#Batlló Bench

[huariqueje]

Pa amb tomàquet, Bread with tomato  (Gaudi chair)    -   Bea Sarrias, 2018, 

Catalan, b. 1978  -

Acrylic on canvas, 50 × 61 cm.

[bitchsister]

soooo I need luckycharms!AU Bucky and Curt on vacation somewhere.. slutty. your choice. john wants to show his boy from the bronx the world. maybe rome? like in EYY but this time they get to truly experience and enjoy it without the fear of doom & war & death ?!!? ya kno

Ohhhh you know I love a good Italy trip lmaooo. Cattonquick in Liguria was my favorite thing to write. Now I get to write Bucky and Curt being sluts? I’m so lucky. Ripping the nude beach idea right out of my Cattonquick fic and putting a Curtbucky twist on it.

Andiamo!

This request got pregnant with this other one ⬆️ it felt right so we went with it!!

HONORABLE MENTION;

Don’t read if you aren’t down with these: More vibrating butt plug, nude beach filth, ‘daddy’ is used twice, spanking, very very very very light dom/sub vibes if you squint but hardly, Curt is a cunt, abundant use of pet names

All it took was a few planted magazines on the coffee table for Bucky to quickly realize where Curt had wanted to visit, and the places he absolutely did not.

“Paris would be so fun, don’tcha think?” His legs were stretched over Bucky’s thighs who had been intently eyeing the score of the Brewers versus the Reds, dramatically huffing and puffing as the score continued not to work out in his home teams favor.

“Yeah, baby.” Bucky nodded, acting as though he was hardly listening but he was instead taking permanent mental notes. Paris is added to the possible itinerary, as is Aspen, Madeira, Lagos and Porto.

Then came ramblings of Barcelona, ripe springtime strawberries held between Curt’s lips as he flipped through pages filled with beautiful images of Casa Batlló, La Sagrada Famila, and the Picasso museum. “Look.” He turned the magazine around, pointing to the water. “Look how blue the water is, Ducky. We ain’t ever gonna see that here, huh? Closest we got is Coney Island.” He chuckled, again oblivious to Bucky’s mental note taking, the itinerary growing longer and longer with each new travel magazine Bucky hid around the house.

“Why do you got all these, anyway?” Curt grabbed the latest addition, a travel guide of Italy. “You got like thirty of the things.”

“I get ‘em for free at the office.” Bucky lied, and felt bad about it. “Guess Harding never cancelled the subscription when he was cruise shopping. I snag ‘em before he can realize they were even delivered.”

Curt hummed and nodded his head, puffing at the joint between his lips, all sprawled out over the cushioned window bench like a sunbathing feline. “I’d do anything to go to Italy.” He whispered, and alarms went off in Bucky’s head.

Bingo, bing, bingo.

Ding, ding, ding!

“My Nonna tells me stories about growin’ up in Bologna.” He hung upside down, the magazine held over his face as he multitasked like never before. A couple puffs, a flick of the page, ashing his joint, running his gorgeous mouth. “Oh, look!” He scrambled to his knees and sat upright again to turn the magazine around like it was his turn for show and tell. “Pompeii!” He flipped the page, his excitement growing. “Look! Tits! Dicks! Ass!” He pointed to all of it, the page covering the top rated nude beach in the country, Guvano.

And so, when Curt went back to his campus dorm room for a few days to hunker down and study for finals before summer break, Bucky did his own studying on hotels, which quickly had been switched to villas, vineyards, tours, beaches, restaurants, you fucking name it.

He had eventually enlisted the help of a concierge, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. He didn’t speak Italian and he wanted to know what was really worth seeing, according to the locals.

Come Friday evening, Curt looked and felt like he’d been beaten with two cinder blocks, trudging into Bucky’s stretch of hallway once he stepped inside.

He barely had any energy left to announce his arrival, quiet footsteps wandering into the kitchen where Bucky stood with his hip jutted, his phone an inch away from his face and a wine glass in the other as he read closely each step of the recipe he’d chosen to make for dinner.

Cacio e Pepe and scottadito. Earlier, he prepped for the perfect Caesar salad, ready to eat since he knew Curt would be starved to death after his finals.

“Hey.” A voice squeaked after the source had snapped an incognito photo on his phone of that version of Bucky — quiet, contemplative, focused.

“Jesus.” Bucky dropped his phone onto the counter. “Baby, you gotta make some noise or somethin’. I’ll have a heart attack.”

Curt huffed a laugh through his nostrils and shuffled the floors toward him to wrap himself around Bucky, his eyes closed as he rested his head against the mans chest. “Oh,” Bucky cooed, rubbing circles into Curt’s back once he’d sat down the glass of wine he’d become rather familiar with in the last hour or so. “How’d it go?”

“My brain.” Curt groaned, pressing his face into Bucky’s chest. “It hurts.”

Curt, as Bucky had quickly realized, was a goddamn genius and he knew just how to work it. Never to speak out of turn, always raw and honest and never pretending to be something he isn’t, that thick New York accent poking through even the most intelligent sentences Bucky had ever heard in his life.

Listen to this, listen to this. Alright. Here we go.

Curt stood in front of Bucky, reading part of his final presentation project as practice with one of Bucky’s sweaters hanging to his mid thigh and another joint rolled with pink papers between his teeth.

The potential of shape memory alloys in morphin’ wing technology with adaptive geometries that adjust in real-time could greatly optimize performance across various flight conditions.

Curt took another puff, his eyes locked on Bucky instead of the paper in his hand. He’d memorized it all and knew it by heart. After all, it was a touchy subject he felt passionate about.

Furthermore, research shows that this could increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and could have a hand in improvin’ maneuverability.

Bucky was speechless, his jaw slack, hearts spilling out of his eyes and onto the floor. He was no help really, because every goddamn thing Curtis did was absolute perfection.

“Feed it.” Bucky held Curt to his chest with one hand while the other grabbed a plate, built an excellent Caesar, and offered it in front of a barstool at the island in the middle of the kitchen where half of it was still occupied by Bucky’s iPad, his knives, his cutting board and all of his oils and seasonings.

“You’re a real homemaker, you know, Egan.” Curt reluctantly detached himself from Bucky and plopped into the stool, stabbing forkfuls of lettuce and shoving it in his mouth while Bucky poured him a glass of some orange-ish hipster rosé, because the red shit gave him headaches and made him feel sleepy.

Good taste, Bucky would say.

You’re a natural at spending money.

“Yeah?” Bucky leaned against the island, pressing sweet kisses to Curt’s face despite the way he was feverishly shoving salad into it. “You gonna have me all kept at home while you make the dough, hm?” he was teasing, but knew once Curt got his foot in the door at a job after graduation, he’d be making his own natural hipster wine budget.

Big time.

“You think I will?” Curt murmured through a full mouth, booping noses with Bucky who nodded.

“Obviously, baby. No other choice, I fear.” Bucky watched intently as Curt sipped his wine, giggled, blushed, rolled his eyes. “How you feelin’ about the final?”

“Dunno.” Curt shrugged, watching Bucky continue on his prep for dinner and dessert. “I did good on the presentation part. It’s the fuckin’ multiple choice that I get so fucked up on. I’m indecisive! The shit’s outdated — how long they been makin’ us poor brain dead fucks fill in some bubbles, ya know?” He gulped more wine from his glass, “Like, since the dawn of time, I bet. And ain’t that shitty? You’d think they would—“

A red envelope was plopped in front of him, sealed with wax.

“What’s this?”

Bucky shrugged, sipping his glass of wine nonchalantly. “Dunno. Found it. Think it might be yours.”

Curt gave him a look of confusion, shaded with hints of brattiness and sass.

Bucky could eat him up.

His fingers deftly peeled the envelope open, his eyes taking in the words that he could hardly comprehend. “Italy?” He whispered, his heart sinking to his gut. “You’re kiddin’, Bucky..”

“I was going to wait until we got your score back from the final. But I know you’ll pass and I just couldn’t wait.” Bucky braced himself for Curt’s suddenly energized squealing and jumping and screaming and hooting and kissing and licking and all of it.

So. There they were, beach Guvano, the very same one in the magazine Curt had brought with him to compare and contrast magazines versus real life — so far, not a single thing had disappointed him.

“How’s it look?” Bucky asked from beside Curt, sprawled out on their beach blanket as he shoved sweet grapes into his cheeks.

“Less people here than in the pictures.” Curt had stripped down, of course, as he typically found any reason at all not to wear clothes at any time, no matter the location. “But I like that. ‘Cause some of these people in here shouldn’t be seen with clothes on.”

Bucky swatted his thigh, a dumb grin tugging his lips. “Bad boy. Be nice.”

Curt smirked and rolled onto his belly and closer to Bucky who still wore his skimpy little black speedo that he purchased simply to fit in with the rest of the Europeans.

American swim trunks didn’t feel authentic.

“You gonna lemme see the rest of ya?” Curt pressed a kiss to Bucky’s unbelievably tan, warm, sweaty neck. “Or you gonna be a perv?”

Bucky shrugged, scrolling on his phone in his left hand, his right buried deep in Curtis’ loose brown sea-salty waves and occasionally grabbing more grapes to chomp on. “Do pervs keep their swimsuits on at nude beaches?”

“Yes, actually.” Curt nodded, wagging his little ass once a warm breeze had tickled over it, his favorite plug between his sunburnt cheeks — the one that he’d worn to dinner with Bucky and Gale not long ago.

And Bucky had already started playing with him.

“I think the real pervs have vibrating plugs in their asses. In public.” Bucky gave Curt a look of mock-surprise once he’d flicked the level up to two, meeting Curt’s look of real shock with one of pure theatrics.

His mouth agape, his brows furrowed, his chin quivering as he moaned.

“Goddamn it.”Curtis cursed.

“Feel good?” Bucky whispered, the shade from their umbrella almost hiding them from the rest of the beach where the closest visitor seemed about thirty yards down the shoreline, minding their own business with their tits out. “S’your favorite one, isn’t it?”

Curt nodded quickly, his gaze softening into little horny feline slits, thick black lashes practically fluttering over his own pink cheeks, the freckles over the bridge of his nose accentuated by hours spent outdoors sipping wine or cappuccinos and eating all the finest culinary in the city. “Mhm.. M’favorite. Yeah.” He spluttered, practically drooling already.

Bucky laid his phone on his chest, reaching forward to caress his sweet boys soft cheeks instead, gathering the moisture from Curt’s wet lips onto his thumb and licking it clean. “God, you’re so fucking sweet.” He fawned, admiring again a practically frozen Curtis who whimpered softly in response.

“C’mere, my baby.” He hooked a hand around Curt’s waist and pulled him closer, the top half of his body resting over Bucky’s chest while the bottom involuntarily rut against every warm gust of wind with his ass or the blanket atop the soft sand with his cock.

Curt’s lips had found Bucky’s fingers, sucking them like he would his cock, or Gale’s, whenever their schedules aligned these days. “I passed my exam.” He breathed, pulling away from the hand he held with both of his own, half the size of Bucky’s. “Gotta ninety.”

Although he was expecting a one hundred or more including the bonus questions that saved his ass, he was nowhere near unhappy with where his GPA stood going into his second year.

Bucky lit up, of course, kissing him like it could be their last. “I fucking knew it.” He whispered between kisses. “My fucking genius boy. God, you’re so fucking smart. It’s so sexy.”

Bucky would eat him if he could.

Carry him around just like that, wherever he went, there Curt would be.

“What can I say?” Curt grinned, lips drenched in shared saliva. “Somebody besides J.Lo has to make a name for the Bronx.”

Bucky snarled a laugh. “Christ,” he chased the moan that escaped Curtis into his own mouth to devour it. “Better graduate early, then.” He teased, his hand grabbed again and the fingers enveloped once more in the soft hallows of Curt’s cheeks that grew pinker by the minute.

He wiggled his ass again against the plug that was stuffing him, eventually moving to sit on his folded legs and rut against his own heel, Bucky’s gaze watching all the while beneath a pair of sunglasses with rather transparent brown lenses.

Curt loved to be watched.

He loved, so very much, to be the center of Bucky’s world.

He’d put on little shows for him, all sweaty and panting and begging for it. He’d become a mess, held together by prayer alone at the altar he worshipped so reverently - theirs — their love, their passion, their unbridled blazing hearts that had morphed together somewhere along the way, or perhaps in lifetimes before this one.

This love, the one that gushed so unabashedly, was the reason Bucky was able to stomach the sight of Gale between his baby’s legs, or the way Curt sucked on his fingers while Gale fucked all of his courtroom rage out of him, his pretty blue eyes in the back of his head.

Whatever they did with Gale was an extension of their love, yes, but it would never get between it.

Could never harm it.

Bucky caressed his parted thighs but didn’t dare to touch Curt’s cock that leaked sweet little milky white droplets down his smooth shaft, a sight to behold since so much was typically impossible without a belly full of Bucky’s cum. “You’re so fuckin’ wet. Getting yourself all messy.” He whispered.

Curt was aroused beyond reason — every one of his milder kinks (amongst many others that wouldn’t be appropriate beneath the blue sky) were being fulfilled. Bucky’s eyes on him, sweet little words muttered in praise and adoration.

The sun on his shoulders, the sea breeze sending shivers down his spine.

His bent legs spread wider until he was sat between them, his ass plopped onto the beach blanket which he ground himself into. “Look’it what you done to me, daddy.” His voice was low and rasped through breathy gasps and moans, “I want your big cock in me so bad.” He chomped his teeth at Bucky, proving to be all bark and no bite.

Bucky hummed, ignoring the rumble of thunder that hung above their heads, and his cock that stiffened so much his Speedo struggled to conceal it. “Not here, honey.” He adjusted his sunglasses to sit perfectly nestled in his brown curls, his usually loose waves tightened and accentuated from the saltwater still in it from that morning. “Laws still exist in Italy, you know. I looked it up.” He had no reason to study European law, but for this, he did a little research.

