Barcelona apartments, Barcelona Hotels,

If you are staying in a Barcelona Hotel or in a Barcelona apartment you probably want to discover more of the city everyday but you don't know where to go exactly or how to do it in a fun way. Here is a nice vehicle to discover the sightseeings of the city in an original way: Segway Barcelona.

The Segway is a two wheels electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. It was first produced in 2002 and is now used all around the world for city tours or even by the police. It is possible to use it in major cities and you will be able to try it in Barcelona.

Segway Barcelona offers you different tours and packages so that you can discover most of the city. You must be at least two to create a group for visits and activities. It can be ideal if you are a couple or with friends. Segway is also a nice way for companies to entertain their employees or clients in Barcelona for business, during their free time.

There is a lot to see in Barcelona, and of course, a day is not enough to see all the sightseeing of the city! That's why, the Barcelona city tour buses offer you tours by night : instead of staying in your Barcelona hotel or Barcelona apartment after a good restaurant, jump in the night bus to see the amazing views of Barcelona by night!

Be on time for the departure at 9:30pm at Plaça Catalunya in front of the Corte Ingles since there is only one bus and it is "first come first served"! You even have to be there 20 minutes before to buy your tickets. You also have to remember that the touristic night bus only runs during the weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays).

The tour lasts 2 hours and a half, just the time to see the major monuments like Plaça Catalunya, la Sagrada Familia, La Casa Mila, La Casa Batllo, Plaça Espanya but you will also do a special stop to admire the Montjuic fountain and its lights.

For many visitors the metropolis at the Mediterranean is a destination to enjoy summer, sun and beach. Others however, prefer to discover what is behind the "tourist curtain". that is especially the culture of the region, as well as the history of the city and it's citizens.

Those of you who have already arranged accommodation in Barcelona, such as a nice Barcelona Hotel, might have already thought about what to visit in Barcelona. Here are some suggaestions refering to the numerous museums in Barcelona.

Without a doubt, the Picasso Museum is the best known museum of the city.For decades, the museum has been offering exhibitions showing the art work of one of the most popular artists of the world. Also, Picasso's art collection is the most visited museum of the town, especially in summer.

Beside the Picasso Museum the "museum street" Carrer Montcada offers also the Museu Barbier-Mueller d'Art Precolombí. In proximity, you can also find the Museu Frederic Marès, the Museu de Ciències Naturals and the Museu Etnològic Further destinations outside the city center include the botanic garden as well as the Museu de la Música.

The city council of Barcelona offers a great deal on first month's Sundays. Free entry for everyone who would like to visit one of the Barcelona museums!

Barcelona offers plenty of interesting spots to discover. Among them is the Plaza Catalunya, Plaza Reial, Plaza Espanya and of course the Plaza del Sol.

As its name implies, the place is famous for its sunshine hours. During the whole day, you can enjoy the day and lounge in the sun, provided that the sun is shining, of course. Being located in the Gracia district, it provides a typical Spanish atomsphere with its small alleys and old buildings all around.

Departing from your Barcelona apartment or your Barcelona hotel, this place can be reached by public transport. Take metro line 3 (green) until you reach the station "Fonatna". From there, you reach the place within a few minutes on foot. The audience is quite diverse: Beside tourist you will be able to find a lot of students, as well as locals and other sunseekers.

Plaza del Sol is also famous for its numerous cafes and bars. One of them is the Cafe del Sol. It is open all year long and offers a variety of cold and hot drinks, depending what the weather is like in Barcelona.

The Casa Àmatller by Antoni Àmatller is one of the architectural highlights withín the city of Barcelona. Built in the style of "Modernisme Catala", it is also a likeness of the Catalan Culture.

When visiting Barcelona, you should take a trip from your Barcelona hotel or your Barcelona apartment to the Casa Amatller at Passeig de Gracia. Built in 1899/1900 by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, this building has been inspired by the Dutch townhouses from the 17th century. Inside, you will find bright wall constructions with tall windows that are omated with mosaics.

At the entrance hall of the palace different kinds of sculptures by Eusebi Arnau can be admired. Among them chocolate makers, almond trees and blossoms, as well as St. George - the dragon fighter. Beside chocolate, photography has been a huge passion of Àmatlle. Thus, a large exhibition of fhis otos are on display at the ground floor.

Guided tours through the chambers of the chocolate baron, his photo exhibition, as well as a visit in the old kitchen to try some his famous chocolate take about one hour.

address: Passeig de Gracia 41

metro: Passeig de Gracia

opening hours: 10am - 8:30pm

FC Barcelona is one of the most successful football clubs in the present time. With numerous cups in the past, FC Barcelona can be sonsidered a s the top 3 clubs in the world.

Those of you who would like to see to largest stadium in Europe should book an exclusive Camp Nou Tour. Usually, there are plenty of requests, so that it is advisable to book your tickets in advance together with your Barcelona Hotel or Barcelona apartment booking.

Come and experience the breathtaking atmosphere a take a walk through the catacombs of Camp Nou. In addition to the tour, just a few steps from the stadium, you can find the FC Barcelona museum. Beside souvenir shops you, as a football fan, will find everything about FC Barcelona.

If you decide to do so, you should consult the online booking page to save a lot of money: Booking online will not only give you access to the stadium, but also to the FC Barcelona museum (price: 13 EUR). If you buy directly at the stadium you will pay 8.50 EUR for the museum and 17 EUR for the tour.

Behind the city center of Barcelona, there is a mountain chain called "Serra de Collserola". Its highest mountain is the Tibidabo. It rises 512 m up in the sky of Barcelona and offers a breathtaking view over Barcelona and the surrounding area.

The overall picture of Barcelona encorporates not only the beach and the sea but also the mountainous landscape in the suburbs of Barcelona. The Tibidabo is surrounded by two rivers, in the East by Besòs and in the West by Llobregat.

The Tibidabo has developed to one of the most famous sights within the Barcelona metropolitan area. Visitors that arranged accommodation in Barcelona, such as a hotel in Barcelona or an apartment in Barcelona can use public transport to reach the top of the mountain.

There, Barcelona visitors will find the cathedral "Sagrat Cor", that can even be see at night from the city center. There are also othersights to discover, such as a TV tower and a theme park. Aiming especially to families with children, the "Parc d'atraccions Tibidabo" has total area of 7 hectare and offers a great view while enjoying one of the nostaligic caroussels.

The name "Tibidabo" arised from a bible verse. Therein, the devil leads Jesus on a high mountain to show him all the kingdoms of the world and its glory. "...et ait ei tibi dabo potestatem hanc universam et gloriam illorum quia mihi tradita sunt et cui volo do illa -- "All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it" (Luke 4:6).  

The Torre Agbar belongs to the new sights of the city of Barcelona. It is a 32-storeyed tower peaking 142m in the Barcelona sky.

What Barcelona viditors can admire, when they have booked accommodation in Barcelona, such as a hotel in Barcelona, is an impressing bulding with a unique "light show" at its surface. Especially during evening hours, the spectacle is very impressing. With a 142m hieght, the Torre Agbar is not only one of the highest but also one of the most impressing buildings of Barcelona.

The tower has a front of 16,000m³ and a form of a water fountain. Also, during the day the tower appears as a quick-change artist. Over 40 different gloss paint arrange it so that the tower even changes its appearance during daytime. Builing this increadable "fountain" made a draft on 59,619 (partly) transparent glass slabs In addition to that, 250 tons of aluminium and 25,000m³ cement have been used.

4500 light emitting diodes arrange it so that the whole tower shines in red, yellow, blue and pink. Seeing it in the dark is a huge spectacular that you should not miss. You can visit the "shining" colossus at Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9pm to 12pm. It can be found at "Plaça de les Glories Catalanes"; metro station Glories (line 1). During winter time the show starts at 8pm and takes place until 11pm.

The capital of the autonomic region in Northern Spain is worth travelling almost every time. Especially in spring, the city awakes from it's winter sleep. A lot of tourist use the days of Whitsun to take a short trip to this vivid metropolis.

Barcelona incorporates art, culture, sun, sea and beach. It has all what you need to spend a relaxing short trip. No matter if you are staying in an apartment in Barcelona or in a hotel in Barcelona, there is something for every taste and every pocketbook.

This year, Whitsun takes place at 23 May and 24 May (Monday). For working people, it could be interesting to combine this with one or two days of a holiday. Due to its diversity, nice weather and cultural activities Barcelona is the perfect destination for a short trip. A good tip for visitors who have a limited time in the city are the numerous bus tours that are offered across the city. Buying a "day pass" gives you the opportunity to see most of the attraction within a short period of time. Be aware of the fact that there are several routes. Though, with a day pass you are eligible to use all of them as often as you like.

You can find cheap flights with low cost carriers that depart from numerous airports in the UK and Ireland. Ryanair for example offers cheap flights to Girona or Reus. Those airports are close to Barcelona and can be reached easily by bus. Also, using a low cost carries makes a lot of sense for short trips. Due to the severity restrictions you usually pay more for luggage that exceeds 10 - 15 kilos. Consequently, you will not only save money but also strech your nerves at the airport. 

Located at the centre of Barcelona right next to "Las Ramblas", this scenic place can be reached very easily. Visitors that walk by, from one attraction to another, often recognize this beautiful place by chance. Most of them do not know that this is one of Barcelona's major gathering points.

The Plaza reial stands for little restaurants, bars and some clubs. Therefore, it is no wonder that the plaza is very vivid in the evening hours. Because it is no central, it can be reached within several walking minutes from one of the numerous central located hotels in Barcelona or one of the apartments in Barcelona.

This place became famous from the movie "The Spanish Inn" (original title: l'auberge espanole). The movie tells the story about a couple of international students that live to gether in an apartment in Barcelona. Also, some of you might know that Antoni Gaudi has designed one of the architectural sights at this place. He is one of the most famous artists that contributed a lot of other sights to the city.

Surrounded by tall palms that rise up to the sky makes this place a nic e place to rest during the day and a gathering point point for Barcelona's nightlife. At that time, you will recognize crowds of people pilgrimaging to the clubs. Being located at the Gothic quarter (Barri Gotico), you will also find there many small souvenir shops that are waiting for you! 

Assigned by Eusebi Güell, Antoni Gaudi built one of the most recognizable landmarks of Barcelona at the beginning of the 20th century. Wanting to emulate the magnificent English gardens, the Park Güell is nowadays a popular tourist magnet.

At park Güell, you can find numerous impressions, such as stylish stone constructions, lavishly created buildings and ornate pottery artworks. Your holidays in Barcelona should absolutely include a visit in this stylistic park.

At the beginning of the park, there are two lodges with its distinctive gatehouse roofs. After following the huge stairs down to the main terrace, you will find a lot of small artworks, such as the mosaic dragon. Down at the huge plaza, there are usually a lot of musicians and artists, as well as other visitors.

Actually, the park has been planned to be an estate next to the city. Due to financial problems, it was not able to be put into practice. However, only a few houses have been built. Those are the former house of the Güell family (today: a school), Gaudi's house (today: museum) and another house of an other architect.

The plaza at the centre of the park measures 3000 m² with wavy boundaries that can be used as a bench..It is full of little mosaics and small pottery stones. But not only there, the whole park offers a couple of other recognizable artworks.

Arriving with the metro (line 3), you will have to walk about 25 minutes, One part of this way are stairs, which are quite steep. To avoid this, you can also take a bus or a taxi to reach the entrance. More information about the departure times can be found at Barcelona's public transport site or at the Plaza Catalunia. 

What makes a city interesting? Everyone will answer that question differently. But what is crucial for an interesting city is that is has something to offer. The "La Rambla" or "Las Ramblas" is such a street where where different tastes meet.

Those who would like to visit the city have the opportunity to live in one of the Barcelona hotels or Barcelona apartments to discover the history of the city, and especially the history of Las Ramblas.

In 1860 the people began to tear down the old city walls because the city was growing rapidly. Before that Las Ramblas was the central street of the historic city. It starts at Plaça Catalunya and leads down to the harbor. The name "Las Ramblas" comes from the Arabic word "ramla", which stands for "sandy ground".

Anything but sandy is the promenade nowadays. The Ramblas consists of five parts that have a different character. Flower sellers, for example can be found in the Rambla de Sant Josep. In the following paragraphs ww will have a closer look at the different parts of the promenade:

The first part is quite next to the Plaça Catalunya. This part is called "Rambla de Canaletes" and is famous for its fountain. People say that everybody who drinks from Font de Canaletes will come back to Barcelona. It is also a popular meeting place for the fans of the FC Barcelona football club.

The Rambla dels Estudios got its name from the numerous university buildings that used to be there long time ago. Today, there is only the Academy of Science at house number 114.

Further down the promenade, we can find the Rambla de Sant Josep. As already mentioned the area is famous for its flower sellers. Therefore, the people from Barcelona call this the Ramblas de les Flors. Also, you can find here the world famous market "Mercat de la Boqueria".

The fourth part is called Ramblas dels Caputxins. There, you can find the Gran Teatre del Liceu, as well as the Cafe de l'Opera.. In addition you can take a look at the huge Plaça Reial just a few meters away from the Ramblas.

The end of the promenade is called Santa Monica, named after the patron saint of the Augustinian order. Also, you can find there the statue of Columbus with can be exhibited. A lift can even lead you at the top of the statue, from where you have a great view over the city. 

Those of you who would like to diversify their trip to Barcelona apart from museums and parks, are welcome to visit the famous cable car, which let you experience Barcelona from above.

