia cathedral and the Santa Maria del Pi church. In Ciutat Vella, you will find La Rambla – the promenade that is emblematic both tourists and for locals. This is a wide pedestrian promenade flanked by two narrow roads for traffic. It extends from Plaça Catalunya to the Colón monument in Porta de la Pau square, and the old harbour. La Rambla is a centre that is constantly bustling and full of activity; a colourful pla3
ce that you will not forget. The well-known florists are there along with the kiosks and human statues. At night, the colour of daytime La Rambla makes way for the bustle of nightlife, which carries on until dawn. If you going to delve in towards the west of La Rambla, you will find yourself in another characteristic district of Cuitat Vella: El Raval. It has continued to change in recent years with many buildings being renovated and new streets and squares being opened up. Contributing to the distinction of the area are the new art museum, the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA); the cultural centre, el Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB). New businesses, restaurants and bars have opened up which have brought new life to this area. On the other side of Via Laietana is El Born, an area of 14th century buildings and with the outstanding Santa Maria del Mar church. El Born is bounded by Cuitadella Park to the east, which is where the city’s zoo is located. This is a district that has been regenerated in recent years with flourishing new businesses and which has started to become an important area for leisure and exclusive restaurants.
Gracia:
Barceloneta and Vila Olímpica
In the past, the area of Gràcia was an independent town, located to the north of Eixample. If you travel the elegant and glamorous Passeig de Gràcia to the end, you will pass the famous “Jardinets” (a beautiful green area dating from 1929) before arriving at the street Gran de Gràcia, which takes you into the neighbourhood, where you will find a big contrast with the bustle that you have just left behind. Traditionally, Gràcia has always been an artisan area. Today, it is a quiet area and keeps itself somewhat apart from the bustle of the great metropolis, although it forms part of it. Especially in the evenings the area livens up thanks to the night-time activities and the businesses that you can only really find in this area. We should highlight one of Gaudí’s great creations towards the north of Gràcia: Park Güell. When you go into Gràcia, you will find yourself immersed in a tangle of narrow streets. The main charm of this area is wandering through and stopping to look at the many picturesque sights: squares with trees, some with interesting statues, numerous bars and cafes, small but exclusive restaurants, churches, and a traditional market.
Barceloneta was originally a sailing and fisherman’s district. The houses that line the narrow streets were very picturesque. In spite of the changes that this area has undergone, it continues to be one of the best places in the city for enjoying fresh fish. As you walk through Barceloneta you will feel as if you have been transported back in time because the place maintains the atmosphere of the former sea district. In spite of the old fishing tradition continuing, the makeup of the area has changed considerably. The depots, roadways and tips have been turned into elegant shops, bars, discos and moorings for yachts. In short, you will experience that mix of tradition and modernity that is such a characteristic of Barcelona. Vila Olímpica – the Olympic Village – is one of the newest parts of the city. It came about because of the 1992 Olympic Games and is where many of the athletes arriving in the city were accommodated. Alongside the towers is an original and striking sculpture: The Peix d’Or, or Gold Fish. This is the work of Frank O. Gehry. But perhaps the main tourist attraction of Vila Olímpica is the extensive range of places to go at night, mostly around Port Olímpic. At the foot of the port there is a concentration of many bars and restaurants that open as drinking bars and clubs at night.
A town in the city
Cuitat Vella is where the seats of local and regional governments are based: the Ajuntament (Town Council) and the Palau de la Generalitat (the Headquarters of the Regional Government of Catalonia). The location chosen centuries ago was Plaça de Sant Jaume. This district will appeal for its many dimensions: every business or restaurant you go into gives off the scent of both change and tradition. You will not find an area that is fresher, more genuine and more charming in the whole city.
Eixample: Modernist explosion Located in the centre of the city, it flowered from 1854 when the mediaeval walls were demolished. The Cerdà Plan, which is how the planning for Eixample was known, represented a modern vision to the city. In Eixample, you will find buildings dedicated to art and we especially recommend that you visit the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, which takes its name from this informalist
Enjoy this guide in your ipod www.theperfecthotels.com 4
La Rambla
bnight Bars and Clubs Nights in Barcelona are for enjoying. You won’t be able to leave the city without some memory of an unforgettable night whether having a few drinks or going out dancing until seven in the morning. The good thing about Barcelona is that the nightlife does not drop off during the week, so if you are visiting, it does not matter which day you arrive in the city; any night and every night is good for a great time. In Ciutat Vella, the old town, is where most visitors are to be found because it is there that the hustle and bustle never stops - especially in Barri Gòtic – the Gothic quarter – which is full of bars of every kind: the coolest bars, Irish pubs, atmospheric, laid-back bars hidden away in picturesque side streets and more. In the Raval, on the other hand, is where you will find some of the oldest and most classic bars of the city. If you want to drink after 3 am, which is when the bars hand over to the clubs, you have the option of going to the London Bar in the street Nou de la Rambla. This old bar was frequented by artists like Picasso, Miró and Hemingway.