“But —“ Curt whined, his palms flat against his thighs as he rode the plug like he would Bucky, feeling the intensity of the vibrations kick up a notch when Bucky flicked a little green bug off his phone screen, the notch set to its maximum which they’d never done before. Especially not after sitting on a three for so long.

Curt hardly knew what to do with himself, the fire in his loins growing and growing, just like the storm cloud that hung above their heads. “Too much — I can’t —“ he panted, scrambling to reach between his legs and get rid of it but Bucky abruptly stopped him.

“Ah, ah.” Bucky tsked, “Don’t you dare.” He pressed gentle kisses over Curt’s knuckles that held onto him like a lifeline, tight white and shaking.

“Please,” Curt whined, looking between his legs and down at his own cock that had yet to reach its climax but continued to trickle with a steady stream of excitement and arousal, toes curling as he squealed.

“You gonna come?” Bucky sat up, then. He thought maybe he was going to witness history — Curtis Biddick making himself come without being pumped full of it first. “Oh, honey. You’re so close. I can see it. Fucking look at you.” Scrunched nose, back arched, nails digging into his own thighs. “Make a mess, baby. I’ll clean you up.”

Curt huffed and puffed, their umbrella swaying in the wind and a drizzle of rain peppering his warm shoulders. “I’m g’na come.” He said through rapid huffs of breath.

“Give it to daddy, baby. C’mon.” Bucky was doing that sexy little thing he’d do. He’d pout his lips and mutter filthy encouragement through a clenched jaw. He grabbed Curt’s cheeks and severed their gaze, instead redirecting his attention down to his own cock. “Watch with me.”

Curt was wailing, watching his body react instinctively to everything happening to it but the closer he crept, the lighter he felt the vibrations becoming until they were gone completely.

And then came the torrential downpour.

“What happened?” Bucky asked once Curt began cursing, pulling his hands away from their restrictions in Bucky’s grasp to pump himself but there was hardly any hope in it.

“It fucking died!” Curt was angry.

He pulled the thing out of him and tossed it harshly into their beach bag, pulling on his so very American swim trunks and his Blink-182 tshirt. “Fucking bullshit goddamn technology, Bucky! I could make a better fucking goddamn fucking thing than that — fuck!” Curt was still panting but every other sensation he felt only a moment ago had been so abruptly ripped away from him.

“Well do it, then.” Bucky grumbled, sitting up and gathering their things as the storm raged on and Curtis stood with his arms folded, clearly pouting and being no help at all. “If you’re so fucking disappointed. It’s your job to charge it, Curt. It’s going in your ass, after all.”

Bucky rummaged for the keys to their rental car, soaked by the rain but still looking so rideable despite Curt’s suddenly horrendous attitude. “But you’re the one that fucks the battery!” He waved his arms, “With your fucking bullshit!”

Curt was left there, standing in the rain while Bucky made a beeline for their big Audi SUV that was similar in size to Bucky’s Range Rover, but he’d made several comments about maybe thinking about switching to something a bit more like this back home. “If you’re going to drain the battery, I’m just fuckin’ sayin’ you should also be held accountable for chargin’ it, too.” His voice followed behind, catching up eventually.

Bucky had opened the passenger door for Curt to get in before he even made it back over to the car, hoping he’d curl up for a nap and fall asleep before Bucky was done loading up the car again.

He couldn’t be so lucky.

“You still runnin’ your mouth?” Bucky furrowed his brows, shaking sand out of their beach blanket before folding it neatly.

“Yes!” Curt whined, wanting to fucking cry. Bucky wasn’t hearing him — he wasn’t understanding. He was so, so fucking close. He felt the butterflies wake up in his belly, his heart hammered in his chest, his legs felt like they’d turned to goo.

And then nothing.

“You aren’t listenin’ to me!”

Bucky closed the trunk before he sauntered to Curt, his neck craned downward to look at him. “Bend over.” He pointed to the passenger seat, voice stern but steady.

Sharp, but buttery smooth around the edges.

Curt stuttered for a moment, “I — Bucky,” but suddenly realized it would be his pleasure to do just that.

A silence settled between them as they stood in the rain, their narrowed gazes in a standoff until Curt backed down and draped himself over the leather interior, his trunks pulled roughly below the plump curve of his ass that fucking jiggled when he spread his legs a little, perking his ass out for Bucky to spank.

“Make it a good one.” Curt quipped, his tone almost bordering mockery. “Or it’d be a shame you bent me over at all.”

Bucky had been a little pissed off by that one, but knew whole heartedly that had been the exact point — Curt knew what he was doing.

The buttons to push.

The buttons he licked with his tongue and bit with his canines until he drew blood.

The buttons he knew all too well.

A loud and heavy handed crack left a vivid and splotchy pink handprint over the delicious and a little bit sunburnt strawberry milky white skin of Curt’s right cheek, his knuckles bitten as he whined.

“I want an apology, Curtis.” Bucky bent over his body, nipping at his ear. “Not fair to take your frustration out on me, is it?”

Curt rolled his eyes, grinning into the leather of the seat beneath him as they replaced the new car smell with their own. “Fuck you.” He mumbled, going to sit up again until a hand forced him back down.

“What was that?” Bucky shoved Curt’s stance wider with his knee, feeling a hand back again to spank Curt’s left cheek that time. He hardly tensed up at it, seeming to melt under each crack against his skin.

What am I gonna do with you, Biddick?

“Hm?”

Curt wasn’t so tough eventually. All it took was three more good whips of skin against skin before he was back to begging for it. “Just let me sit on it while you drive.” He begged, clearly unaware how unrealistic and — even moreso— unsafe that sounded.

They had a schedule that day that allowed little wiggle room and Bucky had warned Curtis of this plenty before they made the reservations that they did.

We’ll have no time to play in between, Curtie. You realize that, right?

Curt nodded his head, encouraging Bucky to confirm their reservations.

I’m not an animal, Bucky. I can control myself. Jesus.

Lie.

“C’mon. We can make it work. Please.”

Bucky checked his watch and shook his head. “We have the tour you wanted to do in an hour, Curtis.” He pulled Curt’s trunks up and manhandled him into his seat despite his resistance. “And we’re not going to be fucking late because of your bullshit.”

He closed Curt’s door and made way around the vehicle to his own where he hopped in and turned over the engine, blasting the AC against their warm skin as O Mio Bambino Care droned through the speakers.

“I’m sorry.” Curt whispered, leaning over the middle console and pressing kisses to Bucky’s bicep and shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said — I — I was havin’ an outburst.”

Those happened often.

Curt was simply a hothead, too used to acting out on his first instinct, which was always anger.

Gale was helping him work through this, but wasn’t always around to be the mediator.

Bucky wasn’t going to let him hide behind that excuse forever, though. “No, you weren’t.” He mumbled. “You were being shitty just to be shitty.” He rolled a window down and lit a cigarette. “I didn’t come either, you know.” He looked toward Curtis again. “You don’t hear me crying about it.”

Curt scrambled in his seat, crawling into Bucky’s and subsequently falling into his lap, his back smashing against the horn but he didn’t give a fuck. At the very least, it made Bucky smile. “You’re right. I’m shitty. I was bein’ shitty just to be fuckin’ shitty. And I’m sorry.” He inhaled the smoke Bucky shared with him, their lips slotting together perfectly.

Bucky could never deny Curtis the satisfaction of an accepted apology — this wasn’t a real fight. It was nothing of the sort.

It was a squabble, yes, but in the end, it wouldn’t make or break anything.

Except a few of Bucky’s fragile nerves.

“Still doesn’t mean I’m gonna fuck you, honey.” Bucky smirked, cigarette between his teeth. “C’mon, back in your spot. We gotta get goin’.”

[camilaberriex]

5 Architectural Beauties You Can't Miss in Barcelona

Barcelona is the magical and enchanting capital of Catalonia, a city that perfectly mixes its wide culture and architectural landscape. From the iconic work of Antoni Gaudí to the splendorous and stopped-in-time medieval structures, Barcelona knows how to capture the spirit of innovation and artistic expression. Stay around to know which of this city’s attractions you can’t miss if you love architecture (the fourth one is my favorite)

La Sagrada Familia: Gaudí’sMasterpiece

In its own neighborhood, called after it, La Sagrada Familia stands imposingly as a dream to everyone who stares at it, despite whether you’re religious or not. It mixes different styles of architecture, such as Gothic, modernism and Catalan modernism. The project started in 1882 and wasn’t Gaudí's. Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano was the architect who promoted the creation of this temple and later quit.

Its forms and colors are simply amazing. It’s all planned for the sun to hit the stained glass at certain hours, giving a colorful projection on the inside walls. It also has many nature references, such as fruits, vegetables, and overall plants, that represent Gaudí’s real understanding and value of God's creation: nature. The church is not finished yet; they expect it to be ready by 2033, but you can visit it every day, and tickets go from 26 euros to 40 euros. I highly recommend going to the towers; I’ve never seen something like that.

Casa Batlló: The House of Bones

This, along with La Sagrada Familia, is probably the most famous art piece Gaudí executed. Constructed in 1877 by Emilio Sala Cortés, it started as a very basic building. Later, in 1904, Josep Batlló i Casanovas, a textile industrialist, assigned Gaudí the total renovation of the place, which showcases his maturity stage in these years. It has seven stories, 11 balconies, and a trippy front that will make your neck hurt from prolonged staring. Its concept relies on, again, nature, but more specifically on marine inspiration and fantastic landscapes. They were radical ideas for the time, making this a very modern creation. It’s located in the center of Barcelona and you can visit it every day. Prices range from 29 euros to 45 euros, and packages include night-time tours, real-life stories and light shows.

Parc Güell: Nature Art Strikes Again

Barcelona remains beautiful, and it seems to get more beautiful with the years, but classics are classics, and this other artwork we’ll review also belongs to Gaudí, surprisingly (not). Located on the Barcelona hills, this public park also integrates architecture with nature. It gives us a fantasy path with serpentine benches, mosaics made from broken ceramic tiles and a great panoramic view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. Full of vibrant colors and playful forms, it reveals Gaudí’s fascination with organic shapes and his knowledge of architecture fusion with the natural environment. Before 2013, it was fully public and free, but since then, the Monumental Area has had limited access, and prices go from 10 euros to 22 euros. Visiting takes approximately one hour, and you’ll be taken on a tour through the most emblematic points of interest, where you can relive history and connect with the values of modernism, the secrets of Gaudí’s architecture, and the harmony of the park with nature. I wouldn’t miss it.

The Gothic Quarter: Medieval Fantasy

If you’re like me and you’d love to spend at least a day in the Medieval Era, this city is for you.

Right in the heart of Barcelona, you’ll find yourself in the Gothic Quarter, a labyrinth of diagonals, narrow streets and squares that effortlessly transport you to a bygone era that will make you feel like time has stopped. The Barcelona Cathedral, the King’s Square (or Placa del Rei), the Bishop’s Bridge, or the Call Jueu will be your friends and companions in this medieval fantasy you’ll be living in. It made me think about how kings and queens lived in the XV century, what kind of extravagant parties they hosted and the opulent garments they would choose to adorn. They all greatly represent Catalan architecture, with a perfect dash of European history. You don’t need to pay anything to walk on these streets—just the price of melancholia and goosebumps.

Palau de la Música Catalana: A Symphony in Stone

This great grand concert hall somehow reminds me of La Sagrada Familia. The stained glasses and enormous size make you feel so little but powerful. It was built by modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and it means “Music Palace”. It was finished in 1908, and today it can host up to 2049 people almost every day. It is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, but it’s not just aesthetically superior, it also gives us a perfect sound, thanks to its structure, conceived as a music box. It suffered a catastrophe 20 years ago when it went to ashes after a fire in 1994. Everyone in the city helped move what they could, and in 1999, after record time, it was rebuilt and reopened to the public. You can visit it with a tour guide if you want to know more details. Visits last 55 minutes and cost 20 euros, but I would also recommend booking a night to go and listen to some music; the experience is way beyond your imagination.

Immerse Yourself: Barcelona's Architectural Poetry Unfolded

Barcelona is, indeed, your next stop. Nothing like any other traditional landmark, its architectural richness is a gift to anyone visiting. It’s a living testament to the city’s commitment to artistic expression, innovation and cultural identity.

From the timeless works of Antoni Gaudí to the medieval charm of the Gothic Quarter and the modernist marvels that dot the cityscape, Barcelona invites you to embark on a journey through centuries of architectural evolution and revolution.

Its magic unfolds, preserving its cultural heritage while embracing the avant-garde of past, present and future. Each structure tells a story, taking you to different worlds: history, art, and imagination; creating a symphony of architectural beauty that defines this Mediterranean gem.

It’s a reinvention, a timeless haven for architectural enthusiasts and curious travelers. It’s a visual poem that you will not want to stop reading.

[aroundtheworldmary]

Visited: October 20th, 2023- October 23rd, 2023

Next up is one of my favorite places, Barcelona! Barca is a nickname given to the city. The city was founded by the Romans and they set up a colony called Barcino at the end of the 1st century BC. The city has a gothic quarter that displays the enjoyment of the city from the 13th to 15th centuries. Although during the 15th-18th centuries, Barca entered a period of decline and this ended in 1714 thankfully. The 20th century brought widespread urban renewal and this Brough more modern buildings. This city felt big yet still felt like a community. There is a lot of diversity in areas and in people. While there we visited La Sagrda Família, Casa Batlló and the parc Guell.  La Sagrda Família was by far my favorite place I visited. The architecture had so much detail and many scenes representing Jesus in such a beautiful light. The windows with the light streaming in made the place feel unreal and hard to explain in words. We also got to tour a tower and could see all of Barcelona from above. The art of Antoni Gaudí was also cool to see and in specific the house was based on marine life. I enjoyed that as I am in a major relating to that. He also has quite the type of style that is unique in representation. The park also had representation of his work and the tile on the benches was beautiful. This city made me consider living there sometime in my lifetime. The people were friendly and the life of the city was unmatchable. The food was delicious and all the events from shows, markets, landmarks, and parks provided a lot of activities to do. I am excited to return back for Christmas with my mom and see all the lights. All the pictures taken were taken by me or Laura Josler and they were taken from October 20th, 2023 to October 23rd, 2023. 