You want to see some art and culture during you holidays in Barcelona? Then I really recommend you to go to the Picasso museum which is the most popular museum of the town. It is also the most visited one. So you will find definitely a cheap Barcelona hotel in the neighborhood and then the museum is within walking distance as well as the most other important things of the city. So additionally you will discover yet unknown places, cafés and restaurants.
The main focus of the museum is the young years of the painter and the development of art. So there is chronological order for the more than 3800 works. Every period of his life is described and you will find the corresponding pictures to each of them. Here you can also discover how the relationship between Picasso and Barcelona was and how the city has influenced him in his work.
Pablo Picasso was born on the 25th October 1881 in Malaga but already five years later he moved to Barcelona where he also had his first exhibition. Even if he moved to Paris he had never forgot about Barcelona and therefore he gave a lot of his art to the museum by himself. But not only the art is worth to see, also the building itself. It consists of 5 town buildings from the 13th - 15th century. Here you can linger across the courtyard and feeling back in time.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and the entrance fee is about 9 €-
But if you are in the city on a first Sunday of the month, you can go in for free.

Adress: Montcada 15-23
08003 Barcelona

If you are planning to spend your next holiday in Barcelona and you are interested in culture and art, you should definitely go to visit the MACBA. The museum of modern art is located in the "Raval" area not far away from a comfortable Barcelona apartment or Barcelona hotel.
Even the building of the museum is extraordinary and reminds one of the Modernism. Created by the American Richard Meier it was opened 1995. The rooms are illuminated by natural light and you will have a great view over the square infront of the building. Furthermore, there is also a library in the museum with mainly books of art.
The main part of the exhibitions contains of the contemporary art from the last 50 years. The art is from Spanish people as well as from all over the world. In addition concerts, events and courses take place.

The whole exhibition contains of 300 paintings, 150 sculptures and 800 drawings.
The outstanding thing about the museum is that the shown art is about events of the day and politic and questioned it consistently.
You see it is really worth a visit, even if you don´t know much about art. The closest metro stations are Catalunya and Universitat. From there it is quite simple to find it. During the week the opening hours are from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm, except on Thursday.

Gracia, one of the most beautiful districts in Barcelona lies at the north end of the Passeig de Gracia, and just north of the center of Barcelona. To get the distinctive feeling of this district, you must try and find a Barcelona hotel in its vicinity. It is a characteristic Catalan neighborhood, and unlike much of Barcelona, which is more cosmopolitan in nature. This part still retains a more local flavor.

Moreover, it is just a stone's throw away from the center of the City, making it a melting pot of tourists and locals. Quite a few people who visit Barcelona prefer to stay in Barcelona apartments in this quarter of the City. You can get a taste of the quaint old-world Spanish life-style with people spending a large part of their time on the many public squares that abound around the Gracia.

The area offers a nice collection of bars and restaurants that serve both the local, as well as, international cuisine. Bars such as the El Dorado have reached a ledgendary status, and all visitors, take time out to visit the bar at least once.

As already mentioned, you can find various types of hotels in Barcelona, which have opened shops in this area. They cater to all manner of budgets, and requirements. This will help you enjoy the Gracia, in a better manner.

If you want to see the famous architecture and modernist buildings of Barcelona, then there would be nothing better than taking a walk through the Gracia. You can feast your eyes on the buildings and their design that carry the stamp of famous architects like Antoni Gaudi.

If you are in Barcelona, then Gracia must be on your must-see list. Once your search for Barcelona accommodation is over, the first thing you should do is visit this inherently charming part of the City.

If you spend your Barcelona holiday in or close to the gothic district, then you will directly experience some impressive examples of medieval buildings. Some of the most amazing remains of earlier times are the Cathedral, the Santa Maria del Mar church and the Santa Maria del Pi church.

The Cathedral of Barcelona
The gothic Cathedral which is also known as "La Seu", includes all the typical attributes of the gothic times like the typical gothic gargoyle and ornate sculptures. The Cathedral is situated in the heart of the Gothic district. Its official name is Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia. Eulalia is the holy patron of Barcelona. Since 343 AD this square has a religious significance. The construction works on the current building already started in the year 1298 and the main building was primary finished in 1913.
Adjoining the Cathedral there is a abbey from the 14th century. In the garden, belonging to this abbey you can always find 13 goose, each representing a year of Saint Eulalias life. Saint Eulalia just became 13 years old. She was tortured to death from the Romans because of her religion and her beliefs. Her remains are buried in the crypt of the Cathedral.
From the roof of the Cathedral you can enjoy an exceptional view over the city of Barcelona.

The Santa Maria del Mar church
Known as the church of the sailors and fishermen, this church is the most popular church for marriages in Barcelona. Situated in the district El Borne - La Ribera, this impressive church dominates the whole church.
King Alfons placed the first stone of this church in 1329. It was finally finished in 1383. During the Spanish Civil War, the inside of the church was completely burned in 1936. For that reason, this church looks less artful than the other churches in the city. But at the same time it highlights the beauty of the building itself.
The church has a big rose window from the 15th century. Unfortunately the original was destroyed in 1428 by an earthquake. The church has great acoustics so that a lot of music concerts are held in that church.

Santa Maria del Pi
The church is situated on a charming square in the district Ciutat Valla and was named after a pine forest which was situated there once. The other appearance of the church catches your eye through the distinctive decoration of the entrance and the enormous rose window. This can be seen better from the inside to admire the amazing colors and its beauty. The church includes the grave of Antoni Viladomat - an artist and the holy Josep Oriol.

These churches are just some examples of the fascinating gothic architecture which you should not miss during your Barcelona holiday. There are much more gothic sightseeing highlights in the city which you can easily access from your Barcelona hotel.

Barcelona was once surrounded by walls, which are still visible today in some places. It is one of Europe's most exciting cities. You will be spoiled for choice when spending the holiday in Barcelona. There are a lot of significant areas within this city however Barcelona's Old City stands out most. Several locations of Barcelona should be visited while staying in a comfortable Barcelona apartment or hotel in Barcelona.

Within the Gothic Quarter there is the cathedral which is representative of the beautiful architecture within the area. Other landmarks in the area also stand out like the Institute of History, the Picasso Museum, Las Ramblas and several other interesting locations. In addition to museums and areas of architectural significance one can find a variety of restaurants and cafes which were frequented by famous artists like Picasso.

A truly unique location which must be included in the area is the La Boqueria, also called the Mercat de Sant Josep. This market is immediately recognizable by its iron and glass construction and colorful tile work on its roof, constructed in the 1800's. Inside the building one will find anything from produce, vegetables, seafood, and meat to a good selection of cheese and baked goods like delicious baguettes. This particular location is convenient for individuals staying in one of the great Barcelona apartments when picking up a few items. In addition, La Boqueria is home to a few bars and cafes. It also has a great reputation for having some of the most delicious street food in the entire city.

Transportation from this area of Barcelona to other parts of the catalan city is quite simple using the Metro or busses. At the Ramblas, one can take Line 3 or the Green Line from the Liceu metro stop and on the other side at Via Laietana from the stop called Jaume I. It is also possible to take Line 4 or the Yellow Line to the beach with its nice Barceloneta beach apartments, though it is possible to walk to the beach from the Old City and along the Historic Harbor which is a pleasant walk of not more than 20 minutes. From Plaza Cataluyna which is also within walking distance, it is possible to take the train or bus to the airport, Costa Brava, and Costa Dorada.

Why don´t you book a flight and come to Barcelona for a few days. You won´t regret it because in this city there is so much to do and to see. There are a lot of holiday rentals in Barcelona or you just book a Barcelona hotel on las ramblas.
The best thing to get a first impression about this metropolis is to do a sightseeing tour with one of the sightseeing buses. These buses have an open top, so you can enjoy a clear view and the sun of course. If you do one of these trips you get review about the most important things and places. So afterwards you can decide which ones you will see once again and visit and which not.
There are three different tours you can take. At the beginning one get a little tour guide with all the description of the sightseeing. The tickets are for all three tours. Two of them last 2 hours, the third only 40 minutes. During the tour there are several stops where you can get off and visit for example a museum. Afterward you just take the next bus and the tour continues.
On the tour you see all the important things in Barcelona such as the Sagrada Familia, the Port Omímpic, Park Güell, Montüic and a lot more.So you don´t miss anything which you want to see and you can just get on and off whenever and wherever you want.
In summer the bus leave every 5 minutes and starts at 9:00 a. m. till 8:00 p. m. In winter the leavings are different but at least every 25 minutes. You can get the ticket either via internet or you can buy it directly in front of the buses. The price for one ticket is about 18 Euro for adults and 11 Euro for children. Babys until 3 years are free.

an adventure for everyone

If you are staying in one of the cozy holiday homes Barcelona or in a nice Apartment in Barcelona and you want to do something special - go to the chocolate museum.
Here you can learn everything about chocolate. It starts with the history and how it came to Europe. But there is also a lot of information about chocolate as a medicine or as an aphrodisiac. It is shown too how to produce this valuable product in all detail.
This museum is one of the smallest in town but nowhere it is so much fun! The flavor is lingering everywhere and one wants to have a piece of chocolate at once. But don´t be worry - you will get one at the entrance!
Fortified you can discover all the surprises of the exposition. At the beginning you learn something about history and there is also shown a tree and cacao fruits. If you go to the second room there will be explained what a meaning chocolate once had. Continued by the European history and several sculptures and pictures made of chocolate.
But the biggest part is the production of chocolate. Here you can see machines and the whole process.
Of course you can buy all different sorts of chocolate at the shop which you will receive at the end of the tour. So this kind of attraction the whole family will enjoy!

old attraction park and church

If you plan to come to Spain and stay at a nice apartment in Barcelona you should definitely save a day and go to the mountain Tibidabo. During your stay you could rent a cheap Barcelona accomodation from where you can get to Tibidabo by metro.
Even the drive will be a special adventure for the whole family. You first go with the metro L 7 to the final station and then get in the old blue tram which was the only one in whole Barcelona for long time. After that a rack railway will bring you up the final meters of the mountain.
With its 529 meters the Tibidabo is the highest mountain in Barcelona and from there you will have a gorgeous view about the city and you could even see Montserrat.
If you are finally there a lot of attraction will wait for you. On the mountain there is an old adventure park with a big wheel, rollercoaster and chairoplane and lot other attraction. So you could enjoy the view and have some fun.
For the people who don´t like so much action there is also the curch Sagrada Corazón which is a copy of the French Sacre Cour. It was finished in 1962 but in there is a building in it which is from 1900. On the top of the church is a huge statue of Jesus.
The third attraction is an observation deck - the Torre de Conserolla. The television tower, which is on this platform was built because of the Olympic Games 1992 and has a high of 268 meters.
So this place is worth a visit. I doesn´t matter if you like action or just enjoy the view.

One of the biggest and most important museums

If you will stay for holiday in Barcelona and stay in a Barcelona hotel you should definetly visit this really interesting mueseum with the whole family.

The CosmoCaixa is not even one of the biggest museums in Barcelona but also one of the biggest in Spain. After 100 million euro the modernism building was opened in the year 2005. It is one of the most important museums of science sponsored by the famous bank "la caixa".

The most significant difference to other museums is that it is no typical exposure. The people should try the different things by themselves. You can do physic, engineering, geological, chemical and math experiments. So it is not only fun for kids to learn how different things are working.
It all starts with a 30 meter coil which is around a tropical tree from Amazon and ends in the 5th basement floor.

There are then a lot of different theme areas. For example you could see a pendulum which shows the rotation of the earth. Furthermore, you could learn much about waves, which different kinds there are and with a simulator you could see how they form the coast. Or if you want you could create your own sandstorm.
Even a rainforest with trees and plants from the Amazon exists. Of course there are also a plenty of Animals from this region. But be careful - sometimes it will rain there.
If you are hungry you could go in the outside area of the museum and have a picnic or you will visit the satellite dish which is only 80 meters away and shows how the sound is been created.
So in whatever you are interested, a visit in this museum is definitely worth time.

Gaudis cathedral Sagrada Familia is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Barcelona

If you will do vacations in Barcelona and stay in an apartment in Barcelona or in one of the many hotels in Barcelona go and see this master piece of architecture. If you stay in one of the holiday homes Barcelona in the Eixample area you can reach the cathedral easily by walking.

The Sagrada Familia which is located in the area Eixample was planned by Antoni Gaudi in 1882. The original architect was Francisco de Villar who had an artless church in mind. After Gaudi took over the project the plans were drastically changed and referred to the Gothic style.

The building has a crosswise outline and around it there is a cloister. All over the cathedral are adornments like the towers which look like sandcastles. The church has different fronts. There is a Nativity Façade to the East, the Glory Façade to the South and the Passion Façade to the West. The Native Façade is the one which had the biggest influence of Gaudi because it was built before his death in 1926.

During the construction of Sagrada Familia the architect Antoni Gaudi died because of an accident in front of the building. After this the work was interrupted until 1935. In the civil war the construction plans got lost but the later architects reconstructed the idea of Gaudi through oral tradition and from they still knew of the former plans.
Today 8 of the planned 18 towers are finished as well as the crypt and apsis. Furthermore, the most of the pillars are finished and in the near future the room for the mass will be completed.

The building will be finished in the year 2026, the 100th anniversary of the death of Gaudi, but of course it depends from the financial situation.

This weekend a farmer's market takes place at Placa del Pí in the Barrio Gotico.

If you are on holiday in Barcelona and stay in a nice Barcelona centre hotel or in one of the many apartments in Barcelona go and see this farmer's market. It's definitely worth a visit!