In Eixample, there is the Carrer Aribua, which is full of bars that get lively on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This is the case with Búcaro or City Hall clubs, and the well-known and popular Bikini (in Carrer Déu i Mata) – a classic of Barcelona nights. We should also mention the Luz de Gas club on Carrer Muntaner, which attracts a well-dressed fashionable crowd. In the Carrer Consell de Cent, we highlight Arena and Arena Classic clubs, the first being strictly gay and the second attracting a more mixed crowd. Certain squares in Gràcia liven up at night because of the bars around them. Otto Zutz club is located in this area. We can call this the “beautiful people’s club” because of the stylishness of the people that go there. A somewhat more classic club is the Sutton Music Club. At Port Olímpic, there is Baja Beach Club and the Razzmatazz club, with five different rooms in an enormous space; this is one of the most popular places for clubbing in the city. We are sure that amongst this extensive choice, you will find something you like. And if not, just go out and drift along, looking for fun: Barcelona’s night-time spirit will guide you.
If you like shopping, you will love Barcelona. In terms of fashion, as in other aspects, Barcelona is cosmopolitan, chic, fashionable and completely up-to-date with the latest trends. You will enjoy wandering around the shops… and you will leave with your suitcases full of fashionable things. The up-market shopping area, in terms of designer clothing and jewellery, starts in Passeig de Gràcia, at the top of Plaça Catalunya. After Passeig de Gràcia, you have Avinguda Diagonal as well as the shops that extend up to Plaça de la Reina María Cristina. This is one of the most tempting areas. 5
In the well-known Quadrat d’Or, the heart of Eixample, there is a succession of shops of every kind, each with its own particular charm; you will be sure to be impressed. Here is where design firms like Vinçon and Favorita are located as well of course as the big fashion names like Armani. You will also find shops with prices that are more accessible but which are a
Beaches in Barcelona Barcelona is a city that opens on to the sea. You have the opportunity to appreciate what it is like to live - albeit only for a few days - just a few minutes from the beach, from the centre of the city. A big advantage of these metropolitan beaches
Markets Markets are a real institution in Barcelona. They are where people can get their everyday supply of fresh products of indis-
putably excellent quality. The best-known market in Barcelona is the Boquería Market. Perhaps because of its strategic position next to La Rambla. Even if you don’t want to buy fresh food, we suggest you go in and take a look. You will also enjoy the extraordinary colour which the market offers; you will mix with daily shoppers, who tend to have their favourite positions, in the middle of this bustle. The vendors’ behaviour towards their customers is close, friendly, and always very cordial, even happy. The Boquería Market is a beautiful building of modernist architecture full of flashes of light and metal. Another very well known but less busy food market is the Sant Antoni Market. It is more extensive than the Boquería, and is located on the street Carrer Comte d’Urgell. It was built in 1882, and is a building of forged iron. Another notable market is that of Santa Caterina, located in the centre of a square, which the architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue covered with a daring undulating covering, broken up with coloured ceramics. This market, located near the Cathedral and surrounded by houses, offers a colourful landscape both for resident Barcelonans and for the visitor: its vivid beauty invites you to stroll through its facilities.