[rionsanura]

we never get a great still shot of the bedroom, partially because I think it's small enough that you can't fit most of the elements of interest in one frame, but. even with this fuzzy motionblur you can't tell me that this isn't modeled on Casa Batlló. The angle between the column and the little oval window and the curve of the bigger one.

a clearer view of that ceiling with embedded lamp with no ghost in the way, because it's glorious:

no matter how I start-n-stopped the pan over the right-hand wall I couldn't get a very good cap of the organically-shaped recessed stove with its tiled alcove and, I guess you could call it inglenook seating (the resident has put her stuff on the little tiled benches):

this shows off the variable-width moulding, too, on the baseboard and around the windows. this is the clearest shot i could get of both sides:

the alcove is symmetrical, although the wall surface is different on the right side of it.

and then we get the view of (and out) the bedroom door, which shows off its lovely paneling with lotus style capital in the middle, and some very fun stained glass:

my family has spoken of this movie wistfully for decades. we saw it, once, perhaps, in an earlier age, and remembered it—not for its plot, passable enough, nor for its remarkable CG achievements (first completely digital protagonist), not for the hapless charm of Bill Pullman. no, we are a family of Building Appreciators. we wanted to look at that *house* again.

and now we have.

a service I have access to finally re-acquired the rights, probably seasonally, to stream the 1995 Casper movie, and I have avidly re-watched it with my mother for architectural reasons.

ye gods, the sets. the sets. I need to speak to the art director and the production design team and the set dressers like. how were the decisions made. cause I need to analyze this house. I couldn't tell if it was sets or a Location for the longest time, because they really heckin' Committed, but the consensus (and my architect uncle joined the council after some time as well) ended up at yes, it's a set, but they looked at the Gaudi apartments in Barcelona and the doors in Prague and the Vienna metro stations because we recognize those curves and proportions.

I suspect I am going to spend awhile Appreciating this thing now that I have acquired it again, but for now, just revel in the Grand Pan of Foyer Reveal.

[travelworld2020-blog]

¿What do you must visit in Barcelona?

Located on the shores of the Mediterranean, many people come to Barcelona not only in search of culture, but also in search of sun, beaches, parties or shopping, because the Catalan capital has much to offer the visitor, not in vain is one of the most visited cities in Europe.

VISIT TO THE SAGRADA FAMILIA

The Sagrada Familia is the best known and most characteristic monument to visit in Barcelona. As the maximum exponent of the modernist architecture created by Gaudí, it is considered one of the most important and visited monuments in the country.

Its construction began in 1882 with a neo-Gothic style. Gaudí designed an exceptional and innovative temple that was to be composed of 18 towers, although he finally only had time to create one of them before his death. However, thanks to the funds obtained through donations and visits, the temple is gradually being built.

The monument certainly does not leave the visitor indifferent. Its spectacular and modern exterior is only comparable to its amazing interior built with tree-trunk shaped columns that turn it into a huge stone forest.

WALK IN THE GÜELL PARK

Inaugurated in 1922, Park Güell was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. It is an extension of more than 17 hectares where Gaudí let his imagination fly. A fairytale place covered by undulating forms, tree-like columns, animal figures and geometric shapes all in beautiful colours, it is considered the most important park to visit in Barcelona.

The central point of the park is a large square in which there is a huge bench 110 meters long, with the appearance of a snake covered by small pieces of pottery. Going down its beautiful steps you will find the famous dragon fountain.

Next to the main entrance of the park, just in front of the steps of the dragon fountain, there are two little fairy tale houses that are one of the most important and recognizable places to visit in Barcelona. One of them works as a shop while the other, the Casa del Guarda, houses audiovisual exhibitions about the park's past.

In the park you will also find the Gaudí House Museum where the architect lived between 1906 and 1925.

DISCOVER ANOTHER OF GAUDÍ'S MASTERPIECES

The Casa Batlló is one of the most visited and best valued tourist places by visitors, as well as one of the most important to visit in Barcelona. It is also considered one of the most original buildings in the world. Its construction took place between 1904 and 1906 by commission of the wealthy Josep Batlló to Gaudí.

The amazing building can be visited with video guides of augmented reality included in the entrance and available in 11 languages, discovering really surprising corners like the attractive patio of lights and the roof with its mythical chimneys.

[v-as-in-victor]

[kathrynanneliese]

Oh Barcelona.

After over a month of being back from Europe I am finally sitting down to re-cap to you all about what went down. this is the second post I’m doing for on a budget, in a backpack. If you missed the first one you can check it out here.

We arrived into Barcelona very early morning on May 11th (literally very early, like 2am early). Getting to our hostel wasn’t the easiest experience I’ve ever had. We had purchased the Hola Barcelona pass before we arrived and we had to pick it up at the airport but that was a whole ordeal. After over an hour of trying to make that work we ended up on a bus that dropped us into a sketchy part of the city at 1am. After a series events (including a creepy taxi driving trying to convince us to get in his car) we called an Uber who was AMAZING and took us right to our hostel. And just to continue this great ride, we got to the hostel and were told the hot water was broken in the building and they didn’t know when it would be back…awesome.

With all of that aside we woke up at 8am on the 11th to make our 10am ticket appointment at Casa Batlló. We first came to an adorable coffee shop and got some croissants for breakfast! (can you spot the rainbow on the floor??)

Because we were really early for our ticket appointment we wandered around the area to get an idea of where everything was.

Once it hit around 10am we went into the museum. To me, the coolest part of the museum was the fact that there was an art exhibit going on. You can see a picture above of Tori and I standing in front of a LOVE sign that was apart of the exhibit.

How amazing is some of this art? It all emulated the stages are parts of love. You can click on the pictures individually to make them bigger (and I totally recommend you do). Probably my favorite thing was the bench that said “this is where we end our relationshit”

After exploring the Casa we made out way over the Flax and Kale which was a restaurant Tori had found that was Vegan & GF friendly! At first I was hesitant because I was worried It wouldn’t be “traditional” and I would be getting a generic meal that I could get back home. But this place was SO good! We ended up going back a few times. I got a “Traditional” Spanish soup (literally thats what it was called on the menu!) and an ahi tuna taco which was AMAZING, I’m actually craving it now that I’m home. After lunch we went to Las Ramblas briefly but we didn’t stay long. Then we made our way over to Sagrada Família which was HUGE. We turned the corner out of the subway station and I think all of our jaws dropped. You really can’t tell how big it is until you’re in front of it yourself.

We spent the rest of the day wandering until it was time to go to Parc Güell which we had a ticket for that night! The park is free to enter and wander around but it costs money to get to that part that you see in all of the pictures. Unfortunately most of the benches were under construction when we went! You can see in the picture of the three of us that there is a fence because half of the promenade is completely torn apart! With that being said it was still BEAUTIFUL and Tori made the smart choice to book us the last ticket of the day so we could watch the sunset!

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We covered A LOT in our first day and that night we went on a pub crawl with our hostel which was super fun and eye opening to Barcelona! *shots shots shots* I’m not a huge party person but I do love a good club which we ended the night at! We also had the funniest bar crawl leader, Juan. He always said that if you were crossing the street and the sign started to blink “You stop, or you run. Or you die” and we basically said that the rest of the trip in every city! Oh Juan ❤

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The next day in Barcelona was for sure more chill. We had to move out of our hostel and actually move to a hotel that was closer to the airport for out early morning flight to Rome. It felt like a lot of the day was wasted because #1 we were tired and #2 it took a lot of time to get from the city where our hostel was to the airport where our new hotel was. But we made the best of it by wandering around a beautiful park and seeing the Notre Dame of Barcelona (ya thats a thing, how did I not know that?!). I also got this bomb veggie burger from The Good Burger with some mayo fries!

I’m still trying to think of a good way to end these posts. So we’re gonna give this a go:

Takeaways:

Nothing is fun when you are tired, no matter how amazing it is. So sleep!

Barcelona is reasonably priced.

You can basically see everything in Barcelona in one day, but you can’t “experience” everything in one day.

Highlights:

Flax &. Kale 

Our Hostel – the vibe was awesome and people were very helpful! They also had a lot of activities and socials. (despite not having hot water, yes, this still made a highlight!)

on a budget, in a backpack // barcelona Oh Barcelona. After over a month of being back from Europe I am finally sitting down to re-cap to you all about what went down.

[sarahh-ahhbroad]

June 8-11, 2018

I’m’ back from Barcelona!!! Addison, Selma, and I had an awesome weekend in Spain. I’m including several photos in chronological order of our weekend so you can follow along on the order of the trip!

On Friday morning I landed in Barcelona around 9 am. Addison and Selma didn’t come in until later, so I took a bus to Plaça de Catalunya in the heart of the city.

Unintentionally, I started walking down the famous La Rambla, a street that goes from the Plaza towards the water, it is notorious for pick-pockets and crowds.

I was absolutely starving and in my search for something to eat, I wandered into La Boqueria - a huge public market. Again, a very popular tourist spot I didn’t really mean to find. I picked up this lunch from one of the stands.

Since I had some time before Addison and Selma arrived and I couldn’t check into our hostel for a few hours, I decided to take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Barcelona. It was perfect because I wasn’t walking with all my stuff, I got to see several attractions all over Barcelona, and it was a great way to get oriented with the city. I bought a day pass and rode both routes.

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - referred to as MNAC was one of the most beautiful sights on my bus tour. 

I got to stop by the Olympic stadium and take a look inside. It was built when Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympics in 1992. 

Another great stop on the bus tour was at this park overlooking all of Barcelona!

Our hostel was located literally right next to the Sagrada Familia. After meeting up with Selma and Addison and checking into the hostel, I grabbed a book and we explored the park nearby. There were dozens of benches to sit and enjoy the spectacular design of this church.

An impressive view of La Sagrada Familia!

On the opposite side from the park there is a pond next to the church and it’s a beautiful scene at dusk. After dinner, we met our hostel roommate, Aiden, an Australian medical student on a backpacking trip. We invited him to join us for some late night sangria at a nearby cozy bar and really enjoyed talking to him!

The next morning Addison, Selma, and I headed back to La Boqueria for breakfast!

Other than it’s obviously impressive array of foods, the attraction of La Boqueria is the beautiful colors and arrangements of the food. 

We finally decided to eat some yummy crepes!

We wandered down La Rambla to the waterfront. This is a view of the statue of Christopher Columbus which greets boats coming into Barcelona. 

There were hundreds of sailboats and yachts in Barcelona this weekend. This view faces the World Trade Center of Barcelona.

A view of Barcelona’s waterfront.

The weather was amazing this weekend and the beaches were filled with people enjoying the sun. We hung out by the beach for a while and got drinks at a little waterfront restaurant.

We next walked towards Barri Gòtic - the Gothic quarter - which has really unique architecture and very old, narrow, winding streets.

Found a friendly fellow American to take a picture of the three of us in the Gothic Quarter. 

We then proceeded to have the same American take a picture of us at Barcelona’s Arc de Triamf about five minutes later!

After our busy day of sightseeing we still had a long night ahead of us! Coincidentally, some boys from UVA were also in Barcelona, so we met up with them for dinner. We ate at a very touristy seafood place along the water, and I loved my seafood paella. Since we ate dinner around 10pm, like most Spaniards do, afterwards we bought bottles of alcohol and headed to the beach for a few hours before going out. We ended up spending the night in a club called Opium, a popular club along the waterfront. We ended up having quite the long walk back to our hostel, and in the morning we checked and we had walked over 20 miles on Saturday!!

On Saturday, after an incredible breakfast at a cafe right next to our hostel we made the trek up to Park Güell. Unfortunately, we were kind of clueless and did not buy park passes ahead of time, so while we were able to walk around the park, we couldn’t go inside. The city is trying to preserve the mosaics by restricting the number of people in the park at any given time. While I was really disappointed, we did get to see some of it from the outside and it will be something for me to do when I go back one day.

As we made our way down from Park Guell, we found more beautiful Spanish streets - and treated ourselves to some amazing gelato!

This is Casa Milà, or La Pedrera, a unique building in downtown Barcelona that contrasts many other buildings of Gaudi’s architecture.

Of course I had to make my last photo something create by Gaudi since I was in Barcelona. This is Casa Batlló - located near La Pedrara. 

We ended our trip by heading back to Plaça de Catalunya, where my trip began, to sit and enjoy Barcelona for a while before catching the metro to the airport. We grabbed dinner near the Plaça as Selma and Addison had to take a flight back to Paris that Sunday night. I stayed in a hotel near the airport before heading home this morning. Although the trip was short and spontaneous, it ended up being an incredible weekend. I would highly recommend Barcelona!

[winterig-blog]

Blog 15, January 18: Antoni Gaudí

Antoni Gaudí had an aesthetic like no one else. Gaudí’s style had heavy influence from nature, the Bible and animals or mythological creatures. Moreover, Gaudí did not like the usage of straight lines because he thought they weren’t apparent in nature. Therefore, throughout a lot of his works straight lines are very rare.

In terms of Casa Batlló, Gaudí stuck to his aesthetic of no straight lines. The mosaic that covered the façade of the building was made using a trencadís tactic to avoid straight lines. Moreover, each door, window and staircase contained curved lines. Personally, I believed this influenced my emotion in a way that it evoked a fantasy and mystical like atmosphere. When I walked through the home I felt like I had walked into a new universe, a almost cartoon line universe. It made me happy and joyous to see something so unique and fun.

