The Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar was built during the 14th century on a site which was once occupied by a Roman Amphitheatre. The church took 55 years to build and is a rare example of pure Catalan Gothic architecture (most churches and cathedrals are a combination of styles). The simplicity of design and…
Tag: barcelona
Why I Prefer to Fly EasyJet Between Barcelona and the UK
I’ve lived in Barcelona for more than twenty years and regularly fly from Barcelona to the UK to visit family and friends. At first I used to compare prices offered by different travel websites, but nowadays I normally go straight to easyJet.com to purchase my flight. Here’s why: Competitive Prices Value for money is always…
Articket – 50% Discount at Barcelona’s Best Art Museums
Barcelona is a fantastic holiday destination for art lovers. In addition to world famous architecture and works of public art, the city has excellent museums and art galleries. Most of the museums charge between €5 and €15 per person and it can soon add up. This is where the Articket Barcelona discount card (aka Barcelona Art…
Hay Fever Season in Barcelona
Since moving to Barcelona I have found that I suffer less from hay fever than when I lived in the UK. I believe that this is because Barcelona is a large coastal city and there is generally less airborne pollen than in smaller cities or towns surrounded by countryside. The only time of year that…
The Never Ending Tunnel at Passeig de Gracia
With ten lines, frequent modern trains and plenty of stations the Barcelona metro system is an excellent way to move around the city. You seldom have to change lines more than once to get anywhere in Barcelona. There is however one black spot; the dreaded tunnel at Passeig de Gracia! Passeig de Gracia metro station…
L’Ou Com Balla – Dancing Eggs !
If you like quirky and unusual traditions then you’ll love L’Ou Com Balla aka The Dancing Egg which takes place every year as part of Barcelona’s Corpus Christi celebrations. Basically the idea is that an egg is placed in a fountain and dances suspended by a jet of water. There are a total of 12 eggs…
How To Use Google Maps Without Paying Roaming Charges
Smartphones are great and one of the most useful Apps for travellers is Google Maps. If you haven’t used it yet I suggest you download it now from the Play Store and check it out. The only downside used to be that when you went abroad you got charged expensive roaming fees. Luckily last year…
The Best Views Of Barcelona – El Turó de La Rovira
At an altitude of 257 metres in the Horta-Guinardó district, the Turó de la Rovira (aka Bunkers del Carmel) offers spectacular bird’s eye views of Barcelona. Unlike many of the city´s other viewpoints, from here you get a full 360º panoramic view. You can also see along the coast as far as Mataró to the north…
What to Wear in Barcelona in March
As March draws to a close we take a look back at the month’s weather and more importantly, at what we’ve been wearing. March sees the transition from winter to spring and the changeable weather normally reflects this. This year has been no exception. The first of March was sunny with maximum temperatures of around…
Plaça de Catalunya – More Than Just a Metro Stop!
For many visitors Plaça de Catalunya is the first place they see when they arrive in Barcelona. If you take the Aerobus from the airport, the chances are you will get off here on the way to your hotel. Plaça de Catalunya is also the intersection between Las Ramblas, Portal de l’Àngel, Ronda de…
The Roger de Llúria Monument
This bronze statue of Roger de Llúria was constructed in 1885 by Catalan artist Josep Reynés. The statue is located on Passeig Lluis Companys, just opposite the main entrance to the Ciutadella Park and was originally part of a series of 8 statues of Catalan heroes. Who was Roger de Llúria? Roger de Llúria was…
The Barcelona History Museum – MUHBA Plaça del Rei
The MUHBA Plaça del Rei is the largest of the Barcelona History Museum’s centres and contains remains of the Roman city of Barcino which were discovered totally by chance during the construction of Via Laietana! History of the MUHBA Plaça del Rei: During the 1930s the medieval Royal Palace was dismantled to make way for…
Barcelona’s Head – Pop Art at the Old Port
The Barcelona’s Head sculpture (also known as Barcelona’s Face) was designed by American Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein for the 1992 Olympic Games. The striking 90-ton statue is covered with brightly coloured mosaic tiles, a clear tribute to the works of Antoni Gaudi. The design also shows a strong Picasso influence mixed with the comic book…
Torre Glòries – Barcelona’s 21st Century Icon
Designed by Jean Nouvel, the 34 storey Torre Glòries, originally called the Torre Agbar, took 6 years to build and was inaugurated in 2005. Nouvel has stated that he was inspired by Catalan icons such as Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia and the nearby mountain of Montserrat. The tower was built for to the Agbar water company…
The Arc de Triomf
The Arc de Triomf was built in 1888 as the main entrance to the Exposición Universal de Barcelona. It was designed by the Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas and features sculptures by Josep Reynés, Josep Llimona and Manel Fuxa. The 30 metre high mudejar style brick arch is the focal point at the end…
Disseny Hub – Vector Prime Comes to Barcelona!
This week the hoardings surrounding the new Disseny Hub Barcelona came down. The Disseny Hub (or Design Hub in English) is billed as a combination of museum, centre and laboratory. I’m not exactly sure what that means but the new building is certainly impressive. Situated next to the Agbar Tower in the 22@ district of…
Gambrinus – Barcelona’s Giant Lobster Statue
This funky giant prawn/lobster statue was originally part of the decor at the Gambrinus seafood restaurant. The 10m long fibreglass sculpture was designed and built by Spanish artist Javier Mariscal. When the Gambrinus restaurant closed the statue was bought by Barcelona city council, restored and now takes pride of place on Passeig Colom near the Port…
Live Music in Barcelona
If you enjoy live music then Barcelona has a lot to offer. Pretty much any band which tours Europe stops off in Barcelona. In addition to International acts, there is a thriving local music scene with bands from Barcelona and right across Spain. Venues range in size from small bars and clubs to the emblematic…
What to Wear in Barcelona in January
First time visitors to Barcelona often have a hard time deciding what clothes to bring with them. Especially if you’re travelling with a budget airline like Easyjet or Ryanair and are trying save money by only bringing hand luggage, it can be hard to know what you really need to pack. This is the first…
Myths, Rumours and Equestrian Statues
A couple of weeks ago I was showing a friend from another part of Spain around Barcelona. As part of our impromptu tour we passed the statue of Ramon Berenguer III on Via Laietana. My friend asked me if I knew the significance of the fact that one of the horse’s hooves is raised. When…