bdelicious
Gastronomy and Restaurants
bbarcelona Shopping
La Rambla is one of the main centres of Barcelona activity. You could say that it is the drawing room of the city, a meeting point for people from Barcelona and for tourists. Its name comes from the Arabic term ramla , which means seasonal river bed, since this is really how this popular avenue originated. La Rambla is the connector that runs between Plaça Catalunya and Port Vell, at the foot of the Colón monument. In the first stretch of La Rambla, going down from Plaça Catalunya, you will come to the famous Font de Canaletas, built in the 19th century; they say that those who drink from it come back to the city. The second stretch of the walk is known as La Rambla dels Estudis, because it is there that the Institution of General Studies is located. After passing the church of Betlem, you will come to a large house: Palau Moja. In contrast with the luxury of this building, nearby is La Boqueria market, which exudes an unmistakably popular flavour. And if you are looking for more surprises, do not miss the more recently constructed Museu de l’Eròtica (Museum of Eroticism). It is a further example of the diversity that reigns in La Rambla. But there is also space for culture in this
picturesque avenue: the majestic Liceu, a theatre in the old tradition, impresses for its elegance. The building suffered a fire in 1994 and was completely restored before opening again in 1999. These buildings and tucked-away areas that we have mentioned give you a general idea about this picturesque promenade, but they do not reduce the importance of the spontaneous appeal of daily life on La Rambla itself. You will pass human statues and a large part of the joy that is always found on La Rambla is provided by the buskers, casual dancers or mime artists. Let’s not forget the itinerant painters and fortune-tellers. In La Rambla, you can have a caricature made of yourself or have your fortune told; nobody is out of place there. If you’re looking for souvenirs , you’re in the right place: on both sides of the street, this type of generally small and crammed shop is found in abundance. The liveliness of this boulevard does not stop when night falls; as soon as the sun sets, a new range of activities starts up especially in the streets going in towards the Gothic quarter.
is that you can get to them easily by public transport. The Mediterranean climate is ideal for sunbathing since there is an abundance of sunny days in summer. Do not miss the opportunity to go for a dip on one of the city beaches. Within what is strictly the metropolitan area of Barcelona, there are three beach areas: Barceloneta, Nova Icària and Mar Bella.
Barcelona is much recognised for its gastronomy, both in terms of variety and quality. It stands as one of Spain’s great bastions of culinary refinement. The options available when deciding on a restaurant seem to be limitless. Whether you are looking for a chic, fashionable environment or you want to eat seafood by the sea, in Barcelona you will be spoiled for choice. There are cheerful places serving traditional meals, highdesign establishments and places that specialise in tasting menus. Furthermore, in recent years, the number of restaurants serving foreign food has increased. In summary, in Barcelona you can afford to change restaurant every day and enjoy a range of delicious dishes without leaving the city. Your stomach will thank you for it!
Para seleccionar hoteles evaluamos más de 300 criterios de calidad. 6
Churches and Monuments
Barcelona is a city with such a tradition that it is logical that there should be signs of all the different artistic and cultural movements. The best-known churches in Barcelona at an international level are Sagrada Familia and the Cathedral. The latter has a great history since it existed as far back as the year 559. It is a sober and elegant building although captivating in its beauty. The history of Santa María del Mar church dates far back: the first written reference dates from 998. This temple is the work of the architect Berenguer de Montagut, and the first stone was laid by way of coronation for the conquest of Cerdenya, which completed Catalonia’s supremacy in the Mediterranean. From the outside, it is the only perfectly finished major Catalan Gothic church. The inside of the church is extraordinarily beautiful and it has acoustics that make it an ideal space for classical or jazz music concerts. The church of Santa Maria del Pi (St Mary of the Pine) has a long undocumented tradition. Its style is pure Gothic and it has a single nave that is almost lacking in ornament. It suffered a fire and, when it was restored, it was converted into a Gothic cathedral at the front and neo-Gothic at the rear. The main facade has a large 10 metrediameter centre rose window, which is very much in keeping with the Gothic style of the church. The rose window was totally reconstructed in 1940 having been destroyed by fire in 1936. The bell tower is one of the most characteristic elements of the building. It was constructed from 1379. 7
The Santa Ana church is particularly attractive and is all that remains of the ancient monastery of Santa Ana. This consisted of a church, cloister and chapter house. Construction began on the church in the middle of the 12th century and it began to acquire its current appearance throughout the three following centuries. It conserves its original Romanesque structure with cross floor and square absis. The Gothic door dates from 1300. During the 14th century the nave was extended and covered with a vault. The tomb of nobleman Miquel de Boera, dating from the 16th century, is of interest. The modern chapel of the Santísimo (Most Holy) is decorated with paintings by Pere Pruna. The City Hall of Barcelona, which façade is a work of pure neoclassicism designed by Josep Mas i Vila. The marble statues of King Jaume I and councillor Joan Fiveller stand on the floor; both are the work of Joseph Bover. On the other side is the Gothic facade which was the main entrance until the 19th century. On the other side, a building which is still active but which has ancient origins is the well-known Palau de la Generalitat (the Palace of the autonomous government of Catalonia), situated in the old town, Ciutat Vella. This is the seat of the president of the autonomous government of Catalonia and one of the few buildings of mediaeval origin that still maintains its functions. Between the streets Carrer Carme and Carrer del Hospital, we find a historic testimony to Barcelona’s past that dates back eight centuries. It is a precious treasure from Catalonia’s Gothic civil architecture: the former Hospital de la Santa Creu (Hospital of the Holy Cross).
