This picturesque city in the northeast of Spain will not leave anyone indifferent. The capital of Catalonia is rich in history, majestic architecture, large -scale attractions, green streets, wide beaches, the Olympic stadium, sports museums and nightlife.
Barcelona is a reflection of the culture of Spain. Different exhibitions, festivals, concerts and performances are constantly held here. Art here can be found not only in museums, but also in the open air: each area of the city is unique, and the style of buildings from Gothic structures to modern miracles Gaudi will not leave anyone indifferent.
And here it is comfortable at any time of the year – the southern climate will not allow to freeze in winter, and the green crowns of trees will hide from the hot sun in the summer.
Entrance rules
Russians will need a passport with a Schengen visa. Now Spain is considered one of the most loyal European states in terms of requirements for documents. The value of the application is 80 euros for an adult (about 5,800 rubles*).
How to get
From Moscow to Barcelona, you can fly with transfers in Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways), Casablanca, Baku (Azerbaijan Airlines), Cairo (Egyptar) or Belgrade (Airserbia). The fastest option – Turkish Airlines with a transplant in Istanbul – such a flight will take 9 hours 45 minutes. One way ticket costs about 34,000 rubles*.
Where to stop
Hotel Brick Barcelona (Assessment 9.0) – a hotel near the Spanish village. The night in the standard room with the King-Sayz bed costs from 11,800 rubles*.
U232 Hotel (Assessment 9.0) – a cozy hotel with a terrace and sun loungers on the roof. Prices per night in a standard issue start at 14,800 rubles*.
Boutique Hostemplo Sagrada Familia (Assessment 8.9)-200 m boutique hotel from the Cathedral Sagrada Família. The night in the room with a jacuzzi, its own balcony or terrace costs from 14,900 rubles*.
The One Barcelona GL (Assessment 9.4) – a five -star hotel in the city center with a pool on the roof. Prices per night in a room with panoramic windows start from 27,000 rubles*.
How to move
In the city, public transport is perfectly developed. A single ticket costs 10.2 euros (about 860 rubles*) and for 1 hour 15 minutes allows you to make a free transplant on the subway, funicular, tram or city bus.
Unlimited transport maps “Hola BCN!” Are also sold. on 2, 3, 4 and 5 days. Some of them provide a free visit to the main attractions or a discount on the entrance ticket. The cost of the card starts from 15 euros (about 1,200 rubles*).
Tourist bus
Choose this option if you want to quickly examine the main attractions of Barcelona. There are three routes:
- Red – passes past Catalonia Square, Rambla Street, Gaudi buildings, a Spanish village and a funicular station to Montjuïc Mount.
- Blue – lies past the Cathedral of Sagrada Família and the funicular stations on the mountain Tibidabo.
- Green – passes past the Olympic port and the beach. It has been working from mid -March to November.
What to see
Day 1. Las Ramblas
La Rambla street
The main and most famous street in Barcelona connects Plaça de Cataluña and embankment. Often the street is called in the plural – Las Ramblas, because in fact it is a whole sequence of streets with the word “Rambla” in the name. It shares two central areas of the old city of Barcelona – the tourist Gothic quarter on the one hand and the old El Raval on the other.
On La Rambla is located the La Boqueria market with fresh seafood and one of the best dishes of local cuisine, the Gran Teatre del Liceu theater and museums of contemporary art. During a walk, you will see many street artists, artists and merchants souvenirs. But be careful: in Spain there is a lunch break – siesta. Almost all shops and restaurants close from 14 to 17 hours, and most of them do not work on Sundays.
Gothic quarter
Local residents say that the soul of Catalonia lives in these winding streets and small areas with fountains. Even on the hottest day, the gray walls of medieval buildings create a shadow, so it is so nice to get lost for several hours. In the Gothic quarter is the Barcelona Cathedral Pla de la Seu, Cathedral de Santa Euralia Cathedral with the famous balcony, Picasso, secluded bars, authentic boots and restaurants.
Plaça d’Isidre Nonell
Not far from the Cathedral is the Mural “Kiss of Freedom”. This is a fresco that looks like lips in a kiss from afar, but you can see thousands of tiny ceramic tiles nearby. For this mural, the artist collected more than four thousand photographs of the Spaniards in which they are happy, so each individual tile is freedom and joy.
If you get hungry, the La Tasqueta de Blai restaurant is nearby with a huge selection of tapas. Even if it seems to you that the Spanish cuisine will not surprise you, still give him a chance.
