Introducing Barcelona
Sun-kissed and lapped by the Mediterranean, Barcelona is a dynamo where people work hard and play hard. A magnet for architecture buffs, foodies and night owls, it is a pleasure for all the senses.
A ramble through the Barri Gòtic to La Catedral reveals the Gothic legacies of Barcelona’s medieval past. In the neighbourhood of l’Eixample, see Antoni Gaudí's hallucinatory spectacles Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. The city's famous museums, Museu Picasso, Fundació Joan Miró and Fundació Antoni Tàpies, pay homage to other artists who've left their imprint here.
Life pulsates at high pressure through the streets of this compact city. An economic powerhouse, ‘Barna’ displays a zest for life, artistic genius and sense of style few cities can rival. It also seems to be in a permanent state of self-renewal, its skyline constantly altering as neglected districts come in for their beauty treatment.
In this cauldron of culinary activity, monument-gazing can create a substantial appetite. Traditional restaurants and alfresco seafood eateries rub shoulders with a new wave of designer dens run by the city’s avant-garde chefs.
Barcelona’s hedonistic streak infects everyone, from the voluble gents playing dominos at La Barceloneta’s beaches to the gay body builders sun-worshipping nearby. Club sounds waft over the sand from waterfront chill-out lounges. At night students pack century-old taverns while fashionistas sip caipirinhas in designer cocktail bars before hitting the clubs.
Last updated: Nov 25, 2008
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