Every first and third weekend of the month this market with a lot of regional products from the Pyrenees is held in the Barrio Gotico. So if your trip to Barcelona is on the first or third weekend of a month you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit the market and see and try the regional products.

Mainly food and drinks are offered on the market and many things can be tested. Wander from stall to stall and try all the delicious self-made food. The range of products is quite diverse, no matter if you prefer honey, jam, cheese, chorizo, pâté or herbs you will definitely find something. At the same time it is a good opportunity to buy some really authentic and special souvenirs.

In September the most important festival of Barcelona takes place - La Mercè!

So come for your holidays to Barcelona and join the festivities. Book an apartment in Barcelona or a hotel in Barcelona and celebrate the whole night.

The holiday was officially introduced in 1871 and it is a kind of surrounding festival for the Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy (La Mare de Déu de la Mercè) on the 24th of September. This year the festivities start on the 23rd of September and end on September 27th.

Different events take place all over the city but most of them are in the city centre. The most common known events are:

Castellers - human towers

Correfoc - fireworks and dragons

Gigantes - a parade of giants

The story behind the holiday traces back into the 13th century. In the night of the 24th of September 1218 the Virgin of Mercy appeared simultaneously to King Jaume I, Sant Pere Nolasc and Sant Ramon de Penyafort. She told them to free the Christian monks, who were imprisoned by the Saracens. In the year 1687 the Virgin of Mercy prevented Barcelona from a plague of locusts and freed the city from the Black Death. Since then the Virgin of Mercy is the patron of Barcelona. Here portrait is kept at the Basilica La Mercè at Placa de la Mercè.

The Feste de la Mercè is the highlight of the Catalan festival calendar, so don't miss the opportunity to be a part of it!

The famous district of Barcelona, a former fishing village, is a rectangle between the Port Vell, Franca station and Port Olimpic in the east. There are many fish restaurants along the Passeig Joan de Borbó. The beautiful place of Barceloneta with its delightful restaurants and bars and the Baroque parish church of Sant Miquel del Port are places you shouldn't miss! If you love fish you have to visit Calle Almirall Cervera, as well.

The district of Barceloneta is a neighborhood visited throughout the year. Do not hesitate to book one of the many Barceloneta apartments to enjoy the charms of this area. Whether for a romantic and delicious dinner in one of the innumerable fish restaurants, a picnic at the beach or a swim -- there is always something to do! If you want to enjoy holidays by the sea when you visit Barcelona, book your Barcelona beach hotels now!

Are you over 18 years old and do you plan a Barcelona holiday? Then you should definitely visit the Casino Barcelona.
You should especially spend a night in the casino if you are staying in one of the many beach apartments Barcelona in this area. If you have already lost all your money at the Roulette table you should better look for one of the many cheap Barcelona hotels.

The Casino Barcelona is the biggest in Catalonia and is situated in the beautiful district Port Olimpic, next to the beach.

You can choose from a variety of different games, machines and gambling tables: video-poker machines, Blackjack, Hold'em Poker, American and French Roulette - these are just some of the many choices you have in the Casino Barcelona. The casino has also three bars, one nightclub and four different "top-quality restaurants" where you can find something to eat for every taste.

The casino is located in the heart of Barcelona and thus can be reached easily from Barcelona Airport.

L'Aquàrium de Barcelona is by far one of the most visited sight in Barcelona and in the whole of Catalonia. Visiting the aquarium is a perfect excursion for families who spend their holidays in Barcelona because it has something to offer for young and old. It is situated at the harbour of Barcelona next to the column of Columbus and it is the most important marine leisure and education centre about the Mediterranean Sea.

The aquarium has 35 basins, 11,000 animals and 450 different species. Walk through the 80 metres long glass tunnel and experience the feeling of being surrounded by sharks. It contains more than 6 million litres of water and has already been visited by 14 million people.

Built in 1995 it was opened on the 8th of September 1995. The newest technology was connected to art and a walk was created which leads the visitors along 21 basins representing all the different facets of the underwater world. The combination of entertainment and education is outstanding and you can feel the devotion to this project in the whole building.

So don't hesitate and visit this extraordinary aquarium which is as well the biggest in Spain. Why not connect a visit to the aquarium with a short trip to Barcelona? You can spend your holiday in a comfortable apartment in Barcelona or in one of the many Barcelona beach hotels.

OPENING HOURS:
Open all year round

Opening: 9.30h

Closing:
Of Monday through Friday: 21.00h
Weekend and public holidays: 21.30h
June and September: 21.30h
July and August: 23.00h

(Ticket offices and accesses open until one hour before).

For more information: +34 93 221 74 74

PRICES:

Adults: 17 €
Children from 4 to 12: 12 €
Adults over 60: 14 €

The famous Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi has left his creative footsteps all around Barcelona. His most famous works are Parc Güell, Casa Milá and Casa Batlló. The latter is a very popular tourist attraction at the Passeig de Gracia. Visit this unique masterpiece of architecture and spend your holiday in Barcelona. You could, for example, rent a comfortable Barcelona apartment or stay in a beautiful hotel in Barcelona.

Gaudi has planned and built this house for industrialist Josep Batlló. Batlló lived on the ground floor with his family while the other floors were rented to other families.
The extraordinary front represents the legend of Sant Jordi, who is the patron saint of Catalonia. The roof represents the scales of the dragon against which Jordi had to fight and the cross on the roof is his lance. The balconies out of wrought-iron represent skulls and the gallery on the first floor stands for the jaw of the dragon.

Of course, it is possible to visit the building and have a look at its interior. Already in the stairway one can recognize Gaudi's fondness for details. The blue ceramic in the courtyard progressively brightens so that there is an equal amount of light on the ground floor as there is on the top floor. The roof with its fairy tale chimneys is also open for visitors and from up there you have a fabulous view over the city.

Casa Batlló is listed for preservation since 1962 and was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

So don't hesitate to visit the Casa Batlló the next time you are in Barcelona. Book a Barcelona centre hotel near Placa Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia and experience the amazing architecture of this district.

Address: Passeig de Gracia 43, Barcelona
Phone: (34) 93 216 03 06
E-mail: infovisites@casabatllo.cat
Metro: L2 , L3, L4 (Passeig de Gracia)
Opening times: Mo - Sun, 9 - 20 h
Entrance fee: 16,50€ (audio guide included)

Here some first impressions:

The FC Barcelona is one of the biggest and most impressive football clubs in the world. If you visit the city of Barcelona you should definitely watch a game of the FC Barcelona or at least visit their museum including the stadium. During your stay in Barcelona you can live in one of the numerous Barcelona hotels or you can rent a comfortable Barcelona apartment.

The Camp Nou, which is the great stadium of the FC Barcelona, is situated in the middle of the neighborhood Les Corts. It is the biggest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 98.600 seats. You can easily reach it with the Metro lines 3 and 5. Tickets for the FC Barcelona are really easy to get. The FC Barcelona has signed several world famous players. One of them is Lionel Messi, who is seen as the best football player in the world of many football experts. In summer 2009 the club won the Champions League which underlines the extraordinary strength of the team.

The Motto of the FC Barcelona is "més que un club", which means more then a club. The motto totally fits for most of their supporters. For most of them the FC Barcelona is part of the family. The club is the way of life and is a symbol for freedom and home. Especially for the proud Catalans, it is a pleasure to win against their unpopular enemy Real Madrid which represents the central Spanish force Madrid. This game decides every year again about the mood of most Catalans.

If you experienced the atmosphere in this stadium once, then you will realize that the FC Barcelona is more than just a football club. If you feel like visiting this stadium now, then come to Barcelona and spend a few days in a comfortable Barcelona accommodation. The city also offers more cultural and artistic highlights, so that you can also discover a lot of other attractions besides the stadium.

The Park Güell is one of the biggest tourist magnets in Barcelona. It is a unique park, situated in the North of Barcelona which was created by the famous artist Antonio Gaudí. He worked on that park from 1900 until 1914. The park includes unique pieces of art. If you want to visit this exceptional park, you can live in a nice Barcelona apartment or Barcelona hotel.

When you enter the park, the first that you see are two house that look like they are taken from a fairy tale world. The houses are colored and have round and natural forms. After theses two houses, you walk up some stairs which are decorated nicely with some mosaic and a fountain. Then you are at the big terrace square. This one can be seen as a big piece of art. But you can also find a lot of small pieces of art in it. This square is main place for tourists and artists to come. There are also several cultural events taking place from time to time. In the whole park you can find impressive stone constructions, ceramic works and unique buildings.

In the park you can also find Gaudi's house where he used to live in during he created this park. This house is used as a museum now and includes paintings and furniture that he designed. In front of that house you can find his former garden. It is a really interesting created big garden which is free for visitors. You can combine the visit of this park with a great Barcelona holiday.

How to reach the park:
The easiest way to reach the park is via Metro. You just enter the green line 3 and get out at the station "Lesseps". From this station you walk approximately 15 minutes to entrance of the park. The way to the entrance is provided with road signs, so that it is really easy to find the park. You can also reach the park easily by bus or taxi.
The entrance to the park is free. It is opened every day from 10.00-19.00.

If you want to go back in time to see how Barcelona may have looked during medieval times and before, visit Barcelona's neighborhood El Born. Aside from the trendy shops, restaurants and modern transportation, very little has changed over the years. From the small winding streets to the large squares where people go for lunch or dinner, El Born is a great place to spend your holidays in Barcelona, e.g. in one of the comfortable holiday homes Barcelona in El Borne.

Nearby Museums in El Borne

Beside the various shops, restaurants and cafes, there are several museums in El Born that you may find interesting. Spend a day or an afternoon in one or more of the following museums to learn more about Barcelona and its rich artistic history.The museums include:

• Picasso Museum - The Barcelona Picasso Museum is located on Moncada Street, this museum hosts over 3,500 works by Pablo Picasso. Completed with a café and a bookshop, you can spend all day at this museum viewing Picasso's work and many other of his personal items.

• Barcelona Textile and Costume Museum - Since El Born was once the headquarters of the Barcelona textile guilds, it's fitting that a museum dedicated to textiles would be located here. You will find a variety of exhibits that feature embroidery, costumes from different time periods and clothing from the 20th century.

• Maeght Gallery - The Maeght gallery in Barcelona, which is open to the public features artwork by Kandinsky, Miró, Giacometti and art of many further famous and well-known artists.

El Borne is not a large neighborhood, but there are beautiful Barcelona hotels and other types of accommodation in Barcelona to choose from. There are two metro stations dedicated to El Borne and therefore you can easily get around anywhere within Barcelona. Your Barcelona holiday should include visits to different neighborhoods so you can try out different kind of food as well as other cultural delights this city has to offer.
For those traveling with families, El Born is centrally located and is a ten minute walk away to the beaches and the city center of Barcelona.

Are you going to spend some time during summer in Barcelona? If not, why don't you come and spend some exciting holidays in Barcelona in either a Barcelona hotel or an apartment in Barcelona?

Beside the typical sights that Barcelona can offer you, you could get to know the city from another point of view: Namely, as the scene of plenty of internationally known movies. The latest well-known movie which was shot in the metropolis was Woody Allen's successful movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Yet, there are many other movies which were actually shot in Barcelona but didn't play in the city, for instance "The perfume".

The medieval Gothic quarter "Barrio Gotico", where one can also find many comfortable Barcelona apartments and the dry Mediterranean climate ensure ideal conditions for many movies.

When spending some Barcelona holidays, you should definitely participate in a Barcelona Movie walk and explore the original settings. Beside the tours "The Barcelona of Woody Allen" and "The Barcelona of Perfume" one can also take the tours "The Barcelona of "Salvador"" and "The Barcelona of Pedro Almodavar". Of course there are also tours which bring you to the French movie settings of "L'Auberge Espagnole - Barcelona for a year" as well as to the movie settings of the Italian movie "Manuale d'amore 2".
In case you don't want to participate in a guided tour, you can just follow the movie tracks by yourself. On the webpage WITUR you can find the certain movie walks.

Starting on the 6th of June until the 6th of september 2009, a very special exhibition takes place in the Barcelona Maritim Museum, called „Tutankhamun: Discover its tomb with its magnificant treasures".
Tutankhamun's tomb was found and opened for the first time in the year 1922 - And you have the great chance to visit it in Barcelona.If you are - like me too - an inspired fan of the history and myths of the ancient Egypt you should definitely NOT miss visiting this exhibition. It enables you to see all precious objects of Tutankhamun's gravesite.

Besides, you can visit the exhibition of Tutankhamun with a monitoring audio-guide which can be obtained for free when buying an entry-ticket. This tool guides you through the whole exhibition and informs you with practical and supporting information and facts.

Entry fees for the Tutankhamun-exhibition:

Adults: 17 €
Retirees (65+): 11 €
Students: 11 €
Children: 9 €

Yet, there are some special offers. For instance the "family rate" (2 adults, 1 child). Tickets can be obtained either directly at the entry or via ServiCaixa.

My personal recommendation:
Spend a informative, and at the same time relaxing, summer-weekend in Barcelona by the sea, from where you are only a stone's throw away of the Barcelona Maritim Museum and its exhibition. A cheaper option would be to go for a Barcelona holiday apartment at the sea.
For instance in a comfortable Barcelona beach apartment, located in the charming district Barceloneta, just beside the sea. This location is the perfect starting point in order to discover Barcelona by foot and also let one's minds wander in the evenings at the Barceloneta beach in an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere.

If you are spending your Barcelona holidays in a chic Barcelona luxury apartment or in an elegant Barcelona luxury hotel at Passeo de Gracia, you should definitely visit the Barcelona Perfume Museum.