Palau Palau de la moughica
Catalonia is famous for not only Gaudi, but also the architect Lewis Domenec-i-Montaners. The music palace created by him is one of the most luxurious interiors in Spain. Usually they put the opera here, but you can find a performance for any musical taste. Inside the palace surprises more than outside: a riot of colors, bright tiles, carved columns, sculptures, ceramic tiles, a stained -glass dome of the ceiling, curved bizarre stairs, balconies and an abundance of mosaics will not leave anyone indifferent.
Spanish village
Usually they come to this area to inspect the Montjuïc castle of the 17th century, climb a funicular to the mountain or see the Light show “Magic Fountain” from the steps of the National Museum of Arts. However, there is another attraction here, about which few have heard: on the slope of the hill, the local botanical garden Jardin de Mossen Costa is hidden. The spacious green gardens seem to be a calm, deserted oasis in the open air, and there is also an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city.
Day 2. Walk “Gaudi”
Cathedral of the Holy Family
Sagrada Família is the most famous work of art and architecture Gaudi. The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 and continues to this day, but you can go inside and climb the tower. The cost of tickets starts at 26 euros (about 2,200 rubles*) to avoid queues, buy them online.
The entrance to the cathedral is decorated with facades that describe the scenes from the Bible, and inside Antonio Gaudi created amazing forms decorated with granite and stained glass mosaics, through which sunlight passes and paints the white walls of the decoration with all colors of the rainbow. Each element of the building seems thought out to the smallest details that I want to look at.
PARC Guell Park
The garden complex is considered the most creative in the world and is an object of the UNESCO World Heritage. It is located next to Sagrada Família, but does not look like a cathedral at all: the park is full of colors, dynamic forms, mosaics from pieces of ceramics, innovative architecture and lush trees. The central place in the park is occupied by the main terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea snake. Every work of Gaudi had its own topic. The art elements of Catalan nationalism, as well as ancient poetry and mysticism, were embedded in the design of the park.
Palace Palau Güell
It was a private house of the philanthropist and the wealthy industrialist Eusebi Guel. The main element of the house is the central room that was used for entertainment, religious ceremonies and parties. This room is crowned with a parabolic dome, which illuminates the entire space through a row of small holes that create in the evening the starry sky on the ceiling.
Gaudi designed stables for horses, a carriage house, a dining room, a room of musicians, rooms and bedrooms to the smallest detail. For example, if you rise to the roof, you will see 20 chimneys finished with mosaics.
Casa Batllo
Gaudi did not design this building, but restored: he completely remade the exterior, the main floor, the courtyard and the roof. The facade of Casa Batllo is decorated with a mosaic of a bat ceramic tile, which the architect collected from garbage of a nearby glass workshop. And the roof of the building has an ardent shape and resembles the back of the dragon.
Casa Calvet
Usually people pass by this building and do not pay attention to it – it does not look like the rest of Gaudi’s work. Partly because the house is located between the other two, partly – because it is located in an expensive area with strict style. Nevertheless, the architect included mythological and natural motives in the theme of the building, for which Casa Calvet received the 1900 Best Building Award.
Casa vicens
This building was the first grand work of Gaudi. It is made of unexpressed stone, rough red brick and colored ceramic tiles with a checker and floral pattern-such a choice of materials paid tribute to the profession of a customer, which was the owner of a brick-cherepical factory. The building was first open for excursions at the end of 2017, so so far few have seen the interiors of this house.
Casa Mila
One of the most popular works by Gaudi was created under the guise of a snowy mountain – for this the facade of the building was made of limestone. However, a rude facade reminded people of a stone quarry, and Casa Mila received the nickname La Pedrera, which means “career”.
The building in the modern style has twisted forged balconies, colorful frescoes with floral and mythological motifs, courtyards filled with sunlight, colorful smoke pipes on the roof and an attic, which consists of 270 brick arches. Gaudi, as always, thought over the interior to the smallest detail: he even developed door pens, stucco molding and flooring, which to this day can be seen inside the building.
Fountain in Parc de la ciutadella
The fountain is made in the Baroque style-massive and intricate, it somewhat reminiscent of the famous Di Trevi fountain in Rome. Located in a large park near the embankment, on the territory of which there is a lake, the Barcelona Zoo and the ancient building of the parliament. It is especially good here in the evening, after a walk on other Gaudi works: when you see the fountain on which the architect worked as a student, you can evaluate the evolution of his style.
*Prices are relevant at the time of publication.
