What to see
CaixaForum
The CaixaForum opened in 2002 with sponsorship from a well-known Spanish bank. Today, as the beating heart of Barcelona’s culture scene, it welcomes art lovers from all over the globe. Given its large collection of contemporary art and the large numbers of contemporary artists displayed in the museum, the CaixaForum is one of the most important modern art museums in the world. With exhibits devoted to international artists, concerts, film screenings, lectures, performance art, literature and thought sessions, this museum is a Barcelona institution, and great for families and children. After enjoying the exhibits, take some time to relax the museum’s café-restaurant.
Barcelona Contemporary Culture Center
The Barcelona Contemporary Culture Center (Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona-CCCB) is an art venue that’s becoming increasingly popular with tourists. It’s earned its reputation from its revitalized exhibitions and how closely it keeps up with the latest in technological and digital trends. In addition, many cultural and artistic events including concerts, festivals and panels are organized along with the exhibits, all of which use the latest technology to create a truly unforgettable experience. Be sure to check the CCCB’s calendar before making your plans, and use the opportunity to see the incredible exhibits of this amazing center.
CosmoCaixa
The CosmoCaixa science museum is housed in a building designed by the Catalan architect Josep Domènech i Estapà between 1904 and 1909, and was reopened in 2004 after extended renovation work. The CosmoCaixa, as with the CaixaForum, was funded by bank sponsorship. Its colorful exhibitions and digital animations all make for an unforgettable museum experience. The museum allows you to wander through a rainforest, with over a hundred indigenous animals like birds, frogs, crocodiles, and piranhas, while the geology exhibit explains rocks, volcanoes and the processes of erosion. An interactive exhibit describing evolution and the formation of the world is beyond belief, and there’s even a planetarium for both adults and children to enjoy.
Joan Miró Museum
Designed by Spanish architect Josep Lluís Sert with a Mediterranean flavor, the Joan Miró Museum (Fundacio Joan Miró) opened in 1975. The museum displays 217 of Miró’s paintings, 179 sculptures and over 8,000 of his sketches and is worth the visit just for the Miró pieces themselves. Other than Miró’s work, there is also a fantastic collection of other artists on display too.
La Rambla
The Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca said of La Rambla: “The only street in the world which I wish would never end.” And indeed, especially in high season, it’s a wonderfully vibrant tree-lined street. It consists of five individually named sections, which are collectively called La Rambla. The market, La Boqueria, dates back to the 19th century, and is great both for shopping and dining, and its colors make it an unmissable opportunity for photography enthusiasts. The small fruit cups served in the market are a great snack to keep you going as you explore. Food stalls, flowers and street artists all make La Rambla the perfect place for a coffee break, or to discover the city’s huge variety of restaurants. As you stroll along, take in Joan Miró’s stunning mosaic, the Virreina Palace which dates back to the 1770s, or the Fuente de Canaletas, a fountain from which all who drink are promised one day to return to the city again.
Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona – MACBA) is one of the most popular art museums of the city as it houses the works of many famous artists. These include Joan Miró, Antoni Tapies, Francesc Torres, Alexander Calder, Paul Klee, Dieter Roth and many others. Be sure not to leave Barcelona without having visited the museum’s collection – it really is not to be missed.
National Art Museum of Catalonia
The National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – MNAC) houses incredible works from many different periods all in one museum. Since 1929, international exhibitions have been held in the museum building, once a palace, and since 1934 it’s focused on Catalan works in particular. The museum houses stunning examples of Romanesque sculpture and paintings of the Catalan school. There are even works from churches that were left abandoned in the 20th century. You can see pieces from the modern period dating all the way back to ancient Rome, the Renaissance and the Baroque periods. Renowned artists who are on display at the museum include El Greco, Zurbaran, Velazquez, Rubens and Cranach.
Serra de Collserola
Serra de Collserola is a park where you can while away a thoroughly pleasant day, perhaps while taking a bird-watching tour, or getting to know its endemic plants. Residents love the park as much as tourists, and you find people from all sections of society, from those out for walks, to cyclists, to balloon-sellers, to young couples proposing marriage, to picnickers, to artists painting it all together. It’s the perfect place to get a sense of Barcelona’s lifestyle. When you go to Serra de Collserola, you can picnic or rent a bicycle to explore, and be sure to capture as much of the stunning natural scenery as you can with your camera!
Museu Picasso
Right in the old city, the Museu Picasso is housed in adjoining historical buildings and includes Picasso’s first sketches as a child and throughout the different periods of his life. Art lovers wanting to see Picasso’s greatest works have been coming since 1993, and the most famous works include The First Communion and Science and Charity. Barcelona played an important role in how the artist lived his life, and in the museum you get a better understanding of his own life and art.
Sagrada Familia
The design and construction of the church began in 1882, but after the death of the original architect, Antoni Gaudí took over. Gaudí devoted his life to the construction of this church, a full reflection of the architect’s entire imagination and creative vision. The Catalan architect worked and even slept onsite. When Gaudí died in a traffic accident in 1926, the church was once again without its architect. Construction continued to Gaudí’s plans, though was suspended after notes and designs were burned during the Spanish Civil War. Despite being unfinished, the Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and most visited spots in Barcelona and in 1984 it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The façade alone makes Sagrada Familia one of Barcelona’s most important monuments.
What to eat
Paella
Described as a synthesis between the Roman civilization and the Arab world, the popularity of this dish only ever seems to grow. Along with the dish’s main component, rice, a good paella will also contain generous amounts of olive oil and saffron. With so many possible ingredients, the three most well-known types of paella are Valencian paella, seafood paella and mixed paella, and of these, Valencian paella is the most common. Valencian paella is made with green vegetables, chicken or rabbit, and saffron, and it’s generally accepted to be the original version of paella. It’s up to you to choose the type that’ll make your trip to Barcelona complete.
Tapas
These little tasting plates of hot and cold dishes can be eaten as a starter, meze or even as a whole meal. Tapas bars have become popular, especially among tourists, for a place to go and try all varieties of tapas food, so be sure to try one of the many wonderful tapas restaurants on your trip to Barcelona. No matter what your tastes, there’s a tapas dish for you, as they can made out of all kinds of ingredients including vegetables, cheese, bread, fish and meats.
Seafood
Barcelona is located right along the Mediterranean, and fishing has always been an important trade for the city, so seafood plays an vital role in its cuisine. Catalan cuisine is some of the finest of the entire Iberian Peninsula, and some of the best examples of seafood can be found in Barcelona. Don’t leave the city without trying the mussels, calamari, and fish. Also, dishes like sarsuela (fish, shrimp, mussels and squid in a sauce of olive oil and rice), Suquet de Peix (seasonal fish, potatoes, garlic and tomatoes), and romesco (red pepper, garlic and almonds cooked with seasonal fish) are well worth trying.