It originates from around 1219 when Pope Honorious III decided to grant shelter and protection to the Guillem Colom Canon, the old Hospital de la Santa Creu. In 1444, construction of the church finished and paintings of the main altarpiece were made, as well as the church’s annex archive. The master of modernism Antoni Gaudí spent the last few hours of his life there after being knocked down by a tram. In 1929, its services were moved to the new Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Eixample and the old hospital was given over to the city’s cultural equipment. In 1931, the Casa de la Convalescència (House of Convalescence) was granted along with an important part of the hospital for housing the Institut de Estudis Catalans (Institute of Catalan Studies) and the Biblioteca de Catalunya (Library of Catalonia). The grounds of the old Hospital de la Santa Creu still have many sculptures and monuments from the different periods including the famous image of the Charity, incorporated in 1730 – a work by the sculptor Pere Costa. The Plaça Felip Neri occupies the land of the old mediaeval cemetery. In this square, is the church of the same name. Here were located the old guilds of boilermakers and shoemakers. The marks of history recent history are also visible in this square; with several bullet marks and shrapnel from the Spanish Civil War when Franco’s forces took Barcelona. In Plaça del Rei, buskers normally entertain with improvised flute concerts that contribute to the atmosphere of the place. This square brings together one of the strongest sets of monuments: the Royal Palace, resi-
dence of the counts of Barcelona since the 18th century, with the magnificent Saló del Tinell, in which the Catholic Kings received Columbus after his arrival from America. To one side is the chapel of St Agatha, built into the same city wall. In the same square is the building of the City History Museum, which was located there in 1931 (it was moved stone by stone from Carrer del Mercaders). One of the most popular of Miró’s work that can be found in the city is the Pla de l’Ós pavement, designed by the artist in 1976. It is located in the central part of La Rambla, near to the Liceu and the Boqueria market. Following Miró’s wish, the pavement has not been protected as a museum piece; instead, it serves as any other piece of pavement: for walking on. They say the first time that Miró saw the monument, a bricklayer stopped him and said that it looked as though the tiles were badly laid. Miró answered him: “You have no idea how hard it was for me to convince the builders to lay them in such an irregular fashion!” Last, if you want to see a more recent monument – or, rather, something that has been renovated – go and see the Olympic Ring which is also on Montjuïc; inside is the Olympic Stadium. This is also a legacy from a Universal Exhibition in this case, from that which took place in 1929; the exterior of this stadium preserves the eclectic mix of styles from that time but the inside was remodelled for the Olympic games of 1992.
The Barcelona of Gaudí One of the main attractions of Barcelona for lovers of architecture and aesthetic beauty in general is its wealth of modernist buildings, whose main exponent was Antoni Gaudí. This architect, who was born in Reus in 1852 and died in 1926 after being knocked down by a tram, was passionate about nature. On the basis of this, his main objective when constructing a building was always to give shape to the perfection and harmony of the natural. You won’t find straight lines in his work although you will find endless allegory and symbolism in his curves and in his carvings. His best-known work is the Sagrada Familia. Although a religious building, its shapes are not very conventional; midway between balance and excess, its sculptures have a great symbolic significance. The one facade that Gaudí saw finished was the Facade of the Nativity, completed in 1904. Facing the street Carrer Marina, it has three porticos: Faith, Hope and Charity. There are numerous sculptures on the birth and childhood of Christ. The Passion Facade, facing the street Carrer Sardenya, represents Christ’s martyrdom and crucifixion; this task was taken on by the sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs, who followed a more angular and schematic - almost dehumanised - style. In this facade, you will find the sculpture group of the Flagellation and the Holy Shroud. If you wish to go to the top of the church, there are 400 stone steps that lead up to towers and upper galleries. It is an ascent that will take you to the highest parts of this great work and it is a way of understanding Gaudí’s intention to reach the
heavens through architecture. Other masterpieces by Gaudí include Casa Batlló and La Pedrera (whose real name is Casa Milà). In these, natural and artificial mix together, unreal and real, moderation and excess. La Pedrera, in Carrer Provença, was built between 1905 and 1910. The name “La Pedrera” (meaning ‘stone quarry’) came about from the irregular grey stone facade with its wavy shapes. The wrought iron balconies accentuate these curves. Casa Batlló, in the prestigious Passeig de Gràcia, was designed on a building that already existed. It is an audacious work with its fantastic chimneys, organic shapes and surprising roof. It is said that the building symbolises the legend of St George and the Dragon. If you appreciate Gaudí’s particular style, you should not miss the famous Parc Güell. When you go in there, you feel as though you have gone into a different, almost magical world a magnificent park of almost surrealist beauty where you can walk, take the sun and enjoy the city’s views. In the middle of the park reins a powerfully beautiful colourful ceramic dragon. Towards the east is the Gaudí Museum House, a pink building where the architect lived for periods from 1906 until his death. Although Gaudí took on grand projects, he continued to be an independent architect who worked throughout the city for wealthy families, leaving his unique mark of style in many parts of Barcelona. If you are a staunch supporter of this genius of architecture, we recommend that you go to 16-20 Carrer Bellesguard, where you will find a house built in 1909 on the site of an old castle.