The Perfume Museum, a private institution with more than 5000 different odors, enables you to gather more information about the age-long evolution of Perfumes. Perfumes, deriving from many different cultures are exposed: From pre-and proto-history to Egyptians, Greek Ceramics, Romanic glasses as well as Arabic and oriental objects.

In addition, the odor collection from the 17th to the 19th century is of great interest. There is also an exhibition of the industrialized perfume-collection ranging from the very first to the latest perfumes. Of particular interest is a flask which contains 2 different items: One the one hand, a flask with a perfume which used to belong to the French Marie Antoinette.
On the other hand, it contains a Perfume flask which has been designed by Salvador Dali, called "Le Roi Soleil" (the Sun King). Alone because of that, it is worth to visit the Perfume Museum of Barcelona.

Opening hours of the Barcelona Perfume Museum:

Mo - Fr: 10:30am - 01:30pm and 04:30pm - 08:00pm
Sa: 11:00am - 02:00pm

Adress: Passeig de Gracia 39,
Barcelona
Entry fee: 5€
Reduced entry: 3€

One of the most famous places of Barcelona is the main street which goes from the street Diagonal down towards the sea. Do you know of which street exactly I am talking about? Right - Las Ramblas!
When I was in Barcelona some months ago, I wasn't aware what exactly what was so special about this street until I walked along it one day. I was really impressed by the numerous different kinds of bars, restaurants, theatres, shops etc. which are placed on the 1.2 km long Las Ramblas and which are opened from Monday to Sunday.
It's such a popular street and crowded during day and night by people from all around the world. Besides, Las Ramblas is a good example in order to proof that Barcelona is a city which never sleeps. Really, this is no joke!
Convince yourself and plan your next Barcelona holidays in either one of the plenty attractive and centrally located Barcelona hotels las Ramblas or as an alternative in one of the ramblas apartments Barcelona - from where you can explore many important sights of the city easily by foot.

Another typical characteristic of Las Ramblas are the several polymorphic human statues. You will recognize, that whenever you walk on Las Ramblas, you will find different ones. Their ideas are just admirable: Elfs, roboters, monkeys, aliens, trees are just few of the many statues that you might could expect when walking along Las Ramblas which is always full of events.
Besides the human statues, you will also see artists, magicians, stunning acrobats or dancing groups etc.
When arriving at the bottom of the street (what could take you some time if you like watching every single actor) just in front of the sea, a statue of Christoph Columbus who is pointing with his finger to America will expect you. From there you can walk along Barceloneta's beautiful beach promenade and its port and ...

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família ("La Sagrada Familia") is Gaudis's still incomplete creation which is situated in Barcelona's district "Eixample". The church is under construction for more than 100 years (since 1882) and is expected to be completed in the year 2026.
The Sagrada Familia is considered as the master-piece work of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1962) and is the number-one attraction of Barcelona with thousands of visitors from all around the world every day.
The church meant everything for Gaudi and he obviously lived for this object in order to become perfect. Unfortunately, the work undertaken on Sagrada Familia doesn't follow exactly the plans of Gaudi, as the plans were destroyed during the war.
The Sagrada Familia is nowadays adapted to the modern and proper style of the artists who are working on it.
Some of Barcelona's habitants are of the opinion that, "once the Sagrada Familia is finally completed, it will for sure collapse!" - We will see...
If you want to spend your stay in a great holiday apartment in Barcelona just beside the grandious Sagrada Familia, or if you rather prefer staying in a nice, economical hotel in Barcelona, but also close to the Sagrada Familia, you won't regret your choice. Wake up and see the Sagrada Familia from the accomodation every morning will make you feel good!

Each region of Spain and other countries has his own traditions and celebrations. As eastern is approaching, I would like to provide you with some useful information about eastern in Barcelona.
"Semana Santa" is the name for the eastern week in Barcelona and the Catalan culture generally and means "Holy week". During this week, more than 600 000 habitants of Barcelona leave the city and with their families travel to other villages, sea-side locations or even abroad.
Typical Catalan Easter processions can be seen in different churches of Barcelona. For instance, the church "La Iglesia de San Agusti", which is located in Barcelona's district Raval is a nice location to experience this procession with its traditional music and its sinister hooded penitents. The celebration there starts at 17:00 and more than 300 people are expected to attend it. Another nice place to see the Catalanian Easter celebration is by the "Iglesia de Sant Jaume" in the centrally located Gothic district, also at 17:00. Both occurrings take place on "Good Friday".
Of course, eastern in the Catalan culture has also a culinary side: The most important culinary delight is the "Mona de Pasqua" eastern sweets which can be found everywhere during Eastern. It is a must, that the godfather gives such a delicious chocolate composition to his godson after the Easter mass on Sunday. On the following day, the Easter-Monday, there is usually a family-gathering where they will eat paella or rabbit together bevor eating lots of "Mona de Pasqua" as dessert afterwards. (And of course, the wine is not missing too!)

The sweet "Mona de Pasquas" can be found in many different shapes and colors almost in almost every pastry shop during Eastern. For instance, sometimes you can find houses and little man in chocolate shape which can be eaten.
Eastern is an occasion to spend holidays in Barcelona and experience this very important celebration and get your own "Mona de Pasquas" - you will love it!!!

If you are spending holidays in a Barcelona family apartment, don' forget to visit the zoo. The Zoo of Barcelona is not far away located from the sea; in the famous "Park de la Ciutadella". Visiting Barcelona's Zoo which hosts more than 400 different animal species is an experience for really EVERYONE: giraffes, bears, lions, turtles, storks, lynxes, otters, elephants, hippos, leopards from Sri Lanka as well as a huge range of exotic species of birds are only few of the many, many animals which can be seen in the zoo of Barcelona.
The probably most famous animal of Barcelona's Zoo is until today "Copito de Nieve" (= snowflake). This was an albino-gorilla (white coat!), what is a very rarely existing species of gorillas. Unfortunately, Copito de Nieve has already passed by some years ago. However, he is still in the mind of many visitors from all around the world who saw this funny animal when visiting the Zoo.
Promenading through the great Zoo of Barcelona enables you not infrequently to experience live how the most "dangerous" and "exceptional" species of animals are fed by their custodians.

Barcelona's zoo is opened throughout the year. However, the time schedules change every now and then in regard to the certain season. Entrance fees for adults are 16€ and 9.60€ for children.
If you would like to know more about the Zoo of Barcelona check out the official website on the following link: http://www.zoobarcelona.com/default.htm

Port Aventura is Europe's largest Theme Park and offers a magical family experience with its many rides, Caribe Aquatic Park, Beach Club and Port Aventura Hotels. The Park is located in a convenient distance from Barcelona of approximately an hour and is easily accessible via taxi or train. Families can find a variety of great Barcelona hotels or Barcelona family apartments, in close proximity to the park.
Rides for any age group make Port Aventura a great entertainment venue for families e.g. the Dragon Khan roller coaster with its eight inverted loops and the Wild West Aventura roller coaster. Families can choose from over 100 shows with anything from Chinese acrobats to Tahitian dancers. Most impressive is the pyrotechnical show, Fiestaventura, named "Best Show in the World".
Choosing an accommodation in Barcelona is a good option for families who are looking for a short distance to the Port Aventura Theme Park but yet stay outside of the park.

The CatHelicopter Barcelona Sky Tours enables you to visit Barcelona from a very special kind of view - namely from ABOVE!

This means that you don't need to visit all the important sights of Barcelona by foot, but you can see them in short time out of the helicopters' windows.

A tour with the CatHelicopter includes all important sights of Barcelona which have to be seen when coming to the city:

From the sea to the mountains, from Sagrada Familia to the new Agbar Tower, from the Olympia stadium to Montjuic and furthermore over the forum of culture. And last but not least from the district "Eixample" to Barcelona's most famous street Las Ramblas.
And who knows - probably you will even recognize your wonderful luxury hotel in Barcelona, which is located just beside the beach, from the grandiose view out of the helicopter?

The prices for a Barcelona Helicopter ride are dependent of the duration of the tour. For instance, the tour mentioned above, which lasts around 10 minutes, costs 80€.

However, there are also shorter and less expensive tours available, as well as longer and more expensive ones - whatever YOU prefer!

TIP: Helicopter-Flights over Barcelona are very common and famous to be handed over as gift-vouchers', especially for the ones who live according to the principle of "No Risk - No Fun".

If you are coming to Barcelona for a longer trip it will be probably useful for you to get the Barcelona Card.

The card offers free entries, discounts and added values to many attractions all around Barcelona. You will have unlimited free public transport within Barcelona including the train from the international airport to the city. Barcelona Cards are available in typical Barcelona tourism offices at the airport and in the city centre.
Free entry to attractions in Barcelona include the Botanic Garden, the Golondrinas etc.
Furthermore you will be getting discounts to nearly all famous attractions, discotheques and restaurants in Barcelona. An adult card valid for 5 days will cost you 42€.

Obviously the most important part of your stay in Barcelona is a wonderful apartment besides the Barcelona part. Just have a look at Barcelona apartments where you can choose from a variety of accommodations for all types of travelers.

One of the most famous sights and probably the symbol of Barcelonian architecture is the massive Roman Catholic Church Sagrada Familiawhich has been under construction since 1882.

The church was designed by the famous Catalonian artist Antonio Gaudi who dedicated 40 years to this project. It is supposed to be finished by 2026. Sagrada Familia is very rich in Christian symbols due to Gaudi intending to build the "last great sanctuary of Christendom". Its 18 tall towers symbolize the Twelve Apostels, the 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and the tallest of all Jesus Christ.

The construction of this unique project is financed through private investors (Roman Catholic church as well as the government do not fund this project) and the money spent by visitors on entrance and funding. More than 2, 26 Million people have already visited the Sagrada Familia and it does not seem to become less.
Opening hours are from October - March from 9am to 6pm and from April - September from 9am to 8pm. General entrance fee lies at 11€.

If you want to stay in the nice neighborhood of the Sagrada Familie during your stay in Barcelona, the best apartment to choose would be the Eixample Sagrada Familia Apartment.

I think everyone who watched the movie" L'auberge espagnol" thought to himself: wouldn't it be great to live and study in Barcelona for a while, a semester maybe. Take your chance and just spent wonderful 6-12 months in one of the several universities in Barcelona. You can choose between 5 universities, University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Pampeu Fabra University and the Polytechnic University of Catalunya. Here you go with some information about the most well known ones:

University of Barcelona

The public university with campuses all over Barcelona was founded in 1450 already. The university consists of 18 different faculties with all kinds of areas you can study in. Your lectures can either be in Spanish, Catalan or English depending on what you are studying but make sure you know that Catalan is the major language in administration etc before coming to Barcelona.

Ramon Llull University

This private university was founded in 1990 and is probably best known for its famous business faculty ESADE. Right now about 14.000 students are enrolled. Most faculties are located within the city.

Autonomous University Barcelona

This university is situated in the metropolitan area of Barcelona in a suburb called Bellaterra. It consists of 50 departments with 11 faculties while more than 100 postgraduate programmes are offered to students. UAB gathers more than 50.000 students. It is well known for its research qualities.

If you looking for a flat in Barcelona to study at one of the universities it is probably the best thing to stay in one of the Barcelona apartments first and search for flats while you are here already instead on trusting pictures in the internet.

If you are planning on visiting Barcelona anytime soon something you should definitely not miss the so called Poble Espanyol at the Montjuic in Barcelona.

The little village within Barcelona unites different lifestyles, architectures and arts throughout the whole of Spain. It was constructed in 1929 for the World Fair that was held that year in Barcelona. The outdoor museum occupies a total area of 49.000m². The best way to get to this major attraction would be to take the metro L1 or L3 in Barcelona. If you don't want to have any additional effort travelling, staying in the Montjuic Apartment Ramblas Port will be the best accommodation for you.
You can find prices and opening hours of the Poble Espanyol on the official Poble Espanyol website.

Special events within the Poble Espanyol are different live shows of "inhabitants" including traditional glassblowing or other manufacturers. Souvenir shops, cafes and different restaurants will furthermore contribute to a great day learning about the Spanish country, culture and architecture.

A bar that you definitely should visit during your stay in Barcelona is the „Chupito Bar"in Calle d'Aribau in Eixample. Chupito means as much as shot and believe me this bar has a lot of shots. Different variations such as "The General" or "Monica Lewinsky" are served out of 200 possible shots. Not only the shots are worth passing by there but the show in general will be spectacular. The staff goes as far as to light the bar on fire or dress up in costumes.

The bar is definitely a good start for a long night if you don't mind crowds and younger people.
If you want to taste all 200 shots, the best place to stay would be directly next to it in the Viladomat Apartment.

Don't miss trying it!

Parc Güell

Situated in the district of Gràcia, designed by the architect Gaudi and part of the UNESCO World Heritage, Park Güell is probably the most famous park in Barcelona. It can be reached by metro or bus (the town's touristic bus tours are also coming to the park). The entrance to the park is free and from there you have a beautiful sight over all of Barcelona. The park is marked with colourful mosaics on benches, stairs and walls. Different animals such as snakes and saurians are lining the buildings. The park was designed on behalf of the manufacturer Eusebi Güell who loved the parks he has seen in England and wanted the same for Barcelona. Best access to the park is given if you sleep in one of the apartments in Gracia such as the Goya Loft penthouse.

Parc de la Ciutadella

This park is located in the city centre and includes the Barcelona Zoo, several museums and a huge fountain. The park was named after the citadel, a fortress located on the outskirts where King Philips V kept control over the people of Barcelona. The symbol of central government was nearly destroyed in the 19th century. Only the chapel, the governor's palace and the arsenal, now hosting the Catalan parliament survived the demolishment. At the northern corner of the park, the Cascada is located, an triumphal arch with waterfall and fountain to built for the Universal exhibition in 1888 hosted by Barcelona.

