Going to a place like Barcelona, one wants to study the sights and learn the history of their creation. The capital of Catalonia is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world, because it is not in vain it is called the “open air museum”.
Top 23 Sightseeing in Barcelona
It is difficult to list all the interesting places in Barcelona because there are so many of them. You can go on your own or use a handy city guide.
Park Guell
Parque Guell combines in an amazing way the skillful craftsmanship of human hands and nature of incredible beauty. For local attractions is better to allocate a sufficient amount of time, as here for a long time you do not want to leave. The idea for the park belongs to Spanish industrialist Eusebi Guell, who bought 15 hectares of land for this purpose. Two houses of unique architecture were built at the main entrance.
The next step is the “Hall of a Hundred Columns”, with its terrace offering an incredible view of the sights of Barcelona and its surroundings. In all the buildings of the garden you can see the talented hand of the master – Antonio Gaudi. The garden’s many paths beckon for a stroll in the shade of the trees and a break from the noise of the big city.
Palau de la Música Catalana
Evening concerts of symphonic music are something unreal. Also striking is the amazing beauty of the architecture and the interior – the embodiment of the Catalan worldview. Music at the Palau de la Música Catalana is not just to be heard, but to be felt and experienced.
Casa Batlló
Architect Gaudi rebuilt a house in the Eixample neighborhood that formerly belonged to a famous magnate. He retained its structure, changing only the ground floor and mezzanine. In Casa Batlló, not only the cladding of the building, but also the smallest decorations and interior details have been thought out in detail. There are no straight lines in the construction, it seems that the route has led the traveler into a fairy tale.
Picasso Museum
Among the attractions in Barcelona is the world-famous Picasso Museum. Here are the best works of the master, collected in chronological order. There are more than three and a half thousand paintings in the museum fund. It is located in the Gothic Quarter near Citadel Park.
Home Mila
The structure consists of two buildings, which are built in the form of octahedrons. The middle is carefully designed ventilation and there are no load-bearing walls at all. The sun penetrates through the windows, so the rooms of Casa Mila are bright and warm. Corners are absent, they are replaced by smooth curves.
Monument to Columbus
The monument is a hallmark of the city and a symbol of Spanish courage. The monument was erected in 1881 to commemorate the discovery of America. Its height is just over 60 meters. In the middle of the column, on which the stone Columbus sits, there is an elevator. He takes those who want to go up to the observation deck. A map of Barcelona will help you find the Rumble Boulevard, where the monument is located.
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
The Monjuïc Fountain is one of the main attractions of Barcelona. An incredibly beautiful show of swirling water and music creates a sense of magic and grandeur. The water from the fountain is clean, it is even allowed to drink. In the evening, the fountain is turned on every half hour.
National Palace of Barcelona
Tours to the fountain are not without a visit to the National Palace. It is one of the most grandiose constructions in Barcelona. At night, spotlights and illumination are turned on to illuminate the stairs and facade of the building. Together with the Monjuïc Fountain, they are a magnificent sight. Tourists are especially attracted by rare exhibits: bas-reliefs, wooden sculptures, frescoes.
Mount Tibidabo
When looking around, don’t forget that the city is beautiful from a bird’s-eye view. Mount Tibidabo offers a magnificent view of Barcelona. Sacred Heart Cathedral is the first thing that draws the eye of travelers. The building in the Gothic style with elements of monumentalism, as well as the statue of Christ, will not leave anyone indifferent. There is also an amusement park and a panoramic restaurant.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Despite the fact that tours of the cathedral are considered one of the most popular among visitors to the city, its construction is still underway. The height and grandeur of the sharp towers of the Sagrada Familia are striking along with the uniqueness of the entire structure.
Gothic Quarter
It’s so nice to wander the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter on a hot day and stop at one of the cozy cafes. A map of Barcelona will help you find the right place. The neighborhood is famous for its large number of Gothic churches, which were built in the Middle Ages.
On your own, you can see the Bridge of Sighs, the Cathedral of St. Eulalia, the remains of the settlement of Barcino, Piazza San Jaume, Royal Square and more. It is worth visiting the Frederic Mares Museum, the Museum of the History of Barcelona, and the Villa de Arte Gallery. Plan a tour of the Gothic Quarter on days when there are spectacular festivals and public events.
Agbar Tower
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get into the middle, because since 2005 the building has been rented for offices. But in the dark you can appreciate the sparkling structure of unusual shape, which stands out for its modernity.
Barcelona Aquarium
The aquarium is a long tunnel of glass 80 meters long. Nearly 500 unique fish will be watching you in close proximity. The tunnel is the longest in the world and an important landmark in the city.