Gaudí also was assigned to designed Park Güell. Park Güell had a multitude of Gaudí’s stylistic elements. However, the element that stood out to me the most was his references to animals. I was able to spot jaguar heads and a lizard made out of beautiful mosaic. Besides animals, nature was seen throughout the park as greenery filled a lot of space. Walking through the park felt similar to walking through the house. It felt so whimsical and fun. I was very happy and peaceful when walking through. His bright colors in his benches created a light and happy atmosphere.

In general, Gaudí’s works made me very happy and made me feel lost in a color and magical place. I loved visiting his cites.

[travelguy4444]

Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019

Posted: 1/7/19 | January 7th, 2019

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. It’s a city that I’ve been to many times.

Once a major city in the Roman Empire, the city still places an important role in the region and is home to millions of residents and visitors enjoying all the delicious sangria and gin, mouthwatering food, stunning beaches, warm weather, the rich history and culture, and unique architecture that Barcelona is famous for.

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant, fun, energetic cities in the world.

Barcelona is such a popular place that in recent years it’s even had to clamp down on “overtourism” to help reduce the number of visitors. (This is something I fully agree with since cities must learn to balance tourism with local life.)

With so much to see and do in and around Barcelona, where do you begin? How many days do you need to visit?

I think to really get a feel for Barcelona you should plan for four or five days. While you could see it in less, you’ll do yourself a disservice if you rush your visit. This is a city of late night dinners, late morning, and afternoon siestas.

Life isn’t rushed here and neither should your visit.

This 2-5 day itinerary highlights all the best things to see and do and help you organize your visit so you can see it all!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 1

Take a free walking tour

I love free walking tours. I think they are a wonderful way to get to know a new city, find your way around, and learn some history in the process. (And, since they are filled with traveler too, they can also be a good way to meet other people.) My recommended walking tour companies in Barcelona are:

Sandeman’s

Free Walking Tours Barcelona

Free Tours By Foot

Get lost in the Barri Gotic

Barcelona’s old Gothic Quarter is my favorite part of town, filled with narrow, winding streets and historic buildings. Spend a few hours getting lost in this district. To me, it’s the most beautiful area in the city. The area also has numerous attractions worth seeing:

Barcelona History Museum – Barcelona has one of the best city history museums I’ve ever visited, including 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins beneath the museum that you can walk through. There is a free, detailed audio guide and meticulous explanations of the exhibits. If you do one thing in the city, make it this. I visit every time I’m in Barcelona. The ruins are just stunning. Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

The Grand Royal Palace – The Palau Reial Major (near the history museum) was the home of Barcelona’s counts and later the kings of Aragon. It has a very detailed history about the city and region through the centuries. Admission is €7. Free on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 3pm. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Chapel of Santa Àgata – This royal chapel was built in 1302. The most interesting thing inside is the beautiful altarpiece, made by Jaume Huguet, that was added in the 15th century. It contains beautiful paintings of religious symbols in the style of the Middle Ages. Don’t miss it! Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Barcelona Cathedral – Built in the late 13th to early 15th centuries, this is a classic Gothic cathedral with huge spires, colorful stained glass, and incredible wood carvings. If you go inside, pay the extra €3 to visit the terraces, where you’ll get an incredible view of Barcelona. Admission is €7, though you can sometimes get in for free (there’s no apparent schedule to this). Address: Placita de la Seu, 3.

Explore Gaudí’s architecture

Gaudí is Barcelona’s most famous and creative architect. His unique style, use of nature motifs, and catalog of work is legendary – and part of the reason so many people visit the city. No visit to the city is complete without a tour of Gaudí’s works. You can find them everywhere — in addition to the buildings listed below, he even designed lampposts, monuments, and sculptures. Here are the best sights to see:

Park Güell – Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900 to 1914. It’s since been converted into a municipal garden and is now a World Heritage Site. The focal point of the park is the main terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. Known for incorporating various themes into his work, Gaudí incorporated artistic elements of Catalan nationalism as well as ancient poetry and mysticism into this work. The park is right near La Sagrada Familia so it’s easy to visit both. I like how colorful everything in the park is! Tickets are €8.50, at the ticket office, or €7.50 when you order in advance online. Children six years old and younger are free. Address: Carrer d’Olot.

La Sagrada Família – The most famous of Gaudí’s work….and one that seems to never be finished. The church has been under construction for over than 100 years (the groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030!). Gaudí was a devout Catholic and spent the last 10 years of his life working on this project. The church blends influences of man, nature, and religion in its detailed architecture. The audio guide is worth purchasing as it covers the history of the church in great detail. Try to visit mid-morning to late afternoon so you can witness the sunlight cascade throughout all the stained glass. Admission is €15 online/€18 at the door. Address: Plaça de la Sagrada Familia.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batllo is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí in the early 1900s. He spent 2 years on the project completely revamping the exterior, main floor, patio, and roof. With its undulating shape, it’s definitely one of the more eye-catching of his creations. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, it (like everything Gaudí designed) was heavy influenced by the Art Nouveau style. The facade was decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles that he collected from the trash of a nearby glass shop. The roof is arched and has been likened to the back of a dragon. It’s one of my favorite Gaudí buildings. Admission is €24.50 online/€28.50 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.

Casa Milà (also called La Pedrera) – From 1906 to 1910, Gaudi work on Casa Mila, also known as “La Pedrera” (the stone quarry) as the building has a facade of limestone. The goal was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. Gaudí, himself a Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also planned for the Casa Milà to be a spiritual symbol and included many religious elements like an excerpt from the rosary prayer on the cornice and statues of Mary, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel. Casa Milà became run down and partially abandoned until it was restored in the late 1980s to its original form. Admission is €22 online/€25 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92.

Palau Güell – Located off La Rambla, Palau Guell (Guell Palace) building doesn’t jump out at you like other Gaudí structures. Built from 1886-88, it was designed for one of Gaudi’s patrons, Eusebi Güell. The home is centered around the main room used to entertain high-society guests. The main party room has a high ceiling with small holes near the top where lanterns were hung at night from the outside to give the appearance of a starlit sky. There are colorful tree-like chimneys on top. It’s a bit creepy and gothic to me. One of my favorites too! Admission is €12 (free on the first Sunday of every month). Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5.

Note: Advanced reservations are recommended for Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo so you can skip the lines!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

Visit the Picasso Museum

While I’m not a huge fan of most of Picasso’s later work, it’s still interesting to learn about the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. With more than 4,000 pieces of art, there certainly is a lot to see here. Admission is €11, with discounts available for students and seniors. Free Thursday evenings, 6-9pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carrer Montcada, 15-23.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)

This museum has over 5,000 works, including an extensive collection of pieces by Spanish artists such as Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. There are also works by Americans Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder (who is known for his innovative mobiles). If you love modern art, be sure to add this to your itinerary. Admission is €10, with discounts available. Free Saturdays, 4-8pm. It’s always free for anyone under 14. Address: Plaça dels Àngels, 1.

La Boquería

This public market has an amazing array of food stalls and restaurants. It’s been at this location for hundreds of years, in a building with a beautiful iron entrance. It’s right off La Rambla (a long, popular central thoroughfare, see below), so the market is typically very busy. But grab a snack or an inexpensive lunch of ham, bread, cheese, and fruit and enjoy the scene. There’s a wide variety of seafood, including fish, shrimp, octopus, and oysters, as well as nuts, candy, wine, and tapas.

NOTE: Due to overcrowding, tourist groups are now restricted to 15 people or less. You’ll have no problem moving about on your own, but if you’re in a large group….well, be prepared to get kicked out! The city is (appropriately) trying to take back the markets for locals. Watch for changes to how they allow tourists into the market.

Take a stroll on La Rambla

The popular 1.2km long boulevard with a broad but crowded walkway in the center has many beautiful buildings along it including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city’s opera house. Near the theater, you can also see a mosaic by Joan Miró. And there are street performers galore here (they even have their own union). While this street is ground zero for tourists in the city (don’t eat at the restaurants here, they suck), it’s worth a stroll down at least once.

Hit the beach

You’ve done a ton of walking so far, so take the afternoon to relax! Barcelona has a wide and long beach, Barceloneta, that is incredibly popular year-round. The water is good to swim in, the sand is golden colored, and there are a lot of good restaurants on the boardwalk. It’s always busy with tourists and locals, however, so walk further from the center to reach some quieter and cleaner beaches, such as Sant Sebastià in the south and Somorrostro in the north.

Watch some flamenco

Spend your evening watching flamenco at one of these places:

Los Tarantos – This is Barcelona’s oldest flamenco venue. It’s a short show (just 30 minutes) so it’s a good place for an introduction to the art and won’t take up your entire night. Admission from €15. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Palau Dalmases – One of the best things about the flamenco shows here is the venue. This palace has amazing décor and incredible architecture. Admission is €25, with one drink included. Address: Carrer de Montcada, 20.

Tablao Flamenco Cordobes – This show is in a convenient location on Barcelona’s main walkway, but it’s pricey. Admission is €45 (drink and show) or €79.50 (dinner and show). Address: La Rambla, 35.

Tablao de Carmen – This show typically features excellent performers, and it’s in an interesting venue that’s a replica of a Spanish village. Admission is €43 (drink and show) or €61 (dinner and show). Address: Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

Ride the harbor cable car

The 1,450-meter-long harbor aerial tramway with red cars connects Barceloneta and Montjuïc (a prominent hill). The 10-minute trip gives you incredible views of Barcelona. You’ll see the port and sea on one side and the city on the other. Also, at the top of the 78-meter Sant Sebastià (San Sebastián) tower in Barceloneta, there’s a restaurant accessible by an elevator. A round-trip ticket is €16.50; a one-way ticket is €11.

Explore Montjuïc Hill

When you arrive on the hill from the cable car (or bus #150 if the cable car isn’t in your budget), you’ll find there’s a lot to do here. You can explore the Castell de Montjuïc (a large 18th-century fortress), as well as gardens, a Spanish village, and the Olympic Stadium. Be sure to also visit the Magic Fountain for the colorful water show. You’ll be able to enjoy a sweeping view of the city; watching the sunset from here is amazing too. Some highlights of Montjuïc:

Castell de Montjuïc – This is an old fortress that’s now a museum featuring military displays and information on the history of the castle. The surrounding garden is a beautiful collage of color. Admission is €5. Free Sundays after 3pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carretera de Montjuïc, 66.

Joan Miró Foundation – Joan Miró was one of Catalonia’s most famous artists. Many of the surrealist’s works are on display in this museum. Admission is €12. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – This art museum houses Catalonian art, particularly Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque works. The fountain out front has a spectacular free show that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-9pm (from October-December and February-April), and Thursdays-Sundays from 9pm-11:30pm (from May-September). Admission is €12. Free Saturdays after 3pm, the first Sunday of each month, and for visitors under 16 or over 65. Address: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc.

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) – The Spanish Village was built in 1929 to resemble an actual traditional village with 117 buildings from different Spanish regions. There’s an Andalusian quarter, a section of the Camino, a monastery, and more. There are also various exhibits here devoted to crafts and contemporary art. It’s a good family activity. Admission is €12.60, with discounted rates for children, students, and seniors. The village is open daily, year-round starting at 9am and closing no earlier than 8pm. Address: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

The Olympic Ring – When Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, all of the excitement centered around the Olympic Ring: the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, and the Olympic Esplanade. You can roam the entire space for free. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Take a food tour or cooking class

Barcelona is a very food-centric city, so I highly recommend a cooking class or a food tour! You’ll learn about traditional Catalan cooking, selecting the freshest ingredients, and using new techniques. You’ll prepare your own meal and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some companies to check out are:

bcnKITCHEN – (bcnkitchen.com, from €50)

Barcelona Cooking – (barcelonacooking.net, from €65)

Just Royal Bcn – (justroyalbcn.com, from €77).

Context Food Tour – (contexttravel.com, from €80).

Walks – (takewalks.com, from €77).

Devour – (devourbarcelonafoodtours.com, from €69).

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 4

Take a day trip to Girona

This medieval city, just 100km from Barcelona, is one of my favorite destinations in Spain – and far too overlooked by travelers. Here you can climb atop the city walls, wander the narrow lanes of the Jewish Quarter, and soak up the ambiance at one of its many cafés. They filmed Game of Thrones here too! There’s a lot of history and delicious food in the city!

The Renfe train ride is about 80 minutes on the normal train (return tickets from €20); the high-speed train gets there in 38 minutes (return tickets from €30).

Other Things to See and Do in Barcelona

If you have more than four days in Barcelona, you’re in luck. There are plenty of other activities to fill your time:

Head to Montserrat – The Montserrat mountain range is just outside of the city and makes for a great getaway from Barcelona’s urban atmosphere. You can reach the area by taking a one-hour train ride. Once there, pay a visit to the famous shrine of the Black Madonna at the monastery and walk around the park. The Benedictine monastery and the valley of unique, rocky pillars make for some really awesome photography. Return train tickets are around €20, and you’ll also need to decide whether to take the cable car (my preference) or funicular up the mountain.

Visit an old-school amusement park – Tibidabo Barcelona, built in 1899, is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. On a tall mountain in the Serra de Collserola, it also offers an incredible view of Barcelona and the coastline. It’s open on the weekends, except in the winter. Admission is €28.50 for adults, €10.30 for children under 1.2m tall, and free for children under 0.90m tall. Address: Plaça del Tibidabo, 3.

Catch an outdoor film – If you’re in Barcelona in July or August, consider going up to Montjuïc Castle to catch an outdoor film on the lawn of the castle’s moat. Screenings take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are preceded by some cool live music.

Watch a soccer match – The first “football” game I ever saw was in Barcelona. It was Espaynol versus Valencia. I still have the shirt I bought that day. Barcelona’s two teams are Espanyol and FC Barcelona and, if a match is going on, try to take in one. Locals are obsessed with the sport and you’ll make a lot of good friends at the game! If you can’t make a game, you can tour the stadium and the FCB (or Barça) Museum. Tour admission is €26 online/€29.50 at the door. Match tickets are from €29, depending on the opponent. Address: C. d’Aristides Maillol, 12.