Montjuic

The Montjuic is not only famous because you have the best view over the town, hosted the Olympic games in 1992 and the world exhibition in 1929 but also because of its wonderful parks all over the mountain. The museu nacional is situated on this mountain and shows off some of the best artists in Catalunya. It is also home to a huge castle and the museum of the famous catalan artist Joan Miró. The castle is especially famous for all the activists, politicians and socialist executed during the Franco regime. The beautiful apartment Magalhaes Poble Sec Apartment is the best opportunity when you want to be close to this famous sight of Barcelona.
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Barcelona, one of the top city spots in Europe and a famous tourist destination all around the year, has many a lot to offer to visitors. Spending Barcelona holidays sightseeing will be one of the main things to do to get to know the city and its rich cultural, historic and architectural heritage. From A as Arc Triomf to Z for the Zoo of Barcelona you will have plenty of choices to discover the Catalonian capital. From the heart of the city, Plaza Catalunya, you can stroll around Barcelona´s center with the Gothic quarter and the famous Ramblas. Gaudi´s artworks throughout the city, including Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and La Pedrera, are another "must visit".

After visiting the city center holiday makers can relax on the Barcelona beaches or enjoy best cuisine in one of the restaurants at Port Vell. On the evenings from Thursday to Sunday it is worth to go to Montjuic near Plaza Espanya to see the Magic Fountain - a unique light, music and water spectacle.

Barcelona is an amazing city where you probably only see your Barcelona accommodation for sleeping a few hours as there is so much to discover.
Traveling with children it might be a perfekt choice to choose a Barcelona apartment for the stay offering privacy, calmness and a Barcelona home that will never be forgotten.
Come to Barcelona and enjoy the Catalan hospitality in a breathtaking beautiful city!

Barcelona´s Social and Cultural Center, CaixaForum, is located near Plaza Espanya and the fair grounds of Barcelona. The former textile factory is now a top venue for exhibitions, contemporary arts, music concerts and family activities. Spending Barcelona holidays in the Catalonian capital, visiting exhibitions or concerts at CaixaForum will be a nice activity.
From Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm, and on Saturdays even until 10 pm you can enjoy the exhibitions of international importance without any entrance fee!
You can also have a coffee with your friends or some snacks with your family in the cafeteria. Climbing up one of the towers of the former factory building, transformed into a top social and cultural center in 1992, you will see the interesting architectural works of Josep Puig i Cadafalch who has created a unique terrace landscape on top of the halls.
After a visit at CaixaForum you can walk around the beautiful area near Montjuic.
Those searching for a nice place to stay in the city will find Barcelona apartments at Plaza Espanya that offer best design and quality.
Caixa Forum - Av. Marquès de de Comillas, 6-8, 08038 Barcelona

If you spend your holidays in Barcelona, you should definitely plan to go one day to Montserrat. This massif is located approximately 30km in the Northwest of Barcelona and has a height of 1200m. When you see the mountain the first time, you will be surprised about the unique and even bizarre shapes. The silhouette looks like a saw. It is assumed that the mountain is called "Montserrat" as it is the Catalan meaning for "sawn up mountain". But it is not only the shape why Montserrat should be visited. There is also a very old abbey that is worth to do a trip to this nice place. The best way to go there is from Plaza Espanya. There you take line R5 to Manresa. This line departs hourly. If you are looking for a Plaza Espanya apartment or in other neighborhoods of Barcelona, you will find a wide range of Barcelona apartments on BarcelonaPoint.

The Parque del Laberinto is the oldest park in Barcelona. It was opened in 1791 and is located in Montbau. If you are on holidays in Barcelona, you should definitely visit this park! In former times, it was a private park, but since the 70s, it is accessible for everyone.
It is a very romantic place, very calm and relaxing. After a sightseeing tour, you can come here in order to relax, to get your mind off and just to enjoy the beautiful environment. Lovely built alleys cross the park. Furthermore, there is a fountain a lot of trees and fascinating statues like "Eros". It is just a place, where you can chill out and forget the city's trouble.
The highlight is the labyrinth, which is located centrally in the park. The walls are made of hedges and you become desperate when you are looking for the exit. The whole family will definitely have fun! So if you are spending your holidays in a Barcelona hotel, you should do a trip to this park!

Opening hours: Daily from 10h to the evening
Entry: 2€, Wednesday and Sunday free enty
Metrostation: Mundet (Green line direction Canyelles)

During your holidays in Barcelona, you should definitely visit the Montjuic area. One of the attractions is Poble Espanyol, a village that contains characteristic homes, squares and streets of all Spanish regions. It was built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition that took place in that year. From the beginning, it was conceived as a real "village" in the middle of a city, with a surface area of 49,000 m². In the village there are a lot of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars,cafés, a bank, discoteques and several interesting craftman's establishments. Some of them shows live to the visitors how they are manufacturing their products, for example the glasblowing. There are also activities for children so that they are not going to be bored. Visiting the Poble Espanyol is a great opportunity for the whole family to gain insight into the Spanish culture. Barcelona hotels and Barcelona apartments are close to the Poble Espanyol, for example the Montjuic Apartment Ramblas Port. The well equipped apartment with balcony offers space for up to four persons. Especially the panoramic view is particularly loved by its visitors.

If you spend your holidays in Barcelona, it is almost obligatory that you visit the most famous building of the city: Sagrada Familia. Located in the North of the district Eixample. The construction of this church begann in 1882 and it has not been finished until today. The original architect was called Francisco de Villar. But only one year later, there was a big dispute between the owner and the architect. So Gaudí became responsible for this project. He constructed a church in Gothic style with a crosswise ground. Normally it should be finished 43 years ago, but Gaudí did not let himself be pressured. However, he died in 1926 by an accident. Today 8 of 18 towers are finished. It is planned to finish the church until 2026, the 100. anniversary of Gaudí's death, but it depends strongly on the funds. All components have to be fabricated specifically. Therefore, an enormous budget is necessary. If you are looking for a Barcelona hotel near this impressive building, the Sagrada Familia Hotel is a good choise, as it has a very good reputation. Of course, there are a lot of further accommodation in Barcelona that will meet your expectiations.

Tibidabo is the the highest mountain in Barcelona and the highest peak of the "Serra de Collserola" mountain range as well. When the weather is normal, you can see Tibidabo from every point of the city and if you are are on this mountain, you will have a beautiful panorama view over the city. At the top of Tibidabo, there is Sagrat Cor (cat. "holy heart") cathedral. It is a wonderful building with gorgeous mosaics in the interior. You can enter the cathedral for free. Furthermore, there is an elevator that carries you to the top, where you are very close to a Christ statue out of bronze. It is a very impressive feeling.

In addition, there is a theme park on Tibidabo which is older than 100 years. Therefore it spreads a very nostalgic atmosphere. It is ideal for families, as there will be no boredom.
The mountain can be reached by car or by cable car.

If you spend your holidays in Barcelona and want to be close to Tibidabo, there are several Barcelona apartments in the district Sarrìa-Tibidabo. It is a very safe and quiet place. One apartment is the Ganduxer Executive Apartment. It is particularly loved by families and older couples.

The district "La Ribera" was occupied by merchants and workmen in the Middle Ages. This character of the district is still alive; there are narrow archways, small lanes and houses. In the sixties, they began to restore this district and it became a nice place with little but fancy shops, studios of designers and also beautiful restaurants and bars. But anyway, the authentic ambiance of the historic roots is still given.
Next to that, the "Museu Picasso", which is the best visited museum of Barcelona, is also situated in this area. To stay close to this beautiful district, you can rent a Barcelona apartment in Borne. If you choose to spend your holiday in this area, a must-see is the "Parc de la Ciutadella". In the past, it was the place where the citadel of Barcelona (built 1715) was situated. In 1888, the square was used for the world exhibition. This happening was the beginning for the new and modern way of living in Barcelona. Nowadays, the park is a very beautiful place to relax, to take a walk or to visit one of the museums, which are also located in the park. The zoo of Barcelona "Parc Zoològic" is also located in the park as well as the parliament of Catalonia. As you can see, it is really worthy to spend holidays in Barcelona!

Barcelona, one of the top city spots in Europe and a famous tourist destination all around the year, has many a lot to offer to visitors. Spending Barcelona holidays sightseeing will be one of the main things to do to get to know the city and its rich cultural, historic and architectural heritage. From A as Arc Triomf to Z for the Zoo of Barcelona you will have plenty of choices to discover the Catalonian capital. From the heart of the city, Plaza Catalunya, you can stroll around Barcelona´s center with the Gothic quarter and the famous Ramblas. Gaudi´s artworks throughout the city, including Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and La Pedrera, are another "must visit".
After visiting the city center holiday makers can relax on the Barcelona beaches or enjoy best cuisine in one of the restaurants at Port Vell. On the evenings from Thursday to Sunday it is worth to go to Montjuic near Plaza Espanya to see the Magic Fountain - a unique light, music and water spectacle.
Barcelona is an amazing city where you probably only see your Barcelona accommodation for sleeping a few hours as there is so much to discover.
Traveling with children it might be a perfekt choice to choose a Barcelona apartment for the stay offering privacy, calmness and a Barcelona home that will never be forgotten.
Come to Barcelona and enjoy the Catalan hospitality in a breathtaking beautiful city!

Those spending Barcelona holidays at the end of September should not miss to discover Catalan culture at the biggest "fiesta" of the city, La Mercè 2008.
Barcelona will be celebrating around the 24th of September in honor of Mercè, the patron saint of the city. More than 500 different cultural, music and dancing acts will be expected.
Wheter your Barcelona accommodation is in the heart of the city or a bit more outside - from 24th of September you will be able to experience Barcelona even more active than on normal days. All day long, from family friendly activities up to long night concerts for all music tastes throughout the city you are welcome to celebrate together with the locals!
Some of the highlights will be: the performance of the "castellers" building high human towers of up to 9 floors and the "correfoc". This is a parade where Barcelona will be inflamed when fire-breathing dragons and devils will be dancing around the streets to the noise of fireworks and drums.

During holidays in Barcelona, it is a must to visit the Magic Fountains of Montjuic. They are located near Placa Espanya in front of the mountain of Montjuic. This unforgettable spectacle exists since 1929 when there was the Universal Exhibition "Exposición Internacional de Barcelona" but they were restored in 1992 for the Olympic games in Barcelona as they were in a bad condition. The engineer Carles Bugas had the idea to create this new type of fountains.The fountains are an incomparable mix of water, music and light. Since the Palau Nacional is illuminated in the evenings as well, it is a perfect and beautiful background when watching the fountains. If you are looking for Barcelona apartments or Barcelona hotels near the fountains, you can easily find the right choice for you on internet travel agencies. If you stay in the Ricart Plaza España - Designer Apartment for example, you are very close to the fountains. This apartment offers space for up to three persons. It has a modern design but is also very comfortable due to dark wood equipment. If you further want to explore the Montjuic Park, you can visit the Castle, the Olympic Museum and the Poble Espanyol. Further sights can easily be reached via metro.

Magic Fountains Times:
May - September: Thirsday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 21:00h to 23:30h
October - Beginning November: Friday, Saturday from 19:00h to 21:00h
November - December: Break
December - April: Friday, Saturday from 19:00h to 21:00h

Located in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona, the neighborhood of Raval is one of the most visited neighborhoods in the city.
Here holiday makers will find a lot of the Top 10 sights of the Catalonian capital, including the famous Las Ramblas with the Boqueria market.
In addition to that, the Modern Art Museum (MACBA) is another interesting place to visit during your stay.

Those looking for amazing and lively Barcelona holidays should opt for a Barcelona accommodation in El Raval. The trendy district offers plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs where you can have an all-night party. Coming to Barcelona with a group of friends, you can choose from a range of Barcelona apartments right next to the Ramblas.

The Riera Baixa Rambla Raval apartment with balcony will let you enjoy the best of Barcelona, staying just 5 minutes away from the heart of the city with Las Ramblas.
The Barcelona apartment Rambla Raval Design is also a perfect choice to have a modern downtown home in Barcelona during the holidays.

Barcelona, the Catalonian capital, offers a lot to visitors spending holidays in Barcelona. It is a beautiful city with many world wide known landmarks, historic buildings and a special charm.
Even though during your stay there is also a lot to visit outside of the city. Day trips from Barcelona are a nice alternative to the big city life and sightseeing that you can experience in Barcelona.
Depending on what you want to see, there is plenty to do outside the city of Barcelona. Some popular tourist destinations include: Montserrat, Sitges and Figueres.
Montserrat is the famous monastery in the surroundings of Barcelona and about 60 km from the city. There you can get in touch with the history of the region.
Looking for a nice coastal town with beautiful beaches, you should choose Sitges for your day trip from Barcelona. The town is only 45 minutes away from Barcelona by train and perfect for enjoying a day on the beach in the picturesque coulisse of Sitges.
Those loving art should visit Figueres on the Costa Brava. Here you can visit the famous Dali museum exhibiting famous art works of the Salvador Dali.
Make your choice and leave your Barcelona accommodation for a nice trip to the coast or sightseeing in Montserrat or Figueres. Barcelona´s transport system offers regular train and bus services to every of these locations.