Use the recommendations from the personal concierge to discover Madrid +34 932 547 268 8
Other Places of Interest
Museums and Exhibitions When you visit Barcelona, you will see the atmosphere of living culture in every corner of the city; however, this cultural restlessness has its key points where you can best enjoy it. The Maritime Museum, located in Avinguda de las Drassanes were the old shipyard of the port of Barcelona; very close to it, the monument to Colón indicates the end of La Rambla and its union with the harbour. There are eight exhibition spaces in the museum, each of them dedicated to a series of naval objects. The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), which will interest you if you are a fan of the Romanesque and Gothic. It’s a building with neo-classical and baroque characteristics. The museum is divided into two parts: one part dedicated to Romanesque art, and the other to Gothic art. The Romanesque collection, which is very rich in murals and other works of art from that period, is divided into 21 rooms. We recommend sections V and VI, where you can see some of the museum’s most spectacular murals from the Catalan Romanesque churches. The collection dedicated to Gothic art is the largest. It includes an introduction and the first room is dedicated to nonreligiousrelated works. There are also rooms which show the influence of Flemish art and Gothic funeral art. Joan Miró was the greatest of Barcelona’s 20th century artists. The Joan Miró Foundation’s collection is made up of several hundred paintings, sculptures and other works by the artist as well drawings 9
and sketches that he donated. The building goes round an interior courtyard with bright white walls. On the upper floor, there is an outdoor area with sculptures by Miró. Barcelona is very rich in home-grown artists; a contemporary one also has his own foundation: we are referring to Antoni Tàpies and the famous Tàpies Foundation. The artist set up the foundation in 1984 not with the intention of displaying his own work, but rather to promote projects by promising young contemporary artists. The building is the work of Doménech i Montaner. The facade is interesting and innovative thanks to its mix of styles; and is crowned with a work by Tàpies, Núvol i cadira. As you go through Barcelona you will come across a museum that you must not miss, the Picasso Museum at 15-19 Carrer Montcada. This mediaeval street accommodates a host of marvellous galleries, museums and elegant bars. The collection you will see at the Picasso Museum is based around the early years of the artist’s career, when he lived in Barcelona – a period that culminated in a splendid painting “Les demoiselles s’Avignon”, considered the origin of Cubism and one of its first applications. The order of the rooms does not follow an established logic and therefore it is best to take a guided visit with additional explanation. If you like the work of Mies van der Rohe, you will enjoy visiting his pavilion which is situated on Avinguda Marqués de Comillas. In 1929, as part of the Universal Exhibition of 1929, the German government commissioned the artist with this pavilion project. Mies van der Rohe was at the vanguard of the modern movement; this style intended to reflect the new era with functional buildings and without super-
fluous ornamentation. If you like contemporary art, then be sure to visit MACBA, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona, which exhibits works from the second half of the 20th century. You will find it in the Raval area, right by the Contemporary Culture Centre. In 1987, the Contemporary Art Museum Foundation was constituted, as a private foundation. MACBA opened its doors on 28 November 1995. Barcelona has a museum especially dedicated to itself: The City History Museum (MHCB), made up of the monuments in Plaça del Rei, the Museum-Monastery of Pedralbes, the Verdaguer Museum-House and the Interpretation Centre of Park Güell - a rich heritage of more than 2000 years. In addition to its stock of work, the museum has an underground space that can be visited, where the ruins of the Roman Barcino are very well presented. The Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona (CCCB), in Carrer Montealegre in the Eixample area, is a multidisciplinary institution that shapes a new cultural axis in the city of Barcelona. Among its objectives, it aims to encourage artistic creation based on new technologies and languages. We should mention Casa Asia, a museum located in a modernist building in Avinguda Diagonal which has become a cultural information centre and point of reference for Asia and the Pacific. It has given the city a space that promotes encounters between Spanish society and the Asiatic world. Other museums that are less famous but no less worthy of mention include the Textile and Clothing Museum and the Egyptian Museum.
