In this post, we talk to travel writer, photographer, filmmaker, blogger and all-round Barcelona connoisseur Ben Holbrook. I’ve been a fan of Ben’s work since discovering his blog Driftwood Journals back in 2013, and when the opportunity arose, I jumped at the chance of finding out more about what inspires him and his life in…
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10 Things That Barcelona Is Famous For
With an estimated twelve million visitors each year, Barcelona is one of the best-known and most visited cities in Europe. But what is Barcelona famous for? Barcelona is famous for its outstanding football team, stunning architecture, lively nightlife, sandy beaches, and world-class cuisine. Not to mention a vibrant cultural heritage and colourful neighbourhood festivals that…
Where to Stay in Barcelona: Best Areas & Neighbourhoods
It’s no secret that choosing the right hotel or apartment can make or break a holiday, and deciding where to stay is possibly the most important decision you’ll make when planning a trip to Barcelona. In this post, I’ve pooled together the knowledge gained from more than twenty years of living in the city to…
When’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Barcelona? (Month-by-Month Guide)
For most visitors, the best time of year to visit Barcelona is from early April through to mid-October. Throughout this period the weather is generally warm and sunny. It’s also when most of the city’s many vibrant festivals take place. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit at other times of the year. In fact,…
Barcelona Metro Guide: Timetables, Maps, Tickets & More
The Barcelona metro is modern, efficient and easy to use. Trains run frequently throughout the day, and you seldom have to wait more than a few minutes. This article contains all the information you need to help you get around the city, including maps, timetables, tickets and more. Contents Barcelona Metro lines and maps Route…
Which Barcelona Airport is Best? (BCN, GRO, REU)
Three international airports serve Barcelona and the surrounding area with flights to and from the UK, Spain and other European countries. When visiting Barcelona, it’s best to fly to Barcelona Airport, which is located 14 kilometres south of the city centre and is the largest of the three airports. There are frequent bus, train and…
Monument to General Prim
Barcelona’s best-known park, El Parc de la Ciutadella, takes its name from the fortress which once occupied the site. Built immediately after the War of the Spanish Succession to dominate the fallen city, the citadel became a symbol of oppression that was hated by the people of Barcelona. In 1869 the government of General Joan…
Ripoll: What to See and Do
Ripoll is a small town in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range, one hundred kilometres from Barcelona. The town is best known for the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, which was founded in the ninth century and is considered one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Spain. Ripoll also makes a good…
Plaça de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer
Plaça de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer is basically just a large and fairly busy roundabout in the l’Eixample district of Barcelona. The plaza would probably go unnoticed if it wasn’t for the twenty-metre high monument which stands in the middle and the giant neon owl that stares down from the roof of a nearby building. Monument…
Desolation by Josep Llimona
Desolation (Catalan: Desconsol) is one of the best known and most evocative statues by Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona i Brugera. Born in Barcelona in 1863, Josep Llimona is widely considered to be the most influential sculptor of the Catalan Modernism artistic movement. His earliest commissions were mostly monuments and funerary statues. In fact, Desolation is…
Statue of Little Red Riding Hood
Who isn’t familiar with the story of Little Red Riding Hood? The tale of a young girl and her grandmother who are saved from a fierce wolf by a burly woodcutter. The Little Red Riding Hood fountain in Barcelona portrays a smiling Red Riding Hood casually stroking a friendly-looking wolf. Presumably, inspired in the girl’s…
10 Charming Squares & Pretty Plazas in Barcelona (with map)
Barcelona’s squares and plazas are the very essence of city life. Places where locals and visitors alike come to meet friends, relax and enjoy a drink or a meal. From large imposing plazas surrounded by elegant buildings to tiny squares where children can run and play, there are literally hundreds of squares of all sizes…
Neptune’s Fountain: History and Symbolism
Neptune is one of the best known Roman gods and there are fountains dedicated to him in numerous European cities including Rome, Florence, Madrid and Berlin. Neptune’s fountain in Barcelona was inaugurated in 1882. Originally located in the Port Vell harbour, in 1912 the fountain was moved to the Laribal Gardens on Montjuïc where it…
Homage to Picasso by Antoni Tàpies
Homage to Picasso is a large abstract sculpture that was commissioned by Barcelona city council in 1981 to celebrate the centenary of the artist’s birth. Created by Antoni Tapies, the sculpture consists of a collection of Art Nouveau furniture traversed by iron beams and tied together by rope. One side of the pile of furniture…
Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol
Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol (St. Josep Oriol’s Square) is located next to the Santa Maria del Pi Basilica in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. Built on the site of one of the Basilica’s three cemeteries, the square hosts a regular artists market which takes place every weekend. Artists Market One of the delights of exploring Barcelona’s…