The "Las Ramblas" is the pedestrian zone that Barcelona holiday makers know from all travel guides. This unique and lively street runs from Plaza Catalunya down to the port area, lined with newspaper and book stands, bird and flower stalls, amazing street artists and a variety of restaurants and bars.
On 1,2 kilometers through the city center of Barcelona you will walk along the very heart of the Catalonian capital. Especially on the weekends, thousands of tourists spending holidays in Barcelona are strolling down the Ramblas to enjoy performances of street artists, singers and other performers.
Having a walk on this famous landmark of Barcelona you will pass by at many places of interests like the Miró Mosaic, the Opera house Liceu, the famous Boqueria market with local culinary specialities or exhibition centres such as the Centre d'Art Santa Mònica.
Those who love the vibrant nightlife, crowded city life and street arts might want to opt for a centric Barcelona hotel close to the Ramblas. Staying right in the city center you can go to see the performances of the street starlets of music, dance, show and art whenever you want.
There is also a wide range of Barcelona apartments throughout the center and even on the Ramblas. Choose the Rambla Raval Designer Apartment or the Tallers Ramblas Apartment in Barcelona amongst many others.
Visiting the Ramblas, don´t miss to bring some small coins with you to get the living statues acting on Las Ramblas moving.

From 15 August to 21 August, Barcelona´s Bohemian district Gracia will celebrate its "Festa Major" (Spanish: Fiesta Mayor), one of the most colorful Barcelona festivals during the summer. The best of Gracia can be enjoyed during the "Festa Major de Gracia". To get the distinctive feel of this district, holiday makers might opt for a Barcelona accommodation in its vicinity. This Spanish and Catalan "Fiesta" is very well known by inhabitants of the city. And also many tourists flock to Barcelona to celebrate the Fiesta Mayor in Gracia.
For the full Gracia experience, Barcelona apartments in the district should be booked very well in advance to attend the event.
After months of planning, visitors can enjoy parades, concerts, theater performances, live music and more. Streets and squares will be colorfully decorated and something that shouldn´t be missed is the performance of the Castellers, a group of people forming up human towers (see photo). And there will be even more of Catalan folklore to discover at the Fiesta Mayor in Gracia. Spending holidays in Barcelona during this amazing event will be unforgettable.
In Plaza Rius i Taulet the event will have its inauguration with a parade of giant carnival figures and with performances of the Castellers.
Gracia is welcoming you with this charming festival soon!

Built 1929 for the Universal Exhibition, the Magic Fountain on Montjuic Mountain in Barcelona continues to be one of the Barcelona sightseeing highlights visiting the Catalonian sunshine capital.
During the summer months, visitors can enjoy a spectacular scenary just a few walking minutes away from Plaza Espanya and close to the Museum of Catalan Arts (MNAC).
From Thursday to Sunday,the Font Magica (Magic Fountain) shows its arts from 8 pm to 11:30 pm.
Here is where colour, light and music meet! The compositions are amazing and especially on the weekends many tourists as well as locals are attracted to see the shows. Each music and water show takes about 15 minutes and after a short break the next water performance will start.
Staying at Barcelona hotels, visiting the Magic Fountain and the grounds of Montjuic Mountain is a must. A great variety of Barcelona accommodation will also be found around the Montjuic district.
Why not to leave your Barcelona apartment or hotel to have a picknick near the fountains of Montjuic? Do it like the inhabitants of Barcelona and bring some wine, bread, ham and cheese and sit down near the Magic Fountain to enjoy a fantastic water, light and music show together with your friends.
The best: It´s for free! Watching the water spectacle you don´t have to pay anything. The video just gives you one example of what you can experience.

Schedule:

May to September:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 20:00 to 00:00 h
music shows at: 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30h

October to April:
Friday and Saturday: 19:00 to 21:00h
music shows at: 19:00, 19:30, 20:00 and 20:30 h

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, known as MNAC, is one of the most important museums in Barcelona and loved by inhabitants of the city as well as tourists visiting Barcelona because of its cultural and historic heritage. Visitors of the MNAC will have access to an amazing permanent art collection divided in several time periods. The permanent exhibition at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya contains a total of 5,900 art works. The MNAC embraces all the arts (sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, coinage etc.) distributes the general history of Catalan art from the Romanesque period to the mid-twentieth century. The permanent exhibition includes: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque works, the famous Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection and the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza collection. Modern art, drawings, prints and photography are also well presented. If you are interested in coinage, you should visit the temporal exhibition "Coinage at War. Catalonia in Napoleonic Europe" at the MNAC, which can be visited until May 2009.
Barcelona hotels and Barcelona apartments will be found around the area of Montjuic where the museum is located. Barcelona hotels near Montjuic are a good choice of Barcelona accommodation to stay next to the beautiful Montjuic park area and close to the famous Museu Nacinal d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Especially in the evening it is amazing to go to the grounds of Montjuic and the MNAC. After an interesting visit of the exhibitions in the museum, you can enjoy the Magic Fountains late in the evening.

Address:
C/ Mirador Palau Nacional 6-10, Montjuic, Sants-Montjuic, 08004 Barcelona

During the summer days, a must visit in Barcelona is the Parc Güell. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and built in the years 1900 to 1914. The park area contains amazing architectural structure that fit one-to-one the beautiful natural surroundings. This masterpiece of Gaudí also belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage and is the perfect location for having a pleasant walk and a relaxing stay far away from busy city life. The highlight of the Güell park is the huge terrace area that offers amazing views of the park and of Barcelona. The mosaic designed seats glimmer in the sun and invite you to linger on the sunny terrace. Don´t forget to take a photo of the little dragon that can be found on every postal card of Barcelona. If you are staying at Barcelona hotels in Gracia, you are in the right district to discover the charm of the Park Güell. The green metro line (L3) will bring you the park. Just get off at the stations "Lesseps" or "Vallcarca" and follow the street signposts up to the park. You can visit the park daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Go there with your family whenever you want and enjoy the views on the city and a nice picnic on the grounds. The Barcelona apartment Sors Parc Guell is perfect for families and groups of friends searching for accommodation in Barcelona in a more tranquil area. You might also consider the Barcelona apartment Town House Horta Park Güell in the outskirts of Barcelona. On the weekends, a lot of artists and musicians are performing in the park. As the entrance to Park Güell is free, you can spend time in this idyllic oasis as often as you want.

For many visitors a trip to Montserrat is the highlight of their visit in Barcelona, Spain. Especially families might find a trip to Montserrat interesting as the location offers something for any family member. From Family apartments in Barcelona, the journey to Montserrat won´t take long and is a welcome change from the vibrant city life. The Montserrat Mountain near Barcelona is the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary and which is said to be the location of the Holy Grail in Arthurian myth. From here you will have the most spectacular mountain views of Catalunya. The Montserrat Monastery is also the home of the worlds famous Montserrat Boys Choir.
While walking through the unusual rock formations at Montserrat you will discover its whole natural beauty. It is not difficult to plan a trip to Montserrat from Barcelona hotels. Within one hour you can travel to the amazing place by train which you catch from the station Plaza Espanya. Once at Espanya you have to take the line R5 towards Manresa. This train will directly bring you to the train stop Aeri de Montserrat. With this cable car you will climb up the mountain and can enjoy the magnificent views from the cabins. All in all, a trip to Montserrat is a "must" if you are staying in the Catalonian capital Barcelona.

One of the top Barcelona sights visitors shouldn´t miss is the Poble Espanyol. It was originally built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition as the pavilion dedicated to art. Today this charming „Spanish Village" is a great open-air museum and is part of the monuments that once belonged to the International Exhibition. The Poble Espanyol was built to present an "ideal model" of a Spanish village containing the main characteristics of all towns and villages in Spain. Walking through the streets of the village, you will see typical architecture throughout the Iberian peninsula. You might also want to sit down in one of the restaurants and bars at the Gran Plaza of the village to enjoy a fantastic dinner or to have a coffee. To have an overview about the facilities on the village grounds you might consult the interactive map of Poble Espanyol which is even the home of many craft, design and art shops and galleries. On of the most popular hotels near the Poble Espanyol is the Hotel Fira Palace Barcelona near the Plaza Espanya and the Barcelona fair grounds which is able to comfortably accommodate both business travelers and tourists that would like to stay at the Montjuic area. For both types of travelers staying at Barcelona hotels near Montjuic a visit of the Poble Espanyol will be amazing. During the summer season the „Spanish village" will also be the venue of open-air concerts and shows.

Address: Avda Marques de Camillas
Entrance: 8 Euros

Do you want to discover Barcelona from high above? Then you should take a ride with one of the two cable cars in Barcelona that most of all attract tourists during the summer months. The Telefèric de Montjuic (see photo) is the cable car that takes you up to the top of Montjuic. The silver cabins, passing a special viewpoint on half their way, will offer you magnificent views on the city. If you have reached the top you can have a walk around the Castell de Montjuic, an old military fort and enjoy a coffee at the kiosk.
Another spectucal ride takes you across the harbor area of Barcelona from a cable car station of the Transbordador Aeri del Port on the Montjuic to Sant Sebastian beach. Staying at El Borne hotels you will be very close to the port area and can have a walk to the cable car Transbordador Aeri del Port that brings you up to the Montjuic Mountain. If you stay at Montjuic hotels just do it the other way round and discover the beautiful Montjuic area first and complete your day with a relaxing stay on the beach afterwards.
Regardless which cable car ride you choose - it will be a fun experience. You will never forget about the stunning views from the cabins high above Barcelona.

The Joan Miro Foundation is one of the top- museums in Barcelona. Be there once is a kind of obligation.
The current exhibition presented at the Foundation is "Red aside", with more than eighty paintings, sculptures, installations, photos and videos. These impressive art works are designed by 51 different contemporary Chinese artists. As all pieces on display are part of the collection of the Swiss diplomat and businessman Uli Sigg and reflect the Chinese state of art between 1986 and 2007, to visit the Joan Miró Foundation might be a great weekend activity. The bus line 50 from Plaza Universitat or Plaza Espanya will bring you to the venue which is situated on the beautiful Montjuic mountain area. You can even take the Funicular from the metro station Paral-lel to the Foundation. From Plaza Espanya hotels you can have a walk around around the huge Montjuic area and have a break at the Joan Miro Foundation to see behind the curtain of Contemporary Chinese Art. To explore the whole beauty of the Montjuic mountain you need more than one day. A comfortable and luxury hotel near the parc area of Montjuic is the Tryp Apolo Hotel. Don't miss to discover the Montjuic area while staying in Barcelona!

Are you staying in a central Barcelona Hotel or one of the many charming Barcelona apartments and want to escape the busy metropolitain area for once? Visit the Poble Espanyol on Montjuic! That's a nice escape from crowded downtown Barcelona. There quite a lot of things to visit. First you should walk through the open air museum. If you are traveling with kids, there are special activities for them, which you can learn more about in the Poble Espanyol Website. Also, quite a view restaurants and bars can be found in this tranquil area. For the younger one's that want to go out and dance, three discos are on the Poble Espanyol premises. As you can see, there's something in it for everyone! If you are still looking for Barcelona accommodation, visit BarcelonaPoint.com. For more information on how to get there, opening hours and entrance fees, you can also visit the Poble Espanyol website.

Holiday makers staying at Barcelona hotels and Barcelona apartments shouldn´t miss to visit L'Aquarium de Barcelona during their stay in Barcelona as it is the most important marine leisure and education centre in the world concerning the Mediterranean. Especially families will love to discover the underwater world of the Mediterranean. More than 14 million people have already been visited L'Aquarium with its unique underwater tunnel of 80 metres lenghts. The combination of information, entertainment and education makes it a fun visit for all family members.To get to the aquarium you just have to take metro to Drassanes (L3) or Barceloneta (L4).
Lets dive into the Mediterranean!

Address:
Moll d'Espanya del Port Vell, s/n - 08039 BARCELONA

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday - 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Weekend and public holidays, June and September - 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Prices:
Adults: 16 €
Children from 4 to 12: 11 €
Adults over 60: 12,50 €

The renovation of Placa Catalunya is finished! It took the first quarter of 2008 and 560,000 Euros for it to be the new meeting point between Exiample and Cuitat Vella. The project was funded by the city council and in the course of the renovation the urban furniture was renewed. Now, there are 65 benches on Placa Catalunya to sit under the sun, talk and see where to go and what to do next in Barcelona. If you spend your vacation in Barcelona you will most certainly pass by Placa Catalunya. If you wish to stay in a very central accommodation, check out the offers of BarcelonaPoint.com for Barcelona Hotels and centrally located Barcelona apartments.
The renovation of the central meeting point also included the Rosa dels Vents which has a new red stone mosaic replacing the grey asphalt and restoring its original appearance as it was in 1959. Also, The City Council took advantage of the renovation to renew the pavements and revise underground installations.
The architect behind Placa Catalunya was Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1915, who initiated the project after the city walls were torn down. The construction work began before 1929 to show off the new meeting point for the Universal Exposition. Staying in a Barcelona accommodation close to Placa Catalunya allows you to take in the unique atmosphere of the metropolis. Have a nice stay!

For just 10 Euro you can buy an all-year around ticket for the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. It's worth a visit, especially now, where the Museum has acquired 2 new artworks of Picasso. Also, there are free guided tours through the permanent exhibition of the Picasso Museum. If your staying in a Barcelona Hotel or Barcelona apartment and you would like to visit the Museum, here is the address:

Museu Picasso
Montcada Street, 15-23
08003 Barcelona
Phone: (+34) 932 563 000
Fax: (+34) 933 150 102

It is opened every day 10am - 8pm except on mondays. It is very centrally located and if your Barcelona accommodation is downtown you can even walk there. The closest metro stations are Arc de Triomf, Jaume I and Liceu.
Enjoy the impressive collection of the Barcelona Picasso Museum!