Perhaps when you visit Barcelona, you have the feeling of missing out on important places and events; there are places which do not fit into any specific category, but which are essential in bringing an idea of what Barcelona is. Many of these places are on Montjuïc, where in ancient times there were orchards and a Jewish cemetery, now there are museums, theatres, an Olympic stadium, a fortified castle, beautiful gardens and many other attractions which may interest you. To start with, the Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya (MNAC, the National Art Museum of Catalonia) can be found there, in a pavilion which was the location for the Universal Exhibition of 1929; this museum is one of the richest in the country’s Romanasque and Gothic works of art. In addition, the Mies van der Rohe Germany Pavilion, from the 1929 Exhibition, is also located on Montjuïc. One of the greatest attractions on Montjuïc is undoubtedly the so-called Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village), also built in 1929. The architectures of the different corners of Spain are reproduced within it, and it also has one of the busiest nightlife areas in Barcelona. So Poble Espanyol’s versatility will allow you to enjoy yourself whether you are a lover of the history of Spanish architecture or you want to have a good time drinking…or both. You will also find the Anilla Olímpica (Olympic Ring) on Montjuïc, built because of the 1992 Olympic Games; in the heart of this ring is the famous Olympic Stadium, with
capacity for 65,000 spectators. The wellknown Palau Sant Jordi, designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki for the Olympic Games and conceived as a sports pavilion, concert hall and exhibition space, is also here. It is one of the most active buildings of those which came out of the 1992 Games. As we have already mentioned, Montjuïc has a castle which also contains an interesting military museum full of history. Elsewhere, on a raised platform at the end of the Avinguda María Cristina, with the Museo Nacional de Arte de Catalunya at the end, is the so-called Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, one of the last works which was built in the precinct of the 1929 Universal Exhibition. The engineer Carles Buïgas invented a new type of jet-fountain in which the artistic element consists in the combination of music with the changing shapes of water. The project was finished off with
Tibidabo. At 543 metres in height, it is the highest point in the city. On a clear day, it offers marvellous views of the city and the sea, as well as the Montserrat mountain. This mountain was turned into a public park at the beginning of the 20th century, when a private company inaugurated the tram and funicular services which even today connect the summit with the city. The Park of Attractions and Templo del Sagrat Cor (Temple of the Sacred Heart) were added later. If you want to feel as if you’re at the bottom of the sea, without running into any danger, we suggest you visit the Aquarium. The dogfish tunnel is the star of the aquarium, which is one of the largest in Europe. It possesses the best world collection of Mediterranean marine species, as well as a broad representation of fishes of the Red Sea, the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef. There is a total of eleven thousand
waterfalls and fountains located in different places on the Avinguda Maria Cristina. This is an impressive show of music and colour which will startle you with its beauty and majesty. The Magic Fountain is not always active, and it is therefore advisable to find out the timetable before going to the show. If you are interested in visiting this mountain full of surprises in more depth, you can take a tour around the bull-ring or through CaixaForum, the new contemporary art museum of the “La Caixa” Foundation, inaugurated in 2002. You can also visit the Museum of Archaeology and delve into the history of the most remote past of Catalunya. There is another mountain very close to Barcelona which has its own history: Mount
types of fish. If you like football, there’s no need for you to be a F.C. Barcelona supporter to have a tour round its ground, called Camp Nou, where the stadium is located and where there is also a museum. With its current seating capacity of 98,787 spectators, it is the largest capacity football stadium in Europe. Camp Nou is currently one of the few European stadiums listed as “Five Star” by UEFA. A new Camp Nou has been designed, under the charge of the architect Norman Foster. In the Camp Nou facilities are located the official headquarters of Barcelona Football Club, the administration offices, and Museo del F.C Barcelona, the club museum, which is the most visited in Catalunya.
Book Restaurants, Shows and Activities with simple call +34 932 547 268 10
borganized YOUR NOTES
Enjoy this guide in your ipod www.theperfecthotels.com 11