Visit the aquarium – Perfect for a rainy day, the Barcelona Aquarium has more than 11,000 animals, showcasing species from a variety of underwater ecosystems. The walk-through tunnel is the best part. Admission: €20. Address: Moll d’Espanya, del Port Vell.

Gaze at Barcelona’s free public art – Gaudí outdid himself with the huge fountain located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, a tribute to the god Neptune. I absolutely love the art and fountain here. Gaudi designed the famous Cascada Fountain when he was an architecture student. On a warm day, I just like to sit and stare at the fountain. There’s also a zoo in the park and some short walking paths. Take a bottle of wine, grab some ham, and have a picnic.

Other offbeat Gaudí works include the lampposts in Plaça Reial and Pla de Palau, and the Miralles gate and wall on Passeig de Manuel Girona. Barcelona native Joan Miró’s work is found throughout town, and you can see his famous “Woman and Bird” sculpture at Parc de Joan Miró. There are also Miró mosaics on La Rambla and at the airport.

Take a free bike tour – Free Bike Tour Barcelona offers jaunts around the city every day. The tours are typically at 10am and 2pm, but check the website (freebiketourbarcelona.com) to be sure, as there may be just one tour a day in the off-season. They last about three hours and cover all the major sights. Just be sure to tip your guides!

Where to Eat in Barcelona

For some excellent food, be sure to check out some of my favorite places:

Les Quinze Nits – Delicious food at a great price in the famous Plaça Reial. It’s a bit touristy, but even the locals come here for the value. It has a typical Spanish menu. Avoid the long lines at dinner by going for lunch instead. Address: Plaça Reial, 6.

La Fonda – Good food with large portions, near Plaça Reial. Its set menu will give you more than you can eat, and it features beautiful décor and a robust wine selection. Address: Escudellers, 10.

Allium Restaurant – This is a natural food restaurant that prepares its meals with delicious, local ingredients. It has a nice rustic décor and a friendly staff. It is well priced and my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. Address: Carrer del Call, 17.

Pinotxo Bar – Just inside the Boquería food market, this little stall is always packed and serves some of the most famous tapas in the area. I stopped there while on a food tour, and it was delicious. Try the chickpea salad! Address: La Boquería, La Rambla, 91.

The Four Cats – This was one of Picasso’s favorite haunts and a popular hangout for artists in the early 1900s. Grab a drink and maybe some tapas (the patatas bravas are delicious!) and soak up the place’s history. Address: Carrer de Montsió, 3.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Here’s a list of my favorite places to stay in the city:

Kabul – This is one of my favorite hostels in Europe. It attracts travelers who are looking for a good time. This isn’t a quiet hostel, so be prepared to party. The dorms are very clean, the beds are comfy, and the showers have high pressure. But what makes Kabul so wonderful is the downstairs common area. It takes up a whole floor of the building and comprises a café, bar, tables, internet kiosks, and a pool table. The hostel is booked out weeks in advance, especially during summer, so don’t book at the last minute! Beds from €10.71. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Hello BCN – This location is clean, and the beds are comfortable. There’s a super breakfast, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Make sure to ask them for tips about hidden places in town. This is not a party hostel, and you should be able to get some good shut-eye. Beds from €11. Address: Carrer de Lafont, 8-10.

St. Christopher’s Inn – This hostel near La Rambla is all about location: it’s perfect. I really love the curtains on the dorm beds and the gigantic bar/outdoor area next to the hostel. The bar/restaurant has good food and cheap drinks, so you should definitely check it out (even if you don’t stay here). In general, I really like the St. Christopher’s brand; it offers fun, clean, sociable, and modern hostels all over Europe. Beds from €9.90. Address: Carrer de Bergara, 3.

Sant Jordi-Sagrada Família – This is an interesting hostel with a skateboarder vibe. The common area décor is all about urban arts, and the rooms are clean and spacious. The kitchen is big, and you can often find yoga lessons, cheap dinners, and free pub crawls. There’s also a half-pipe, which I’ve never seen at a hostel before. Just watch out for the spotty Wi-Fi. Beds from €14.31. Address: Carrer del Freser, 5.

***

Barcelona has something for everyone. You could squeeze in the real highlights of Barcelona in two or three days, but taking four, five, or even six days for the above itinerary will give you enough time to gorge on Iberian ham, tapas, and sangria while not rushing around.

The city moves slowly. And so should you.

Sleep late, take breaks, eat lots, and just enjoy Barcelona at a Spaniard’s pace!

Book Your Trip to Barcelona: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Barcelona? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Barcelona with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 8, 11,

The post Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/barcelona-itinerary/

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Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019

Posted: 1/7/19 | January 7th, 2019

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. It’s a city that I’ve been to many times.

Once a major city in the Roman Empire, the city still places an important role in the region and is home to millions of residents and visitors enjoying all the delicious sangria and gin, mouthwatering food, stunning beaches, warm weather, the rich history and culture, and unique architecture that Barcelona is famous for.

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant, fun, energetic cities in the world.

Barcelona is such a popular place that in recent years it’s even had to clamp down on “overtourism” to help reduce the number of visitors. (This is something I fully agree with since cities must learn to balance tourism with local life.)

With so much to see and do in and around Barcelona, where do you begin? How many days do you need to visit?

I think to really get a feel for Barcelona you should plan for four or five days. While you could see it in less, you’ll do yourself a disservice if you rush your visit. This is a city of late night dinners, late morning, and afternoon siestas.

Life isn’t rushed here and neither should your visit.

This 2-5 day itinerary highlights all the best things to see and do and help you organize your visit so you can see it all!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 1

Take a free walking tour

I love free walking tours. I think they are a wonderful way to get to know a new city, find your way around, and learn some history in the process. (And, since they are filled with traveler too, they can also be a good way to meet other people.) My recommended walking tour companies in Barcelona are:

Sandeman’s

Free Walking Tours Barcelona

Free Tours By Foot

Get lost in the Barri Gotic

Barcelona’s old Gothic Quarter is my favorite part of town, filled with narrow, winding streets and historic buildings. Spend a few hours getting lost in this district. To me, it’s the most beautiful area in the city. The area also has numerous attractions worth seeing:

Barcelona History Museum – Barcelona has one of the best city history museums I’ve ever visited, including 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins beneath the museum that you can walk through. There is a free, detailed audio guide and meticulous explanations of the exhibits. If you do one thing in the city, make it this. I visit every time I’m in Barcelona. The ruins are just stunning. Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

The Grand Royal Palace – The Palau Reial Major (near the history museum) was the home of Barcelona’s counts and later the kings of Aragon. It has a very detailed history about the city and region through the centuries. Admission is €7. Free on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 3pm. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Chapel of Santa Àgata – This royal chapel was built in 1302. The most interesting thing inside is the beautiful altarpiece, made by Jaume Huguet, that was added in the 15th century. It contains beautiful paintings of religious symbols in the style of the Middle Ages. Don’t miss it! Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Barcelona Cathedral – Built in the late 13th to early 15th centuries, this is a classic Gothic cathedral with huge spires, colorful stained glass, and incredible wood carvings. If you go inside, pay the extra €3 to visit the terraces, where you’ll get an incredible view of Barcelona. Admission is €7, though you can sometimes get in for free (there’s no apparent schedule to this). Address: Placita de la Seu, 3.

Explore Gaudí’s architecture

Gaudí is Barcelona’s most famous and creative architect. His unique style, use of nature motifs, and catalog of work is legendary – and part of the reason so many people visit the city. No visit to the city is complete without a tour of Gaudí’s works. You can find them everywhere — in addition to the buildings listed below, he even designed lampposts, monuments, and sculptures. Here are the best sights to see:

Park Güell – Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900 to 1914. It’s since been converted into a municipal garden and is now a World Heritage Site. The focal point of the park is the main terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. Known for incorporating various themes into his work, Gaudí incorporated artistic elements of Catalan nationalism as well as ancient poetry and mysticism into this work. The park is right near La Sagrada Familia so it’s easy to visit both. I like how colorful everything in the park is! Tickets are €8.50, at the ticket office, or €7.50 when you order in advance online. Children six years old and younger are free. Address: Carrer d’Olot.

La Sagrada Família – The most famous of Gaudí’s work….and one that seems to never be finished. The church has been under construction for over than 100 years (the groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030!). Gaudí was a devout Catholic and spent the last 10 years of his life working on this project. The church blends influences of man, nature, and religion in its detailed architecture. The audio guide is worth purchasing as it covers the history of the church in great detail. Try to visit mid-morning to late afternoon so you can witness the sunlight cascade throughout all the stained glass. Admission is €15 online/€18 at the door. Address: Plaça de la Sagrada Familia.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batllo is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí in the early 1900s. He spent 2 years on the project completely revamping the exterior, main floor, patio, and roof. With its undulating shape, it’s definitely one of the more eye-catching of his creations. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, it (like everything Gaudí designed) was heavy influenced by the Art Nouveau style. The facade was decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles that he collected from the trash of a nearby glass shop. The roof is arched and has been likened to the back of a dragon. It’s one of my favorite Gaudí buildings. Admission is €24.50 online/€28.50 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.

Casa Milà (also called La Pedrera) – From 1906 to 1910, Gaudi work on Casa Mila, also known as “La Pedrera” (the stone quarry) as the building has a facade of limestone. The goal was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. Gaudí, himself a Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also planned for the Casa Milà to be a spiritual symbol and included many religious elements like an excerpt from the rosary prayer on the cornice and statues of Mary, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel. Casa Milà became run down and partially abandoned until it was restored in the late 1980s to its original form. Admission is €22 online/€25 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92.

Palau Güell – Located off La Rambla, Palau Guell (Guell Palace) building doesn’t jump out at you like other Gaudí structures. Built from 1886-88, it was designed for one of Gaudi’s patrons, Eusebi Güell. The home is centered around the main room used to entertain high-society guests. The main party room has a high ceiling with small holes near the top where lanterns were hung at night from the outside to give the appearance of a starlit sky. There are colorful tree-like chimneys on top. It’s a bit creepy and gothic to me. One of my favorites too! Admission is €12 (free on the first Sunday of every month). Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5.

Note: Advanced reservations are recommended for Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo so you can skip the lines!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

Visit the Picasso Museum

While I’m not a huge fan of most of Picasso’s later work, it’s still interesting to learn about the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. With more than 4,000 pieces of art, there certainly is a lot to see here. Admission is €11, with discounts available for students and seniors. Free Thursday evenings, 6-9pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carrer Montcada, 15-23.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)

This museum has over 5,000 works, including an extensive collection of pieces by Spanish artists such as Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. There are also works by Americans Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder (who is known for his innovative mobiles). If you love modern art, be sure to add this to your itinerary. Admission is €10, with discounts available. Free Saturdays, 4-8pm. It’s always free for anyone under 14. Address: Plaça dels Àngels, 1.

La Boquería

This public market has an amazing array of food stalls and restaurants. It’s been at this location for hundreds of years, in a building with a beautiful iron entrance. It’s right off La Rambla (a long, popular central thoroughfare, see below), so the market is typically very busy. But grab a snack or an inexpensive lunch of ham, bread, cheese, and fruit and enjoy the scene. There’s a wide variety of seafood, including fish, shrimp, octopus, and oysters, as well as nuts, candy, wine, and tapas.

NOTE: Due to overcrowding, tourist groups are now restricted to 15 people or less. You’ll have no problem moving about on your own, but if you’re in a large group….well, be prepared to get kicked out! The city is (appropriately) trying to take back the markets for locals. Watch for changes to

Take a stroll on La Rambla

The popular 1.2km long boulevard with a broad but crowded walkway in the center has many beautiful buildings along it including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city’s opera house. Near the theater, you can also see a mosaic by Joan Miró. And there are street performers galore here (they even have their own union). While this street is ground zero for tourists in the city (don’t eat at the restaurants here, they suck), it’s worth a stroll down at least once.

Hit the beach

You’ve done a ton of walking so far, so take the afternoon to relax! Barcelona has a wide and long beach, Barceloneta, that is incredibly popular year-round. The water is good to swim in, the sand is golden colored, and there are a lot of good restaurants on the boardwalk. It’s always busy with tourists and locals, however, so walk further from the center to reach some quieter and cleaner beaches, such as Sant Sebastià in the south and Somorrostro in the north.

Watch some flamenco

Spend your evening watching flamenco at one of these places:

Los Tarantos – This is Barcelona’s oldest flamenco venue. It’s a short show (just 30 minutes) so it’s a good place for an introduction to the art and won’t take up your entire night. Admission from €15. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Palau Dalmases – One of the best things about the flamenco shows here is the venue. This palace has amazing décor and incredible architecture. Admission is €25, with one drink included. Address: Carrer de Montcada, 20.

Tablao Flamenco Cordobes – This show is in a convenient location on Barcelona’s main walkway, but it’s pricey. Admission is €45 (drink and show) or €79.50 (dinner and show). Address: La Rambla, 35.

Tablao de Carmen – This show typically features excellent performers, and it’s in an interesting venue that’s a replica of a Spanish village. Admission is €43 (drink and show) or €61 (dinner and show). Address: Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

Ride the harbor cable car

The 1,450-meter-long harbor aerial tramway with red cars connects Barceloneta and Montjuïc (a prominent hill). The 10-minute trip gives you incredible views of Barcelona. You’ll see the port and sea on one side and the city on the other. Also, at the top of the 78-meter Sant Sebastià (San Sebastián) tower in Barceloneta, there’s a restaurant accessible by an elevator. A round-trip ticket is €16.50; a one-way ticket is €11.

Explore Montjuïc Hill

When you arrive on the hill from the cable car (or bus #150 if the cable car isn’t in your budget), you’ll find there’s a lot to do here. You can explore the Castell de Montjuïc (a large 18th-century fortress), as well as gardens, a Spanish village, and the Olympic Stadium. Be sure to also visit the Magic Fountain for the colorful water show. You’ll be able to enjoy a sweeping view of the city; watching the sunset from here is amazing too. Some highlights of Montjuïc:

Castell de Montjuïc – This is an old fortress that’s now a museum featuring military displays and information on the history of the castle. The surrounding garden is a beautiful collage of color. Admission is €5. Free Sundays after 3pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carretera de Montjuïc, 66.