If you're Barcelona apartment is located west of the Ramblas you should pay the Magic Fountain a visit. It doesn't not cost anything and is worth a lot. The Barcelona Magic Fountain at the foot of Montjuic was build for the World Exhibition in 1929, where it had it's premiere. Today, people living in Barcelona apartments at Monjuic now, that this is not a spectacle to be seen everyday.
Until the 1 May you can see the colorful fountain shows each friday and saturday from 19:00 - 21:00.
At certain times it is also accompanied by music or concerts. You can combine the visit to the fountain with a visit to the Mueum of Catalonian Art, wich is only a few more steps up the hill.
If you are still looking for Barcelona accommodation, contact Barcelona Point.

"It stays where it is and it will get a lifting" reads today's Què? Barcelona, the free metro newspaper of the Catalonian capital. Barcelona's Zoo opened its doors in September 1892. Back then it was located in the suburbs of Barcelona, however, the city grew and the Zoo stayed. Now, it is located in the heart of Barcelona in the Park Ciutadella, only a few minutes from the metro station Ciutadella. It was after the world exibition that took place in 1888 that the politicans decided to build the famous Barcelona Zoo on the grounds used for the spectacle. Among the 7500 animals of 502 different species, "Copito" (Snowflake) an albino gorilla was the most famous inhabitant and became after his death in 2003 the emblem of the zoo.
Since the Barcelona Zoo is quite old, a makeover has long been planned, allowing more space and modernized cages for all animals. It was also discussed to move the zoo, but according to today's newspaper, the old Zoo will get a lifting and a new "Zoo Marino" will be built in Fòrum, both zoos housing all animals together. The Barcelona Zoo is a tourist favorite, continually increasing visits (+8.4% in 2007) shows its popularity. It is worth paying a visit and also staying in a Barcelona Hotel close to the Parc Ciutadella is an option worth considering since this area of Barcelona is a really nice one. Barcelona Point would be glad to help you find the ideal Barcelona Hotel for your stay in Spain.

Maybe it is because it's lunch time, but I just thought of the Boqueria, the most famous market of Barcelona and I would really like to go there now. Fresh fruit juices, exotic fruits, chorizo, jamón ibérico, all different kinds of cheese, fresh fish and bread...See for yourself what the market has to offer at the Boqueria homepage. Getting there is easy. If you are strolling down La Rambla coming from Plaza Catalunya, the market will appear on your right hand side. Many vendors will let you try a bit of their fruit, ham, cheese or any product they are selling. If you are still looking for an aparmtent or a Hotel in Barcelona, Barcelona Point offers many nice Barcelona apartments, and Barcelona Hotels, just take a look at them. Enjoy Barcelona!

A mile long and during the day and on weekend nights it is packed. The Rambla in Barcelona. It used to be said that every true Barcelona citizen walks down or up La Rambla once a day. Thus, all tourists are good citizens too, since they usually walk up and down La Rambla more than twice a day. In any case, what is very particular about la Rambla is its street artists. My fav' sits close to the Columbus Statue on the left side of the end of La Rambla playing the accordeon and his little dog next to him. But also the real-people statues of La Ramblas are becoming more and more creative every day. Only a few days ago I saw a huge fairy and a devil coming out of a box. But describing is just half the fun. Come see for yourself and be a good Barcelona citizen. You might also want to rent your own apartment while you are being a good citizen. Barcelona Point offers a wide variety of Barcelona apartments in the centre, but also quiet Barcelona apartments, further away from the La Rambla, but still very well connected.

L?Aquàrium de Barcelona is the most important marine leisure and education centre in the world concerning the Mediterranean. A series of 35 tanks, 11,000 animals and 450 different species, an underwater tunnel 80 metres long, six million litres of water and an immense Oceanarium, the only one in Europe, turn this centre into a unique, reference leisure show that has already been visited by more than 14 million people.Built by the Terrades Muntañola brothers, it opened on 8th September 1995 and it has used state of the art technology to reproduce the different ambients is displayed as faithfully as possible. The displays that make it up are: a route around 21 tanks that show the marvels of the different marine communities of the Mediterranean sea (including the immense Oceanarium) and the colourful tropical seas; the Planeta Aqua display, and Explora!
This unique transparent building houses the city's aquarium and has become a major tourist attraction on the waterfront. The tanks hold the widest possible variety of marine life from all the world's seas, but the big draw are the sharks, of course. If you are looking for an accommodation in Barcelona, there is no better to find it at competitive prices with us. We can offer you Barcelona hotels or apartments in Barcelona so that you can be really independent and have a relaxing stay in this magical city.

Casa Batlló is a building designed by Antoni Gaudi and Josep Maria Jujol and built in years 1905?1907; located at 43, Passeig de Gràcia part of the Illa de la Discòrdia in the Eixample district of Barcelona. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (house of bones), and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality. It was originally designed for a middle-class family and situated in a prosperous district of Barcelona. The building looks very remarkable ? like everything Gaudi designed, only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, is rather astonishing with tracery, irregular oval windows and flowing sculpted stone work. It seems that the goal of the designer was to avoid straight lines completely. The roof is arched and was likened to the back of a dragon or dinosaur. A common theory about the building is that the rounded feature to the left of centre, terminating at the top in a turret and cross, represents the sword of Saint George, which has been plunged into the back of the dragon.
Casa Milà, better known as La Pedrera, is also very important in the history of the works of Gaudi. It was built for Roger Segimon de Milà. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Works of Antoni Gaudí". This building seems to break our understanding of conventional architecture. The most astonishing part is the roof with an almost lunar appearance and dreamlike landscape.The building can be considered more of a sculpture than a regular building. Today it is a landmark of Barcelona.Casa Milá was a predecessor of some buildings with a similar biomorphic appearance:
· the 1921 Einstein Tower in Potsdam, designed by Erich Mendelsohn
· Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
· Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, France, designed by Le Corbusier
· the Hundertwasserhaus and other works by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser
· Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, by Frank Gehry
Free exhibitions are often held on the first floor, which also provides some opportunity to see the interior design. There is a charge for entrance to the apartments and roof. We can offer you Barcelona apartments next to these monuments that have to be seen during your trip in the city. For the perfect Barcelona accomodation, for an hotel in Barcelona for instance, just have a look on our site and enjoy your trip here!

Montjuïc is translated as Hill of the Jews in the medieval Catalan language, or as a corruption of Latin Mons Jovicus (that is, hill of Jupiter).
Barcelona's Montjuïc is on the southeast of the city center. The top of the hill (a height of 173 metres) was the site of several fortifications, the latest of which (the Castell de Montjuïc) remains today. The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th century additions. In 1842 the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city following disturbances. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco. The castle was the site of numerous executions. In 1897 an incident popularly known as Els processos de Montjuïc prompted the execution of anarchist supporters, which in turn lead to a severe repression of the workers' struggle for their rights. On different occasions during the Spanish Civil War, both Nationalists and Republicans were executed there, each at the time when the site was held by their opponents. The Catalan nationalist leader Lluís Companys i Jover was also executed there in 1940, having been extradited to the Franco government by the Nazis.
The surviving buildings from this effort include the grand Palau Nacional, the Estadi Olímpic (the Olympic stadium), the ornate Font Màgica fountains, and a grand staircase leading up from the foot of the Montjuïc at the south end of the Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, past the Font Màgica and through the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda and the Plaça de les Cascades to the Palau Nacional. The Poble Espanyol, a "Spanish village" of different buildings built in different styles of Spanish architecture, also survives, located on the western side of the hill. Mies van der Rohe's German national pavilion was constructed at the foot of the hill, near the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda. It was demolished in 1930 but was rebuilt in 1988. You can find an Barcelona accomodation, right in this district, and benefit from a great atmosphere. From you Barcelona apartment, you will have access to various museums such as The Fundacion Joan Mirò. Indeed from the Plaza d'Espanya, you can either see various exhibition buildings from 1929, while the central position in front of the Palau Nacional is given over to the illuminated fountains, the Font Màgica, which form part of a spectacular sound and light show.
The top can be reached using a funicular (part of the Barcelona Metro) and then a cableway. There are also many Barcelona hotels at your disposition.

If you come in Barcelona for your holidays, don't miss the mountain of Montserrat, with its stangely shaped crags if rick, its monastery and ruined hermitage caves. It stands just 40km northwest of Barcelona, and is one of the most spectacular of all Spain's natural sights, a sawtoothed outcrop left exposed to erosion when the inland sea that covered this area around 25 million years ago was drained by progressive uplifts of the earth's crust. Legends hand easily upon it.
The place is magical and you can avoid the crowds by striking out onto the mountainside. You could also stay the night, though the hotels and restaurants within the complex are overpriced, and the campside and mountain refuges often very busy.
The "Black Virgin", the icon supposedly brought here by St Peter, is responsible for the existence of the monastery of Montserrat. Miracles abounded and the Virgin of Montserrat soon became the chief cult of Catalunya and a pilgrimage centre second in Spain only to Santiago de Compostela. For centuries, the monastery enjoyed outrageous prosperity, having its own flag and a form of extraterritorial independence along the lines of the Vatican City. In recent decades, Montserrat's popularity has again become established and today, there are over 300 brothers, in addition to the tourists, tens of thousands of newly married couples come here to seek La Monereta's blessing on their union. Only the Renaissance Basillica is open to the public and free, which has its museum. After you've pocked around the monastry grounds, it's the mountain walks that are the real attraction. Following the tracks to various caves and the 13 different hermitages. There is also 2 funiculars. If you are interested in what Goethe was used to say "nowhere but in his own Montserrat will a man find happiness and peace", we can find you the perfect place Barcelona apartment or a Barcelona hotel. Near the Plaza Catalunya, there is one of the Barcelona apartments awaiting for you, a magnific designer apartement which can sleep up to 6 persons.

Antoni Gaudí is the prime example of global architecture. In his works there is no difference between structures and decoration, you cannot tell when one finishes and starts the other. We must find the explanation for this brilliant creativity in his life, his love for the land, his mysticism and faith. That's for sure that never again somebody has been able to reproduce natural shapes -which are part of our world from its genesis- with Gaudí is acclaimed beyond our frontiers and is showered with new projects: the Casa de los Botines; the Teresianas school; the Casa de Bellesguard; the Casa Calvet; the Güell Cellars, the restoration of the cathedral of Mallorca; the Casa Batlló, the Casa Milà, and the Colònia Güell. In most of the cases, exclusive buildings ordered by the most important industrialists and bourgeois of the time. They are all looking for the magnificence and luxury developed by Gaudí.

The Temple de la Sagrada Família shows an integral concept of architecture, where plastics, shapes, nature, symbolism and color constitute a unique and genuine mosaic. And this mosaic will remind the name of his master, Gaudí, from here to eternity.

OPENING HOURS
October to March, 9am to 6pm.April to September, 9am to 8pm.The Temple is closed on the afternoons of December 25 and 26, January 1 and 6.Lift service and shop: closes approximately a quarter of an hour before, depending on how many people are present.Audio-guide service: closes one hour before.

Individual admission: 8 ?
Group admission: 5 ? (Over 20 people)
Individual admission + Guided Visit: 8 + 3,5 ?
Young Person?s card: 5 ?
Student card: 5 ?
?Tarja Rosa?: 5 ?
Tourist bus: 7 ?
Tourist bus + Guided Visit: 7 ?+ 3,5 ?
Barcelona Card: 5 ?
Combined admission: Temple Sagrada Família + Casa-Museu Gaudí (Park Güell): 9 ?
(Can be purchased at either of the two sites. Valid 1 month)
Lift
The lift takes visitors 65 metres up, on the Passion Façade
and up to 55 m in the Nativity façade.

Charge: 2 ?.
Looking for an accomodation? We can offer you this apartment in Barcelona near the Sagrada familia just click on the following link and a professional team will find you a Barcelona accomodation or an hotel in Barcelona.

All critics place Jean-Luc Figueras' eponymous restaurant right at the top of Barcelona's best restaurants, it therefore should be highly placed on a list of the world's best. Jean-Luc Figueras is an exquisite restaurant, set in the 1850's townhouse that was once the atelier of Balenciaga and decorated in restrained traditional style. It is located in the district of Gracia, one of the most elegant in the city, and where your can find a Barcelona apartment just next to the famous Passeig de Gracia. Service is impeccable. This is special occasion dining, with multiple amuse-bouches, each with its own change of cutlery. The cuisine is a superb example of what Barcelona calls Author Cuisine, with the chef's personality indelibly stamped on each dish. References are French and Catalan. The finest seasonal ingredients are employed. Menus change frequently, but some of Figueras's own creations include prawn and ginger-flecked pasta in mango and mustard sauce, and seabass with cod and blood sausage. A 20-course tasting menu is available. Desserts are lauded, and the cellar is a match for the food in every way
The setting is modern and refined, and the cookery is both traditional and innovative, as Figueras stamps every dish with his own personal touch. Highly dedicated to staying on top, Figueras is a seeker of the finest raw materials on the Barcelona market, and his menu is adjusted to take advantage of the best produce in any season. The emphasis is on fresh seafood, although his meat dishes are also sublime. Your tongue will fall in love with you if you're wise enough to select such nouvelle-inspired dishes as shrimp with a velvety smooth and golden pumpkin cream sauce or the pork with a zesty goat cheese enlivened with peach honey. The desserts are homemade and inevitably sumptuous, and there are seven varieties of freshly made bread.
Any guests you invite to a private dining event at Jean-Luc Figueras would be thrilled to accept, this is very special occasion dining. The elegant dining room seats up to 30, and there are two equally charming small private dining rooms, seating 8 and 18 guests respectively. Faultless service, sublime ingredients, stunning combinations of flavours and textures unique to this restaurant, there are endless reasons to choose Jean-Luc Figueras for important private events. If you are looking for a Barcelona accomodation, you can rely on a professional team to find for you the ideal accommodation or to find an Barcelona Hotel.