Monument to Anselm Clavé
Josep Anselm Clavé was a musician, composer, writer and political activist. A committed socialist and founder of choral societies aimed at working-class people, Clavé played an important role in the development of popular Catalan culture during the nineteenth century. Monument to Josep Anselm Clavé Inaugurated in 1888, the monument consists of a bronze statue by…
MALIP: Monument to Lost Dreams
The Monument to Lost Dreams (Catalan: El Monument a les Il·lusions Perdudes) is a sleek, abstract sculpture by cartoonist and multidisciplinary artist Toni Batllori. Installed in Poblenou in 2015, the pale granite statue was created as part of a fundraising drive for Clowns Without Frontiers (Payasos Sin Fronteras) a registered charity that sends clowns to…
Monument to Frederic Soler
Better known by his pen name Serafí Pitarra, Frederic Soler was a Catalan playwright who wrote over a hundred plays as well as several books of poetry. The white marble monument which was erected in his memory stands directly opposite Barcelona’s oldest theatre, Teatre Principal. Biography of Frederic Soler Frederic Soler i Hubert was born…
The Medieval Fountains of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
Barcelona was founded by the Romans in the first century AD. As the city’s population increased, two aqueducts were built to bring water from springs in the mountains nearby. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueducts fell into disrepair and were eventually abandoned. During the tenth century AD, a channel called El Rec…
Barcelona’s Medieval Jewish Quarter (El Call)
Barcelona’s medieval Jewish Quarter is a small area of narrow streets and alleyways tucked away behind the Cathedral, in the oldest part of the city centre. The area was abandoned after the pogroms of 1391, almost a hundred years before the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. Today, you can learn…
Carmela by Jaume Plensa
Carmela is one of four sculptures by Jaume Plensa which were exhibited at the Palau de la Musica Catalana in 2016. The statue was such a hit with the neighbours that they started a petition on change.org asking the organizers and Barcelona city council to keep it there indefinitely. Carmela Sculpture Carmela was created from…
Fountain of Diana
Located on the intersection of Gran Via and Roger de Lluria, the Fountain of Diana is a six and a half metre tall marble fountain topped by a statue of the Roman goddess Diana the huntress. The Renaissance styled Fountain by Venancio Vallmitjana was commissioned by Barcelona city council in 1913. Apparently, the young goddess…
Monument to the Heroes of 1809
Commonly referred to as the Monument to the Martyrs of Independence, The Monument to the Heroes of 1809 is dedicated to eight people who were executed after a failed attempt to drive occupying French troops out of Barcelona. The Martyrs of Independence During the Peninsula War (1807 – 1814) Barcelona was occupied by Napoleon’s army…
Basilica of La Mercè
It may not be as well known as Barcelona’s other historic churches, but the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (Catalan: La Basílica de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè) is a worthy addition to your list of things to see in the Gothic Quarter. The basilica’s stunning interior consists of a nave flanked…
The Church of the Sacred Heart on Mount Tibidabo
Perched at the top of Mount Tibidabo, the Church of the Sacred Heart rewards visitors with exceptional views of Barcelona and the surrounding countryside. Built between 1902 and 1961, and topped by a giant statue of Jesus, the church is an iconic feature of Barcelona’s skyline and can be seen from most parts of the…
Myths and Legends of Barcelona
With over two thousand years of history, it’s no wonder that Barcelona has more than its fair share of myths, legends and superstitions. From the squares and alleyways of the Gothic Quarter to the peak of Mount Tibidabo, in this post, we uncover the best-known stories. The Vampire of Barcelona At the beginning of the…
Easy Day Trips From Barcelona by Public Transport (and how to get there)
If you’re visiting Barcelona for longer than just a weekend, chances are you’ll want to go beyond the city limits and take a day trip. There’s no shortage of awesome destinations for a quick road trip, from blue flag beaches and medieval castles to extinct volcanoes and picturesque villages. If you don’t fancy hiring a…
10 Things to Do at Barcelona’s Port Vell Harbour
A short walk from the city centre, Barcelona’s Port Vell harbour is one of the most beautiful areas of the city. Popular with visitors and locals alike, and with plenty of things to see and do, it’s a great place to relax with friends and family. Here’s my list of the ten best things to…
Barcelona’s Oldest Fountain: La Font de Santa Ana
From the narrow streets and alleyways of the Gothic Quarter to the wide boulevards of l’Eixample district, wherever you go in Barcelona, you’ll see fountains of all shapes and sizes. The earliest fountains were built during the Middle Ages to provide water for Barcelona’s inhabitants and livestock. Simple and functional, early fountains were sparsely decorated…
El Capricho de Gaudí, Comillas
Born in Reus in 1852, Antoni Gaudí moved to Barcelona to study architecture when he was eighteen years old. After finishing his studies, he began working for some of the city’s wealthiest residents. In the years which followed, his ground-breaking and fanciful designs helped transform the city into what we see today. Despite the fact…