Barcelona Zoo
The route to the Barcelona Zoo follows through the Situadella Park. The area is huge, so for the convenience of movement is better to hire a car. It is home to a variety of animals from around the world. The most memorable are, elephants, cheetahs, lemurs, white tigers and other zoo inhabitants.
FC Barcelona Camp Nou Stadium
The soccer club is a symbol of the pride of the whole of Catalonia. The traveler will be lucky if Barcelona plays an opponent during the trip. In the middle of the Camp Nou is a museum, which in addition to exhibits continuously shows a film about the history of the soccer club.
Santa Maria del Pi
The Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Pi is located in the Gothic district of Barcelona. Many centuries ago there was a pine forest on this site, and one of the trees has survived to this day. In the temple rest the ashes of the city’s nobility and clergy. The vast stained glass windows and the Gothic rose above the entrance immediately catch the eye. The cross-shaped ceiling with high vaults is considered one of the highest in Spain.
A museum has been opened at the base of the cathedral, where you can see the silver and gold rosettes.
Old Town
One of Barcelona’s most atmospheric neighborhoods is the first place visitors want to go. Its location is between the port and Plaza Catalunya. Most of the buildings in the Old Town date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Traversing the narrow passageways, at the end each time you come out on one of the fasmatagoric squares. Here you can see the Jewish Quarter, the Church of St. Augustine, the Liceo Opera House, the Picasso Museum and other world famous places.
The Old Town is home to artists, musicians, and poets. Cozy cafes kindly open their doors to the curious tourist.
Mount Montjuïc
The elevation is only 173 meters high, but from the observation deck you can see the whole of Barcelona. During the reign of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco Baamonde Tibidao, criminals as well as politicians were regularly executed here.
Montjuïc concentrates a complex of museums, monuments, nightclubs and attractions. The close interweaving of medieval and modern style makes the place especially beautiful.
Barcelona seafront
A few decades ago, this site was the site of gypsy warehouses and a poor people’s settlement. Before the 1992 Olympics, the authorities built a modern embankment, which has become one of the main attractions of the city. There is a monument to Columbus, a maritime museum and an aquarium. The perimeter of the concrete building accommodates discos, restaurants and bars. Not far from the waterfront is worth a visit to the Olympic Village, which previously housed athletes from around the world. The promenade is lively at all times of the day and at different times of the year.
Church of San Felipe Neri
The cathedral is located on the square of the same name in the Gothic Quarter of the Catalan capital. The Church of San Felipe Neri is not flashy in appearance, which allows you to see the bullet marks on the facade. They were left behind when 42 soldiers were shot by Nazi aircraft. Near the entrance is a fountain, near which tourists often gather to feed the pigeons. The church is famous for its collection of colonial art.
Roman wall
Barcelona was built by the Romans. The Roman wall was built twice. The first mentions date back to the 3rd-4th centuries. The latter structure has survived and is still standing today. The remains of the structure can be seen in the most unexpected places, as well as in plain sight. Fragments of the wall are most often part of Barcelona’s new buildings. They are especially well preserved on Ramon Bergner Square.
A museum of religious art was built on the basis of the Roman creation. Near such places you can feel the spirit of different historical eras.
Ancient Aqueduct
Skeptics argue that the reconstructed aqueduct is actually the work of modern architects. In some of the images preserved from ancient times, no traces of him are found. According to historians, the water pipeline was destroyed during the Civil War. In 1988, during the demolition of one of the old dilapidated buildings, an aqueduct built by the ancient Romans was discovered. It was decided to do a partial restoration and make the place a Barcelona landmark.
St. Just and Pastor
The octagonal tower is an example of the splendor of Barcelona in medieval times. The simplicity of the single nave design and the image of the Virgin Mary immerses us in a quiet and cozy interior filled with charm and simplicity. In the chapel there is an altar of the Passion, which dates from the 16th century. In one of the chapels there are two unique sprinklers and an altar with a picture of all the saints. Colored stained glass windows color the interior spaces on a sunny day. The Church of Saint Joost and Pastor is located on the remains of the cemetery and has experienced more than one reconstruction.
What is interesting is the fact that the sanctuary formalizes the right to indulgence.
Video overview of Barcelona sights
When traveling to Barcelona, be aware that exploring the local sights will plunge you into a completely different world. Especially interesting to explore the Catalan capital as part of a tour group, when the route will be thought out in detail. In this case, you will not miss any of the interesting places of Barcelona.
Sightseeing map of Barcelona
Barcelona’s splendid cultural and historical heritage is reflected in the buildings and interesting places to walk and explore. One wants to be immersed again and again in the atmosphere that has reigned here for over 2,000 years. Study a map of the city’s attractions.
