Continuing my travels through Western Europe, 5 friends and I traveled to Barcelona for some fun in the sun last weekend. Escaping cold and dreary Milan, we left Thursday night and spent 3 nights and 2 days in this warm, beautiful Spanish city.

Other than the warm and beautiful weather, the first thing you notice upon arriving in Barcelona is its unique blending of cultures, architecture, and languages. Located on the Iberian Peninsula and having been under control of the Moors, the Spanish Monarchy, and the authoritarian regime of General Franco, this city has noticeable Arab, European, and totalitarian influences. Divided into districts, with the most famous and picturesque one being the Gothic District, Barcelona visually displays its eventful and storied past to each visitor.

The second thing that is immediately evident is the vast influence that Antoni Gaudi had on the layout, design, and architecture of the city. Known for his very different and interesting building designs, his influence on Barcelona is so profound that entire tours devoted solely to his works in the city are available. Obsessed with angles, curves, and unique geometrical shapes such as hyperboloids and paraboloids, his works in the city include the famous Sangrada Famila, Park Guell, Casa Mila, and Casa Calvet.

On Friday, our first day in the city, we awoke to a bright and sunny 60 degree day. I have to say that I was a bit jealous of the IES: Barcelona students since I was able to wear nothing but a t-shirt all day. We started our day by walking down Las Ramblas, the street in Barcelona famous for its shops and markets. We took this street down to the harbor and walked around on the beach before eating lunch. After lunch, we walked to the northern part of the city to the famous Sangrada Familia.

Having seen a multitude of pictures and drawings of this iconic cathedral, I had a good understanding of its general design, but just like the Duomo in Milan, you can’t truly appreciate neither the beauty nor the intricacy of its design without seeing it in person. Although I was a bit disappointed that it was currently under construction, it was still an awesome sight.  Even though the architecture and unique design of the outside of this church would be enough to make it a must-see monument in Barcelona and all of Europe, its interior design was even more breathtaking. Containing endless series of columns, hundreds of stained glass windows, and brilliantly designed holes in the ceiling that light the entire structure, this cathedral was incredible. After visiting this site, the high regard that the entire city has for Gaudi was quite understandable

On Saturday, I awoke early in the morning so that I could see as much of the city as possible before nightfall. During the morning I walked around the Gothic district and visited the Cathedral, the Basilica de Santa Maria de la Mar, and numerous small shops in the area. After lunch, my friends and I visited another Gaudi creation, Park Guell. While this beautiful park at first looks like it was designed by Dr. Seuss, due to the weird shape of every staircase, bench, and plaza, as well as buildings that appear to have frosted roofs, as you walk through this place you begin to understand the brilliance of its creation. Without straight edge or corner in sight, Gaudi created a unique haven overlooking the city that causes each visitor to question their view of the world. This park is also located on a giant hill that provides an incredible overlook of Barcelona.

After Park Guell, we decided to visit the western part of the city and make our way up to Montjuic, an impressive plateau with an ancient castle that provides another beautiful view of the city. On our way to this site, we passed the beautiful building of the National Museum of Catalan Art, an old retired bullfighting ring, the Olympic Stadium from the 1992 Summer Games, and several cool parks. 20 minutes on the metro, 30 minutes walking, and a 12 euro gondola later, we finally reached Montjuic. While the view was not as impressive as the one at Park Guell, it was still very interesting to see this historic fortress and the skyline of Barcelona once again.

Overall, I had a great time in Barcelona. It is a great choice for anyone looking to spend a short or extended weekend in a warm place and see some history. The unique past of Barcelona and its division into districts makes it a great place to experience traditional Spain as well as the more modern aspects the country. I would recommend this city to anyone traveling to or in Europe.

Interesting Notes:

1.) Most people in Barcelona speak English, but the actual native language is not Spanish, but a dialect called Catalan. While it is similar in structure to Spanish, the accent is different and some words are changed (i.e. road = Carre and not Calle)

2.) Restaurants don’t open until 9 P.M. at the earliest.

3.) Tapas, Spanish appetizers offered at nearly every restaurant, are entirely overrated and not nearly as good as the Italian “aperitivo.”

Travel Tips:

1.) Stay at Hostel 1 Barcelona. The staff is incredibly helpful, the atmosphere is fun, it is very clean, and it includes a full kitchen and hot showers.

2.) Be sure to visit the Gothic District. It is a really cool area with authentic Spanish crafts, shops, and cafes.
 
3.) There is almost no need to pay for a taxi or use the metro (except for getting to Park Guell or Montjuic) since almost the entire historical portion of town is located near the water.

Location: Barcelona, Spain