Joan Miró Foundation – Joan Miró was one of Catalonia’s most famous artists. Many of the surrealist’s works are on display in this museum. Admission is €12. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – This art museum houses Catalonian art, particularly Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque works. The fountain out front has a spectacular free show that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-9pm (from October-December and February-April), and Thursdays-Sundays from 9pm-11:30pm (from May-September). Admission is €12. Free Saturdays after 3pm, the first Sunday of each month, and for visitors under 16 or over 65. Address: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc.

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) – The Spanish Village was built in 1929 to resemble an actual traditional village with 117 buildings from different Spanish regions. There’s an Andalusian quarter, a section of the Camino, a monastery, and more. There are also various exhibits here devoted to crafts and contemporary art. It’s a good family activity. Admission is €12.60, with discounted rates for children, students, and seniors. The village is open daily, year-round starting at 9am and closing no earlier than 8pm. Address: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

The Olympic Ring – When Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, all of the excitement centered around the Olympic Ring: the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, and the Olympic Esplanade. You can roam the entire space for free. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Take a food tour or cooking class

Barcelona is a very food-centric city, so I highly recommend a cooking class or a food tour! You’ll learn about traditional Catalan cooking, selecting the freshest ingredients, and using new techniques. You’ll prepare your own meal and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some companies to check out are:

bcnKITCHEN – (bcnkitchen.com, from €50)

Barcelona Cooking – (barcelonacooking.net, from €65)

Just Royal Bcn – (justroyalbcn.com, from €77).

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 4

Take a day trip to Girona

This medieval city, just 100km from Barcelona, is one of my favorite destinations in Spain – and far too overlooked by travelers. Here you can climb atop the city walls, wander the narrow lanes of the Jewish Quarter, and soak up the ambiance at one of its many cafés. They filmed Game of Thrones here too! There’s a lot of history and delicious food in the city!

The Renfe train ride is about 80 minutes on the normal train (return tickets from €20); the high-speed train gets there in 38 minutes (return tickets from €30).

Other things to see and do in Barcelona

If you have more than four days in Barcelona, you’re in luck. There are plenty of other activities to fill your time:

Head to Montserrat – The Montserrat mountain range is just outside of the city and makes for a great getaway from Barcelona’s urban atmosphere. You can reach the area by taking a one-hour train ride. Once there, pay a visit to the famous shrine of the Black Madonna at the monastery and walk around the park. The Benedictine monastery and the valley of unique, rocky pillars make for some really awesome photography. Return train tickets are around €20, and you’ll also need to decide whether to take the cable car (my preference) or funicular up the mountain.

Take a food tour – Barcelona has some of the best food in Spain, and there’s no better way to spend your morning than learning about the food culture of the city. I strongly recommend Context Travel’s food tour, which takes you around the Barri Gothic and the food markets there to highlight the food history and delicacies of the region. One of the most informative and delicious tours I’ve been on in a while; it’s not the cheapest food tour in the city, but I got everything I paid for.

Visit an old-school amusement park – Tibidabo Barcelona, built in 1899, is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. On a tall mountain in the Serra de Collserola, it also offers an incredible view of Barcelona and the coastline. It’s open on the weekends, except in the winter. Admission is €28.50 for adults, €10.30 for children under 1.2m tall, and free for children under 0.90m tall. Address: Plaça del Tibidabo, 3.

Catch an outdoor film – If you’re in Barcelona in July or August, consider going up to Montjuïc Castle to catch an outdoor film on the lawn of the castle’s moat. Screenings take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are preceded by some cool live music.

Watch a soccer match – The first “football” game I ever saw was in Barcelona. It was Espaynol versus Valencia. I still have the shirt I bought that day. Barcelona’s two teams are Espanyol and FC Barcelona and, if a match is going on, try to take in one. Locals are obsessed with the sport and you’ll make a lot of good friends at the game! If you can’t make a game, you can tour the stadium and the FCB (or Barça) Museum. Tour admission is €26 online/€29.50 at the door. Match tickets are from €29, depending on the opponent. Address: C. d’Aristides Maillol, 12.

Visit the aquarium – Perfect for a rainy day, the Barcelona Aquarium has more than 11,000 animals, showcasing species from a variety of underwater ecosystems. The walk-through tunnel is the best part. Admission: €20. Address: Moll d’Espanya, del Port Vell.

Gaze at Barcelona’s free public art – Gaudí outdid himself with the huge fountain located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, a tribute to the god Neptune. I absolutely love the art and fountain here. Gaudi designed the famous Cascada Fountain when he was an architecture student. On a warm day, I just like to sit and stare at the fountain. There’s also a zoo in the park and some short walking paths. Take a bottle of wine, grab some ham, and have a picnic.

Other offbeat Gaudí works include the lampposts in Plaça Reial and Pla de Palau, and the Miralles gate and wall on Passeig de Manuel Girona. Barcelona native Joan Miró’s work is found throughout town, and you can see his famous “Woman and Bird” sculpture at Parc de Joan Miró. There are also Miró mosaics on La Rambla and at the airport.

Take a free bike tour – Free Bike Tour Barcelona offers jaunts around the city every day. The tours are typically at 10am and 2pm, but check the website (freebiketourbarcelona.com) to be sure, as there may be just one tour a day in the off-season. They last about three hours and cover all the major sights. Just be sure to tip your guides!

Where to Eat in Barcelona

For some excellent food, be sure to check out some of my favorite places:

Les Quinze Nits – Delicious food at a great price in the famous Plaça Reial. It’s a bit touristy, but even the locals come here for the value. It has a typical Spanish menu. Avoid the long lines at dinner by going for lunch instead. Address: Plaça Reial, 6.

La Fonda – Good food with large portions, near Plaça Reial. Its set menu will give you more than you can eat, and it features beautiful décor and a robust wine selection. Address: Escudellers, 10.

Allium Restaurant – This is a natural food restaurant that prepares its meals with delicious, local ingredients. It has a nice rustic décor and a friendly staff. It is well priced and my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. Address: Carrer del Call, 17.

Pinotxo Bar – Just inside the Boquería food market, this little stall is always packed and serves some of the most famous tapas in the area. I stopped there while on a food tour, and it was delicious. Try the chickpea salad! Address: La Boquería, La Rambla, 91.

The Four Cats – This was one of Picasso’s favorite haunts and a popular hangout for artists in the early 1900s. Grab a drink and maybe some tapas (the patatas bravas are delicious!) and soak up the place’s history. Address: Carrer de Montsió, 3.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Here’s a list of my favorite places to stay in the city:

Kabul – This is one of my favorite hostels in Europe. It attracts travelers who are looking for a good time. This isn’t a quiet hostel, so be prepared to party. The dorms are very clean, the beds are comfy, and the showers have high pressure. But what makes Kabul so wonderful is the downstairs common area. It takes up a whole floor of the building and comprises a café, bar, tables, internet kiosks, and a pool table. The hostel is booked out weeks in advance, especially during summer, so don’t book at the last minute! Beds from €10.71. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Hello BCN – This location is clean, and the beds are comfortable. There’s a super breakfast, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Make sure to ask them for tips about hidden places in town. This is not a party hostel, and you should be able to get some good shut-eye. Beds from €11. Address: Carrer de Lafont, 8-10.

St. Christopher’s Inn – This hostel near La Rambla is all about location: it’s perfect. I really love the curtains on the dorm beds and the gigantic bar/outdoor area next to the hostel. The bar/restaurant has good food and cheap drinks, so you should definitely check it out (even if you don’t stay here). In general, I really like the St. Christopher’s brand; it offers fun, clean, sociable, and modern hostels all over Europe. Beds from €9.90. Address: Carrer de Bergara, 3.

Sant Jordi-Sagrada Família – This is an interesting hostel with a skateboarder vibe. The common area décor is all about urban arts, and the rooms are clean and spacious. The kitchen is big, and you can often find yoga lessons, cheap dinners, and free pub crawls. There’s also a half-pipe, which I’ve never seen at a hostel before. Just watch out for the spotty Wi-Fi. Beds from €14.31. Address: Carrer del Freser, 5.

***

Barcelona has something for everyone. You could squeeze in the real highlights of Barcelona in two or three days, but taking four, five, or even six days for the above itinerary will give you enough time to gorge on Iberian ham, tapas, and sangria while not rushing around.

The city moves slowly. And so should you.

Sleep late, take breaks, eat lots, and just enjoy Barcelona at a Spaniard’s pace!

Book Your Trip to Barcelona: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Barcelona? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Barcelona with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 8, 11,

The post Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

[tamboradventure]

Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019

Posted: 1/7/19 | January 7th, 2019

Barcelona is one of the most popular destinations in Europe. It’s a city that I’ve been to many times.

Once a major city in the Roman Empire, the city still places an important role in the region and is home to millions of residents and visitors enjoying all the delicious sangria and gin, mouthwatering food, stunning beaches, warm weather, the rich history and culture, and unique architecture that Barcelona is famous for.

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant, fun, energetic cities in the world.

Barcelona is such a popular place that in recent years it’s even had to clamp down on “overtourism” to help reduce the number of visitors. (This is something I fully agree with since cities must learn to balance tourism with local life.)

With so much to see and do in and around Barcelona, where do you begin? How many days do you need to visit?

I think to really get a feel for Barcelona you should plan for four or five days. While you could see it in less, you’ll do yourself a disservice if you rush your visit. This is a city of late night dinners, late morning, and afternoon siestas.

Life isn’t rushed here and neither should your visit.

This 2-5 day itinerary highlights all the best things to see and do and help you organize your visit so you can see it all!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 1

Take a free walking tour

I love free walking tours. I think they are a wonderful way to get to know a new city, find your way around, and learn some history in the process. (And, since they are filled with traveler too, they can also be a good way to meet other people.) My recommended walking tour companies in Barcelona are:

Sandeman’s

Free Walking Tours Barcelona

Free Tours By Foot

Get lost in the Barri Gotic

Barcelona’s old Gothic Quarter is my favorite part of town, filled with narrow, winding streets and historic buildings. Spend a few hours getting lost in this district. To me, it’s the most beautiful area in the city. The area also has numerous attractions worth seeing:

Barcelona History Museum – Barcelona has one of the best city history museums I’ve ever visited, including 4,000 square meters of Roman ruins beneath the museum that you can walk through. There is a free, detailed audio guide and meticulous explanations of the exhibits. If you do one thing in the city, make it this. I visit every time I’m in Barcelona. The ruins are just stunning. Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

The Grand Royal Palace – The Palau Reial Major (near the history museum) was the home of Barcelona’s counts and later the kings of Aragon. It has a very detailed history about the city and region through the centuries. Admission is €7. Free on the first Sunday of the month and every Sunday after 3pm. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Chapel of Santa Àgata – This royal chapel was built in 1302. The most interesting thing inside is the beautiful altarpiece, made by Jaume Huguet, that was added in the 15th century. It contains beautiful paintings of religious symbols in the style of the Middle Ages. Don’t miss it! Admission is €7. Address: Plaça del Rei.

Barcelona Cathedral – Built in the late 13th to early 15th centuries, this is a classic Gothic cathedral with huge spires, colorful stained glass, and incredible wood carvings. If you go inside, pay the extra €3 to visit the terraces, where you’ll get an incredible view of Barcelona. Admission is €7, though you can sometimes get in for free (there’s no apparent schedule to this). Address: Placita de la Seu, 3.

Explore Gaudí’s architecture

Gaudí is Barcelona’s most famous and creative architect. His unique style, use of nature motifs, and catalog of work is legendary – and part of the reason so many people visit the city. No visit to the city is complete without a tour of Gaudí’s works. You can find them everywhere — in addition to the buildings listed below, he even designed lampposts, monuments, and sculptures. Here are the best sights to see:

Park Güell – Park Güell is a 45-acre garden complex designed and built between 1900 to 1914. It’s since been converted into a municipal garden and is now a World Heritage Site. The focal point of the park is the main terrace, which is surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent. Known for incorporating various themes into his work, Gaudí incorporated artistic elements of Catalan nationalism as well as ancient poetry and mysticism into this work. The park is right near La Sagrada Familia so it’s easy to visit both. I like how colorful everything in the park is! Tickets are €8.50, at the ticket office, or €7.50 when you order in advance online. Children six years old and younger are free. Address: Carrer d’Olot.

La Sagrada Família – The most famous of Gaudí’s work….and one that seems to never be finished. The church has been under construction for over than 100 years (the groundbreaking was in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2030!). Gaudí was a devout Catholic and spent the last 10 years of his life working on this project. The church blends influences of man, nature, and religion in its detailed architecture. The audio guide is worth purchasing as it covers the history of the church in great detail. Try to visit mid-morning to late afternoon so you can witness the sunlight cascade throughout all the stained glass. Admission is €15 online/€18 at the door. Address: Plaça de la Sagrada Familia.

Casa Batlló – Casa Batllo is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí in the early 1900s. He spent 2 years on the project completely revamping the exterior, main floor, patio, and roof. With its undulating shape, it’s definitely one of the more eye-catching of his creations. Located in the Eixample district of Barcelona, it (like everything Gaudí designed) was heavy influenced by the Art Nouveau style. The facade was decorated with a mosaic made of broken ceramic tiles that he collected from the trash of a nearby glass shop. The roof is arched and has been likened to the back of a dragon. It’s one of my favorite Gaudí buildings. Admission is €24.50 online/€28.50 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 43.