Another legacy of the 1929 exhibition, this time an enclosed area showing examples of traditional architecture from every region in spain. A castilian square leads to an andalucian church, then on the village houses from Aragon and so on. There are numerous bars and restaurants and 60 plus shops. Many are the workshops in which craftspeople make and sell Spanish folk artefacts, such as ceramics, embroidery, fans, metalwork and candles.
Outside, streets performers recreate bits of catalan and spanish folklore. The poble is unmistakably aimed at tourists, but it has been working to raise its cultural profile. The Poble Espanyol is located near the Plaza de Espanya, a very well communicated area.
If you intend to spend some days in the city, there are many possibilities of Barcelona accommodation close to Plaza de Espanya, and the access to the center is very easy by bus, metro or taxi. Many rental agencies offer you the possibility to rent a Barcelona apartment ;from an economic apartment in Barcelona to group apartments in Barcelona, you have a wide choice. But Barcelona hotels are also very numerous.

The pedestrianised section of Rambla de Catalunya, streching from Gran via to Diagonal, is in effect a continuation of la Rambla, but without a human statue in sight and with several good spots in which to enjoy an alfresco drink or tapa. Sheltered by pretty lime trees and lined by high priced shops, this is where Barcelona's bourgoisie have long come to stroll, see and be seen; though crossed by nine busy roads, it's the most pleasant way to walk from the old city city to Gracia. While the buildings can't compete with the modernista architecture of Passeig de Gracia, there's plenty to admire: check out Casas Juncadella and Fargas, by the prolific enric sagnier and Puig i Cadafalch's casa Serra. Make sure you catch the bronze statues by Josep Granyer that top and tail the Rambla: a thinking man's bull at the bottom and a cheeky-looking giraffe at the top.

The Eixample district is called the Quadrat d'Or of Barcelona. If you would like to spend some days in Barcelona and enjoy the spiritual centre of bourgeois Barcelona, check the online booking agencies which offer Barcelona apartments, Barcelona accommodation in the district of Eixample, and even located in Passeig de Gracia. You also have the choice among many Barcelona Hotels !

The most thrilling ride in the city centre is across the inner harbour on the cable car, which sweeps from the Torre de Sant Sebastia, at the foot of Barceloneta, to Montjuïc with a stop in the middle at Torre de Jaume I. The views are stunning, aproaching either Montjuïc or Barceloneta, and you can pick out with ease the towers of the cathedral and Sagrada Familia, while the trees lining the Ramblas look like the forked tongue of a serpent.
Departures are every fifteen minutes, though in summer and at week ends you may have to wait for a while at the top of the towers for a ride, as the cars only carry about 20 people at a time. Tickets cost 7.50 euros one way or 9 euros return for the whole journey, or 7.50 one way return if you join at the middle station, Jaume I.

Jaume I is the old center of Barcelona, the old part of the city where you can admire people dancing the catalan folk dance (sardana). The area is perfect if you intend spend some days in Barcelona. During the summer you are really close to the beach, la Rambla are 5 minutes walking from la Plaça Jaume I and the metro is direct to Plaza Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia, Sagrada Familia.
Many online booking agencies offer Barcelona holiday apartments for short stays, and Barcelona hotels. They is a wide choice of accommodation in Barcelona, from economical apartments to group apartments in Barcelona.

In 1869 when general Prim announced that the area taken up by the loathed Bourbon citadel could be reclaimed for public use, the city's joy was boundless. Soon the park become the site of the 1888 Exhibition; Domènech i Montaner's Castell de Tres Dragons at the entrance served as the cafeteria, while the Arc de Triomf to the north formed the main entrance. Prim is honoured with a large equestrian statue at the south end.
Surprinsingly extensive, the park also contains a host of attractions: the zoo, the Natural History Museum, a boating lake and an array of imaginative statuary. Beside the lake is the cascade, an ornamental fountain on which young Gaudi worked as assistant to Josep fontseré's Umbracle. Not to be missed are Fontseré's Umbracle and the elegant Hivernacle (winter garden).
The parc de la Ciutadella is located in a very nice and centric area of Barcelona, in Passeig Picasso (metro Arc de Triomf or Barceloneta). If you intend to stay some days in Barcelona, many rental agencies offer Barcelona apartments, Barcelona accommodation and also in this district. On-line booking agencies propose many Barcelona apartments and Barcelona hotels from different catégories.

As a child, Salvador Segui sold sugared sweets in the bars and cafés of the Barrio chino, which gave him the nickname of "noi de sucre". Self educated, the young Segui was a constant presence in debates on philosophy, culture and politics held regularly in the bars of the Raval, famed as much for his oratory skills as for his flamboyant fashion sense. He quickly rose the prominence in the anarchist trade union, the Confederacion Nacional del Trabaj (CNT)
Segui was a moederate anarchist who opposed the terrorism favoured by extremist and revolutionary sections of the CNT that hoped to use the strikes as a prelude to revolution.
He argued that anarchism was "not only an arm to overthrow the sate, but a means to build a new, better society". However, his moderate views were his undoing. On sunday 10 march1923, Segui was shot dead, the most eminent of the 464 victims killed in the gun warfare waged between employers and unions from 1918 to 1923.
Placa Segui is located in the district of Raval, which is an old district of Barcelona.
If you want to stay few days in Barcelona, you have a lot of Barcelona Hotels and Barcelona apartments near this area.
The district is very central, and you won't have problems to find Barcelona accommodation.

The magic fountains are one of the major touristical attractions of Barcelona:
Still using its original art deco waterworks, the "magic fountain" works its wonders with the help of 3.600 pieces of tubing and over 4.500 light bulbs.
Summer evenings after nightfall see the multiple founts swelland dance to various hits ranging from Sting to the 1812 ouverture, showing off its kaleidoscope of pastel colours, while searchliglights play in a giant fan pattern over the palace dome. Montjuïc is located plaça d'Espanya.
From May to September, you can admire the fountains from thursday to sunday and from October to April, on friday, and saturday during the evening;
Montjuïc is the city's Xanadu, a pleasure ground of gardens, museums and galleries, perfect for a leafy stroll with majestic views over the city of Barcelona.
If you wish to spend some days in the city, Montjuïc is a perfect place to find Barcelona accommodation, there are a lot of Barcelona Apartments to rent, or Barcelona hotels.

This little square or more specifically its impressive bell tower has been synonymous with resistance since la Revolta de les Quinites in 1870. On 4 April of that year, the governement announced a decision to reintroduce the quintes (military drafts), reneging on a previous promise. In the Plaça Rius i Taulet, 300 women stormed the town hall in protest, looting the building and then burning the call-up lists and other documents in a massive fire in the plaça. The plaça is located in the district of Gracia. There are many Barcelona apartments in Gracia.
The revolt lasted a full week, during which time the bell of the clock tower continued to chime, calling people from surrounding towns to join the revolt. The army, which bombarded the town day and night, finally entered Gracia on 9 April and violently ransacked the town, destroying houses and businesses and taking 30 people to the Plaça del sol to be executed. Soon afterwards, the tale of the bale entered the popular mythology of the area.
Come to Barcelona and discover what secrets hide the districts of the city, moreover it is really easy to find accommodation in Barcelona!

Rising over the city to the southwest, the steep hill of Montjuïc took its name from the jewish community that once settled on its slopes, and there's been a castle on the heights since the mid-seventeenth century, which says much about the hill's obvious historical defensive role. Since the erection of buildings for the international Exhibition of 1929, however, Montjuic's prime role has been cultural and you could easily spend a full day at its varied attractions which include five museums and galleries, various gardens and the famous "Spanish village" quite apart from the buildings and stadiums associated with the 1992 Olympics, which was centered on Montjuïc. For those short on time, the Museu Nacional d'Arte de Catalunya is undoubtelly the highlight, though fans of Miro will not want to miss the Fundacio Joan Miro, and architectural pilgrims come from far and wide to visit the Pavello Mies van der Rohe. Above all, perhaps, there are the views to savour from this most favoured of Barcellona's hills: from the steps in front of the Palau Nacional, from the castle ramparts, from the olympics terraces, or from the cable cars which zigzag up the steepest slopes of Montjuic. You want to enjoy the special charme of the area - why don't you book a Barcelona Apartment in the Montjuic area?!

The hill covers a wide area so it's wise to plan your visit carefully around the various opening times. This area of Barcelona, is really nice and only 15 minutes from the center. You can easily find nice accommodation in Barcelona in this area. Many rental agencies rent apartments in Barcelona.

Barcelona is definitely a mother city for Modernism. And do you know why this trend is so well represented in Catalonia? The country was really open-minded to the trends coming from the rest of Europe in order to reinforced its nationalism and its differences with the rest of Spain.
Thus, the ideas of many architects and artists were easily accepted as bases of an artistic renewal.
The most representative artist of Modernism is of course Antoni Gaudi, and you can admire several of his works throughout the whole city. Others big masters like Domenech I Montaner and Puig I Cadefalch are also famous.
The Quadrat d'Or (the Gold Square) in the Eixample district shows some marvels. There you can admire the Casa Mila, also called La Pedrera. It was sculpted with wave forms and the roof looks like the body of a ship.
La Manzana de la Discordia (Bone of Contention) gathers 3 houses and each owner uses the genius of one architect to build their house.
Further you can find the Casa Calvert, the first edifice of Gaudi, adorned with angels faces, wrought iron balustrades...

A bit further away from the city centre you will find Park Güell, another master work of Gaudi. It was first supposed to include private houses, administration buildings and leisure spaces. It was supposed to be an English style garden city but those plans were never finished. In the whole park you can find the familiar curves and mosaic.
The masterpiece of Gaudi is without any doubts the Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family), a modernist house of God, never consecrated by the Church. Gaudi died before its wind-up and despite the polemic about letting it as it was, the constructions keep going on. The Sagrada Familia has 3 façades : the Passion, the Nativity and the Glory of the Christ.
This is a real stunning building. I was staying for a while in the Hotel Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a few years ago, and I was always so astonished when I arrived at the turn of the street in front of this fascintating building...

Barcelona is a city with many different faces. What I like most are the numerous districts, each owning specific features which make them unique and disposing of quite a number of nice Barcelona apartments where you can spend your holiday..
First, the Plaça Catalunya, the big square at the heart of the city and a meeting point for everybody! From the Plaça starts the famous and popular La Rambla, a pedestrian street which runs way down to the Port Vell and the Monument of Colombus. This is an amazing street, full of colours, bars, stalls, mimes and overcrowed in the summer, unfortunately... Every time I go there, I can feel the soul and all the power of this beautiful city. La Rambla seperates two districts : when you face the port, El Raval district is on the right and El Barrio Gotico is on the left.
El Raval is a vibrant neighbourhood mixing many different types of population. Some of the streets ? particularly in the Lower Raval - have become immigrants ghettos and that's why it's said not to be a safe place. But the Upper Raval hosts today a lot of late night-bars, restaurants or galleries which make this place more friendly.
The Barrio Gotico is said to be the best preserved medieval quarter in Europe. The most pleasant , to my mind, is to wander through all these small, intricate, picturesque streets which drive you to lovely squares and monuments. I like to get lost in these streets, just lounging around and appreciate the beauty of the architecture.
If you cross the Via Leitana, you arrive in El Born district. Its particularity is to combine historical treasures and a really cool and fashionable ambiance. It's a good neighbourhood to go to eat or have a drink.
If you go then way to the sea, you'll arrive on the Port Vell, the Old Port. But it doesn't look old at all, with the palm-fringed stroll, the state-of-the-art shopping mall incluiding shops and restaurants, the IMAX cinema and the renovated aquarium of Barcelona!
In general, from here, I continue the stroll along the port to the district of La Barceloneta.The 'Little Barcelona' was used to be a fishermen area and even if most of the tourists come here to stay or to eat, you can still feel the warm atmosphere at the heart of the small streets. The stroll drives me then to Vila Olimpica, which was built for the Olympic Games of 1992. This is a spacious and comfortable place but the liveliest part is the olympic port, with luxurious hotels, a Casino, a lot of bars, restaurants and clubs.

On the other side of Barcelona is a fascinating big place : Montjuic, located on a hill. Here you can find huge gardens and green spaces, as well as museums, galleries, the 'Spanish Village' - built for the World Fair of 1929 and representing the architectures of all the Spanish regions - and finally tons of sport facilities. What I like in this place is the green places, it's really peaceful and you have an impressive view over Barcelona.
North way from Plaça Catalunya, we can find the distric of L'Eixample (Esquerra and Dreta : Left and Right). It was built in the late 19th century and means 'enlargement'. Well, you can see it when you walk through the streets, all built parallel and perpendicular! To see it clearly , just buy a post card, it's surprising! For me it is the most elegant and bourgeois district.
Finally, the last district I want to talk about is Gracia, a pieceful and pleasant area, the haunt of Barcelona's bohemians. This is the district of quiet squares, artistic and design shops, small cinemas and restaurants.

For sure, you need some time to discover the secret of each district of Barcelona. If you are coming to Barcelona for a few days, it's then strategic to find the best place to stay. And by the way, here you can find a Barcelona apartment which could be suitable.