Casa Milà (also called La Pedrera) – From 1906 to 1910, Gaudi work on Casa Mila, also known as “La Pedrera” (the stone quarry) as the building has a facade of limestone. The goal was to evoke the sense of a snowy mountain. Gaudí, himself a Catholic and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, also planned for the Casa Milà to be a spiritual symbol and included many religious elements like an excerpt from the rosary prayer on the cornice and statues of Mary, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel. Casa Milà became run down and partially abandoned until it was restored in the late 1980s to its original form. Admission is €22 online/€25 at door. Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92.

Palau Güell – Located off La Rambla, Palau Guell (Guell Palace) building doesn’t jump out at you like other Gaudí structures. Built from 1886-88, it was designed for one of Gaudi’s patrons, Eusebi Güell. The home is centered around the main room used to entertain high-society guests. The main party room has a high ceiling with small holes near the top where lanterns were hung at night from the outside to give the appearance of a starlit sky. There are colorful tree-like chimneys on top. It’s a bit creepy and gothic to me. One of my favorites too! Admission is €12 (free on the first Sunday of every month). Address: Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5.

Note: Advanced reservations are recommended for Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, and Casa Batllo so you can skip the lines!

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 2

Visit the Picasso Museum

While I’m not a huge fan of most of Picasso’s later work, it’s still interesting to learn about the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. With more than 4,000 pieces of art, there certainly is a lot to see here. Admission is €11, with discounts available for students and seniors. Free Thursday evenings, 6-9pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carrer Montcada, 15-23.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)

This museum has over 5,000 works, including an extensive collection of pieces by Spanish artists such as Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. There are also works by Americans Andy Warhol and Alexander Calder (who is known for his innovative mobiles). If you love modern art, be sure to add this to your itinerary. Admission is €10, with discounts available. Free Saturdays, 4-8pm. It’s always free for anyone under 14. Address: Plaça dels Àngels, 1.

La Boquería

This public market has an amazing array of food stalls and restaurants. It’s been at this location for hundreds of years, in a building with a beautiful iron entrance. It’s right off La Rambla (a long, popular central thoroughfare, see below), so the market is typically very busy. But grab a snack or an inexpensive lunch of ham, bread, cheese, and fruit and enjoy the scene. There’s a wide variety of seafood, including fish, shrimp, octopus, and oysters, as well as nuts, candy, wine, and tapas.

NOTE: Due to overcrowding, tourist groups are now restricted to 15 people or less. You’ll have no problem moving about on your own, but if you’re in a large group….well, be prepared to get kicked out! The city is (appropriately) trying to take back the markets for locals. Watch for changes to

Take a stroll on La Rambla

The popular 1.2km long boulevard with a broad but crowded walkway in the center has many beautiful buildings along it including the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the city’s opera house. Near the theater, you can also see a mosaic by Joan Miró. And there are street performers galore here (they even have their own union). While this street is ground zero for tourists in the city (don’t eat at the restaurants here, they suck), it’s worth a stroll down at least once.

Hit the beach

You’ve done a ton of walking so far, so take the afternoon to relax! Barcelona has a wide and long beach, Barceloneta, that is incredibly popular year-round. The water is good to swim in, the sand is golden colored, and there are a lot of good restaurants on the boardwalk. It’s always busy with tourists and locals, however, so walk further from the center to reach some quieter and cleaner beaches, such as Sant Sebastià in the south and Somorrostro in the north.

Watch some flamenco

Spend your evening watching flamenco at one of these places:

Los Tarantos – This is Barcelona’s oldest flamenco venue. It’s a short show (just 30 minutes) so it’s a good place for an introduction to the art and won’t take up your entire night. Admission from €15. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Palau Dalmases – One of the best things about the flamenco shows here is the venue. This palace has amazing décor and incredible architecture. Admission is €25, with one drink included. Address: Carrer de Montcada, 20.

Tablao Flamenco Cordobes – This show is in a convenient location on Barcelona’s main walkway, but it’s pricey. Admission is €45 (drink and show) or €79.50 (dinner and show). Address: La Rambla, 35.

Tablao de Carmen – This show typically features excellent performers, and it’s in an interesting venue that’s a replica of a Spanish village. Admission is €43 (drink and show) or €61 (dinner and show). Address: Av. de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 3

Ride the harbor cable car

The 1,450-meter-long harbor aerial tramway with red cars connects Barceloneta and Montjuïc (a prominent hill). The 10-minute trip gives you incredible views of Barcelona. You’ll see the port and sea on one side and the city on the other. Also, at the top of the 78-meter Sant Sebastià (San Sebastián) tower in Barceloneta, there’s a restaurant accessible by an elevator. A round-trip ticket is €16.50; a one-way ticket is €11.

Explore Montjuïc Hill

When you arrive on the hill from the cable car (or bus #150 if the cable car isn’t in your budget), you’ll find there’s a lot to do here. You can explore the Castell de Montjuïc (a large 18th-century fortress), as well as gardens, a Spanish village, and the Olympic Stadium. Be sure to also visit the Magic Fountain for the colorful water show. You’ll be able to enjoy a sweeping view of the city; watching the sunset from here is amazing too. Some highlights of Montjuïc:

Castell de Montjuïc – This is an old fortress that’s now a museum featuring military displays and information on the history of the castle. The surrounding garden is a beautiful collage of color. Admission is €5. Free Sundays after 3pm and on the first Sunday of each month. Address: Carretera de Montjuïc, 66.

Joan Miró Foundation – Joan Miró was one of Catalonia’s most famous artists. Many of the surrealist’s works are on display in this museum. Admission is €12. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – This art museum houses Catalonian art, particularly Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque works. The fountain out front has a spectacular free show that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-9pm (from October-December and February-April), and Thursdays-Sundays from 9pm-11:30pm (from May-September). Admission is €12. Free Saturdays after 3pm, the first Sunday of each month, and for visitors under 16 or over 65. Address: Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc.

Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) – The Spanish Village was built in 1929 to resemble an actual traditional village with 117 buildings from different Spanish regions. There’s an Andalusian quarter, a section of the Camino, a monastery, and more. There are also various exhibits here devoted to crafts and contemporary art. It’s a good family activity. Admission is €12.60, with discounted rates for children, students, and seniors. The village is open daily, year-round starting at 9am and closing no earlier than 8pm. Address: Av. Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 13.

The Olympic Ring – When Barcelona hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, all of the excitement centered around the Olympic Ring: the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi, and the Olympic Esplanade. You can roam the entire space for free. Address: Parc de Montjuïc.

Take a food tour or cooking class

Barcelona is a very food-centric city, so I highly recommend a cooking class or a food tour! You’ll learn about traditional Catalan cooking, selecting the freshest ingredients, and using new techniques. You’ll prepare your own meal and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some companies to check out are:

bcnKITCHEN – (bcnkitchen.com, from €50)

Barcelona Cooking – (barcelonacooking.net, from €65)

Just Royal Bcn – (justroyalbcn.com, from €77).

Barcelona Itinerary: Day 4

Take a day trip to Girona

This medieval city, just 100km from Barcelona, is one of my favorite destinations in Spain – and far too overlooked by travelers. Here you can climb atop the city walls, wander the narrow lanes of the Jewish Quarter, and soak up the ambiance at one of its many cafés. They filmed Game of Thrones here too! There’s a lot of history and delicious food in the city!

The Renfe train ride is about 80 minutes on the normal train (return tickets from €20); the high-speed train gets there in 38 minutes (return tickets from €30).

Other things to see and do in Barcelona

If you have more than four days in Barcelona, you’re in luck. There are plenty of other activities to fill your time:

Head to Montserrat – The Montserrat mountain range is just outside of the city and makes for a great getaway from Barcelona’s urban atmosphere. You can reach the area by taking a one-hour train ride. Once there, pay a visit to the famous shrine of the Black Madonna at the monastery and walk around the park. The Benedictine monastery and the valley of unique, rocky pillars make for some really awesome photography. Return train tickets are around €20, and you’ll also need to decide whether to take the cable car (my preference) or funicular up the mountain.

Take a food tour – Barcelona has some of the best food in Spain, and there’s no better way to spend your morning than learning about the food culture of the city. I strongly recommend Context Travel’s food tour, which takes you around the Barri Gothic and the food markets there to highlight the food history and delicacies of the region. One of the most informative and delicious tours I’ve been on in a while; it’s not the cheapest food tour in the city, but I got everything I paid for.

Visit an old-school amusement park – Tibidabo Barcelona, built in 1899, is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. On a tall mountain in the Serra de Collserola, it also offers an incredible view of Barcelona and the coastline. It’s open on the weekends, except in the winter. Admission is €28.50 for adults, €10.30 for children under 1.2m tall, and free for children under 0.90m tall. Address: Plaça del Tibidabo, 3.

Catch an outdoor film – If you’re in Barcelona in July or August, consider going up to Montjuïc Castle to catch an outdoor film on the lawn of the castle’s moat. Screenings take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are preceded by some cool live music.

Watch a soccer match – The first “football” game I ever saw was in Barcelona. It was Espaynol versus Valencia. I still have the shirt I bought that day. Barcelona’s two teams are Espanyol and FC Barcelona and, if a match is going on, try to take in one. Locals are obsessed with the sport and you’ll make a lot of good friends at the game! If you can’t make a game, you can tour the stadium and the FCB (or Barça) Museum. Tour admission is €26 online/€29.50 at the door. Match tickets are from €29, depending on the opponent. Address: C. d’Aristides Maillol, 12.

Visit the aquarium – Perfect for a rainy day, the Barcelona Aquarium has more than 11,000 animals, showcasing species from a variety of underwater ecosystems. The walk-through tunnel is the best part. Admission: €20. Address: Moll d’Espanya, del Port Vell.

Gaze at Barcelona’s free public art – Gaudí outdid himself with the huge fountain located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, a tribute to the god Neptune. I absolutely love the art and fountain here. Gaudi designed the famous Cascada Fountain when he was an architecture student. On a warm day, I just like to sit and stare at the fountain. There’s also a zoo in the park and some short walking paths. Take a bottle of wine, grab some ham, and have a picnic.

Other offbeat Gaudí works include the lampposts in Plaça Reial and Pla de Palau, and the Miralles gate and wall on Passeig de Manuel Girona. Barcelona native Joan Miró’s work is found throughout town, and you can see his famous “Woman and Bird” sculpture at Parc de Joan Miró. There are also Miró mosaics on La Rambla and at the airport.

Take a free bike tour – Free Bike Tour Barcelona offers jaunts around the city every day. The tours are typically at 10am and 2pm, but check the website (freebiketourbarcelona.com) to be sure, as there may be just one tour a day in the off-season. They last about three hours and cover all the major sights. Just be sure to tip your guides!

Where to Eat in Barcelona

For some excellent food, be sure to check out some of my favorite places:

Les Quinze Nits – Delicious food at a great price in the famous Plaça Reial. It’s a bit touristy, but even the locals come here for the value. It has a typical Spanish menu. Avoid the long lines at dinner by going for lunch instead. Address: Plaça Reial, 6.

La Fonda – Good food with large portions, near Plaça Reial. Its set menu will give you more than you can eat, and it features beautiful décor and a robust wine selection. Address: Escudellers, 10.

Allium Restaurant – This is a natural food restaurant that prepares its meals with delicious, local ingredients. It has a nice rustic décor and a friendly staff. It is well priced and my favorite restaurant in Barcelona. Address: Carrer del Call, 17.

Pinotxo Bar – Just inside the Boquería food market, this little stall is always packed and serves some of the most famous tapas in the area. I stopped there while on a food tour, and it was delicious. Try the chickpea salad! Address: La Boquería, La Rambla, 91.

The Four Cats – This was one of Picasso’s favorite haunts and a popular hangout for artists in the early 1900s. Grab a drink and maybe some tapas (the patatas bravas are delicious!) and soak up the place’s history. Address: Carrer de Montsió, 3.

Where to Stay in Barcelona

Here’s a list of my favorite places to stay in the city:

Kabul – This is one of my favorite hostels in Europe. It attracts travelers who are looking for a good time. This isn’t a quiet hostel, so be prepared to party. The dorms are very clean, the beds are comfy, and the showers have high pressure. But what makes Kabul so wonderful is the downstairs common area. It takes up a whole floor of the building and comprises a café, bar, tables, internet kiosks, and a pool table. The hostel is booked out weeks in advance, especially during summer, so don’t book at the last minute! Beds from €10.71. Address: Plaça Reial, 17.

Hello BCN – This location is clean, and the beds are comfortable. There’s a super breakfast, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Make sure to ask them for tips about hidden places in town. This is not a party hostel, and you should be able to get some good shut-eye. Beds from €11. Address: Carrer de Lafont, 8-10.

St. Christopher’s Inn – This hostel near La Rambla is all about location: it’s perfect. I really love the curtains on the dorm beds and the gigantic bar/outdoor area next to the hostel. The bar/restaurant has good food and cheap drinks, so you should definitely check it out (even if you don’t stay here). In general, I really like the St. Christopher’s brand; it offers fun, clean, sociable, and modern hostels all over Europe. Beds from €9.90. Address: Carrer de Bergara, 3.

Sant Jordi-Sagrada Família – This is an interesting hostel with a skateboarder vibe. The common area décor is all about urban arts, and the rooms are clean and spacious. The kitchen is big, and you can often find yoga lessons, cheap dinners, and free pub crawls. There’s also a half-pipe, which I’ve never seen at a hostel before. Just watch out for the spotty Wi-Fi. Beds from €14.31. Address: Carrer del Freser, 5.

***

Barcelona has something for everyone. You could squeeze in the real highlights of Barcelona in two or three days, but taking four, five, or even six days for the above itinerary will give you enough time to gorge on Iberian ham, tapas, and sangria while not rushing around.

The city moves slowly. And so should you.

Sleep late, take breaks, eat lots, and just enjoy Barcelona at a Spaniard’s pace!

Book Your Trip to Barcelona: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Barcelona? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Barcelona with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credits: 5, 6, 8, 11,

The post Barcelona Itinerary: How to Spend Your Time in This Incredible City in 2019 appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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[delhi-architect2]

Journal - A+Product Awards: Vote for the World’s Best Building Products in 2020

Great architecture is impossible to achieve without the innovative products and materials that make it a reality. It therefore follows that the Public Vote for the A+Product Awards — the world’s largest awards program for building products — is one of huge significance to the industry.

This free, online vote will reveal what you, our global community of architects, designers and creatives, deems the most exemplary building products for 2020. This year, there are an incredible 130+ products shortlisted for awards across 28 categories. Without further ado, dive into voting and be a part of the 2020 A+Product Awards decision-making process:

Cast Your Votes Now

The firms and designers behind the nominated projects are vying for international publication in the next edition of The World’s Best Architecture, produced by renowned publisher Phaidon, as well as a coveted, custom-designed A+Awards trophy and global media exposure. It’s therefore vital we get as many votes as possible, in order to reach a definite result for each category. The public vote typically garners hundreds of thousands of votes each year, making the A+Awards Popular Choice Awards as highly regarded as their Jury-voted counterparts.

A taste of this year’s A+Awards Finalists, clockwise from top-left: Sage by David Rockwell for Benchmark; Ventilated Glass Facade for Parking Structures by Bendheim; Blade Acoustic Lighting by Luxxbox; Pretty Plastic by Pretty Plastic; Hypedome by Hypedome; Norr 2.0 by MIRAGE SPA

Check out the complete list of nominated products and brands below, together with buttons that will take you to the voting page for each category.

If you’re looking for a specific nomination, hit Ctrl+F (Windows) or Command+F (Mac) and type in the desired firm or project to jump to that nomination.

If you are a nominated firm, be sure to share this article and instruct your followers to vote in your category to maximize your chances of success!

Building Equipment & Systems

Schindler Handrail UV & CleanRail Sanitization Enhancements by Schindler

Leica BLK2GO by Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon

Handcrafted Vapor Fireplace by Bespoke Vapor Fireplaces

LG Art Cool™ Premier Wall Mount Split System by LG

Nill Building Solutions by Nill Building Solutions

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Smart Building & Technology

Pocket Closet by Ori

Friday Smart Lock by Friday Home

Intentek Wireless Charging Surfaces by Formica Group

LightGlass – the fusion of light & glass by Glass Technology GmbH

Butlr Heatic Sensor and Butlr BI for Smart Living by Butlr

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Sustainable Design Products

Model Z by Zauben

BiOrigami by Studio Samira Boon

Ventilated Glass Facade for Parking Structures by Bendheim

SPACES by THIBAULT VAN RENNE BV

Flek by 3form

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Software & Digital Tools

Vectorworks Architect 2020 software by Vectorworks, Inc.

ARCHICAD 23 by GRAPHISOFT

Monograph by Monograph

The Cortivale Package by Parasoleil

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Building Envelopes & Cladding

Pretty Plastic by Pretty Plastic

Kaynemaile by Kaynemaile Ltd

Ventilated Glass Facade for Parking Structures by Bendheim

KORSA by TAKTL LLC

SYNTHESIS – 3D Printed Facade by EDG

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Glass & Glazing

Ventilated Glass Facade for Parking Structures by Bendheim

Guardian Bird1st glass by Guardian Glass North America

LightGlass – the fusion of light & glass by Glass Technology GmbH

cero by Solarlux GmbH

Acubis by Solarlux GmbH

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Acoustics

BiOrigami by Studio Samira Boon

Blade Acoustic Lighting by Luxxbox

Nivo Acoustic by Focal Point

SoftGrid Flux by Arktura

Linea Acoustic Pendant by Luxxbox

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Carpet

Mist Collection by II BY IV DESIGN and REPUBLIC OF II BY IV

Desert Lights Carpet and Rug Collection by ROCKWELL GROUP

SPACES by THIBAULT VAN RENNE BV

David Rockwell Collection for The Rug Company by ROCKWELL GROUP

Oceania by Naja Utzon Popov

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Ceilings

WinLok Exterior Accessible Soffit System, Screen Wall System, & Fascia System by Gordon, Inc.

Transluminous and Drop-Out Ceiling Panels by Freelance

INFINITY SkyCeiling by Sky Factory

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Ceramics

Norr 2.0 by MIRAGE SPA

JOIN by Ceramiche Caesar SPA

Fio.Ghiaia by Ceramica Fioranese

Mata Collection by Lurca Ceramic Tiles

Protz Studio Patterned Ceramic Tiles by Protz Studio

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Flooring

PORFIRICA by COEM/FIORANESE

Deconstructed Felt by Patcraft

Mark Making by Patcraft

Rejuvenations Restore with Diamond 10 Technology by Armstrong Flooring

Korlok Select American Barnwoods by Karndean Designflooring

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Hard Surfacing

Feelwood by EGGER

Black Tempal by Caesarstone

Neolith Calacatta Luxe by Neolith

Dekton Liquid Series by Cosentino

THINSCAPE? Performance Tops by Wilsonart

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Wall & Wall Coverings

Garden on the Wall by Garden on the Wall

EBB+FLOW WALLCOVERING COLLECTION by Jill Malek

SYNTHESIS – CUSTOM CONCRETE WALL PANELS by EDG

Atmos by Pure + FreeForm

Contourz Concrete Tiles by Lunada Bay Tile

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Accessories

Paravan Mood by Arper

BuzziRing by BuzziSpace

BuzziPlanter by BuzziSpace

Hew Tray by Zaha Hadid Architects

Vestalia candle holder by LATOxLATO

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Contract Furniture & Systems

Free Address by Stylex

Atelier by Gensler

Swing by Pair

Mix by Pair

Q! Landscape by Paxson Fay

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Contract Seating

Masque Collection by II BY IV DESIGN and REPUBLIC OF II BY IV

Rho by Davis Furniture

Ellaby by Keilhauer

Wedge by Division Twelve

Verge by Keilhauer

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Outdoor Furniture

Hypedome by Hypedome

Generation 50 by Landscape Forms

Elements by Tecno by Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens and Daniel Germani

Walter Lamb Aluminum Rocking Chair by Brown Jordan

Green Life Armchair by Visionnaire

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Residential Furniture

Sage by David Rockwell for Benchmark by ROCKWELL GROUP

Ori Studio Suite by Ori

Brasilia Coffee Table by FCstudio

Rugosa Collection by Kalon Studios

Horizon sideboard by Lia Siqueira for Etel Design

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Residential Seating

Camden Armchair by Visionnaire

John Chair by equipe lamas

Capper Seating and Ottomans by Phase Design

Poltrona U by UXUA DAS by Wilbert Das

REVERSIVEL by TACCHINI ITALIA FORNITURE  S.R.L

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Appliances

48″ Limited Edition Dual Fuel Range – VDR7482 by Viking Range, LLC

Lux Island by Zephyr

Lift Downdraft by Zephyr

Mendocino by Native Trails

36-inch Dual-Fuel Pro Range with sous vide by Signature Kitchen Suite

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Fixtures & Fittings

Batlló, Güell, Top Mounted Vessel Sinks by Mila International Inc

Stainless Steel Shower Base by Infinity Drain

Valvola01 by Quadro srl

GROHE Rainshower 310 SmartConnect by Grohe AG

GROHE Black Line by Grohe AG

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Millwork & Cabinetry

Space Theory by Space Theory

Frankford Wine Room by Amuneal

Logica Celata by DOM Interiors

MATCH by Reform

Stellé Collection by WETSTYLE

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Plumbing & Drainage

Easy Drain Pool line by Easy Sanitary Solutions

Slot Linear Drain by Infinity Drain

6030 Organic Shower Base by MTI Baths

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Outdoor Products & Materials

Motive by Landscape Forms

Clean Zone by HYUNDAI ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION

When the whale meets the future by ANTAO

BINN by VPI Concrete Design & Manufacture

Whale Tail bench by QZ Urban Furniture

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Contract Lighting

Seem 1 Acoustic Trio by Focal Point

Blade Acoustic Lighting by Luxxbox

APERTURE SkyCeiling by Sky Factory

Cubic Sky by Cactus

Tube by Vibia

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Residential Lighting

Noctambule by FLOS

Shellby by Pits nv, Modular Lighting Instruments

Sun — Light of Love by Foscarini

Hollow by Pits nv, Modular Lighting Instruments

Nebula Collection by Hammerton Lighting

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Doors & Door Hardware

Rockwood PDU8500 Architectural Storefront Panic Device by ASSA ABLOY

S4 Screen & Shade System by Centor

SL84 by NanaWall Systems

Frankford Doors by Amuneal

Temperature Sensitive Sealed Door System by Westhampton Architectural Glass

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Windows & Skylights

LightGlass – the fusion of light & glass by Glass Technology GmbH

Vitrocsa Hurricane Impact Rated Fixed & Sliding by Goldbrecht Inc

Kingspan Day-Lite Kapture Skylight by Kingspan Light + Air

Pella Lifestyle Series by Pella Corporation

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The post A+Product Awards: Vote for the World’s Best Building Products in 2020 appeared first on Journal.

from Journal https://architizer.com/blog/inside-architizer/updates/2020-product-awards-public-vote-now-open/ Originally published on ARCHITIZER RSS Feed: https://architizer.com/blog

[topfygad]

The Ultimate Guide to Spend the Cheapest Weekend In Barcelona.

You waited for it, you bought it. Right here’s How To Spend A Low cost-Ish Weekend In Barcelona, Spain. The very first thing that would come to your thoughts is Hey pal, Barcelona is every thing else however undoubtedly not the most affordable metropolis in Europe. Dangle on Mate, i do agree with you however the metropolis is stuffed with issues to to see and do: Seaside, Artwork and Structure that don’t value a dime!

In Barcelona, a hostel bunk prices round $18, however when you’ve got a journey buddy it can save you a couple of dollars by reserving an condominium with a kitchen and cooking in. And on the subject of getting round, strolling is by far the most affordable — and we’d argue, the most effective — option to see the town, however Barcelona’s public transportation received’t break the financial institution. A 3-day limitless move prices round $25 (and contains airport transfers) and a 10-ride ticket is simply over $12.

When you’ve booked airplane tickets, you may go away the planning to us. We’ve bought the last word information for a cool, fun-filled weekend that received’t go away you broke.

Eat pastries made by monks and nuns.

You’ll discover espresso outlets and bakeries everywhere in the metropolis’s Gothic Quarter, however we’re guessing you’ve by no means eaten monastery-made delicacies in historic public baths. It is a actuality at Caelum, which sits above the quarter’s previous public baths. Order a café and a deal with or two (we suggest a huesos de santo) and head to the basement for some Center Age-esque ambiance.

Price: round $5

Make your option to La Sagrada Familia.

There’s a motive La Sagrada Familia is on the high of each Barcelona to-do listing, and there’s a motive we suggest a go to. The final word labor of affection, building of the church started in 1882 and remains to be underway right this moment, over 137 years later. This monumental time span is a testomony to the element and thought Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí put into each door, column, and spire, and the result’s a one-of-a-kind construction that’s in contrast to any you’ve ever seen.

A ticket inside will set you again a treasured $22 — however even in case you don’t wish to splurge, it’s fairly unimaginable simply to see from the surface.

Price: free from the surface; $22 to enter.

Individuals watch on La Rambla.

You’ll be able to stroll previous two different Gaudí buildings — Casa Milà and Casa Batlló — in your manner from Park Güell to La Rambla boulevard. This vast, tree-lined road is synonymous with Barcelona and is residence to artist Joan Miró’s “Pla de l’Os”, a colourful mosaic inlaid on the road itself.

In the event you’ve bought the time, we propose discovering a bench the place you may eye up the world’s infamous road performers and other people watch.

Price: free

  Get your caffeine repair at Cafés El Magnífico.

Even the largest espresso snob can’t flip up their nostril at Cafés El Magnífico. The multi-generational household enterprise is all about brewing the right cup — which is an efficient factor, as a result of you might have an enormous day forward of you.

Tip: In the event you occur to be on the town on the primary Sunday of the month, you’re in luck — the Museu Picasso is free all day lengthy and is a simple, 3-minute stroll from the café.

Price: round $2

Nap, swim, or surf the afternoon away at Playa de La Barceloneta.

Seize a spare towel out of your lodging, pack a superb e book, and discover a cozy spot on Playa de La Barceloneta. In the course of the summer time months you may take a dip within the sea or be part of a recreation of seaside volleyball, and when the cooler climate hits (October to March) the surf is at its greatest.

Hit Mercat de La Boqueria for dinner.

There’s a lot occurring at La Boqueria that we suggest taking a lap across the market earlier than deciding what you’ll eat and drink. You’ll discover every thing from empanadas to fresh-fruit smoothies to oysters. Take your decide, or pull up a stool and reward your walk-heavy day with ice-cold beer and a few extra tapas. (And remember to seize a number of to-go snacks for late night munchies.)

Price: round $10

from Cheapr Travels https://ift.tt/2GuZwNX via https://ift.tt/2NIqXKN

[ryankeever-blog]

Blog 14, Jan 16: Describe Gaudi's aesthetic and discuss how it influences emotion. Specifically discuss at least 2 separate Gaudi structures.

Gaudi’s aesthetic used a lot of mosaics to make up structures. The Parc guell featured many mosaics throughout the park and they were made up of colorful pieces of glass that created beautiful images. The entire curved bench on the overlook is covered in these tiles of which none are the same shape. I think that the separate pieces that make up one big thing is meant to make people compare themselves to one of the pieces. Just like the mosaic everyone is an individual but collectively everyone is a beautiful piece of art. The casa Batlló also made me feel like I was one thing out of a group that together makes something. The Sagrada Família doesn’t have as many mosaics but has spires that kind of look like they’re dripping. This made me think of climbing up towards the sky which is also what the inside of the cathedral does. The verticality is insane and the light coming through the stained glass makes you feel small and as if there’s something out there that you don’t know about yet. This works well with the church because I’m sure he wanted people to feel as if god was all around them and they could look up and be closer.