Painting with light - Barcelona 2 (2013) by Philippe EcharouxSubagora
According to Ancient mythology, the Greco-Roman god Hermes and his stepbrother Hercules named Barcelona in honor of a lost “ninth ship” (Latin: Barca Nona) that was traveling in their fleet. As nice an origin story as this is, more likely is that the Romans founded this coastal city in modern-day Spain in the 1st century BCE.
Barcelona’s wealth of natural wonders and artistic treasures have attracted millions of tourists from around the globe. First-time visitors to the Catalan capital are often overwhelmed by the innumerable masterpieces the city has to offer. Here are a few of the absolute must-see attractions to help first-time visitors narrow down their travel itinerary.
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1. Must-See Architecture by Antoni Gaudí
Modernist architect Antoni Gaudí’s (1852 –1926) contributions to Barcelona were so great that locals have been pressuring the Vatican to recognize Gaudí as a saint since at least 1992. Throughout his career, Gaudí developed a distinctive style of architecture that draws heavily on the natural world. The wavy exterior of buildings like Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, for example, were designed to complement the rolling mountains and seafaring nature of the Catalonia region.
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Considered Gaudí’s masterpiece, the 560-feet tall Sagrada Família Cathedral has been under construction since 1882 with a tentative completion date in 2026.
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While serving as a center for the Catholic faith, Gaudí incorporated natural imagery like soaring trees for pillars, fruits, and even a few tortoises to highlight the interconnectedness of the divine and the natural world.
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Another example of Gaudi’s architectural feats is the Casa Vicens, completed in 1894 and considered one of the first buildings of Art Nouveau and the first house Gaudí was commissioned to design.
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The most seamless blend of the natural and cultural in Gaudí’s oeuvre is his design of the public Park Güell, also located in Gràcia.
By N R FarbmanLIFE Photo Collection
Completed in 1914, this 42-acre park is split into two areas: a lower sculpture park and a natural area at the top of the hill. Gaudí let his imagination soar in the sculpture area, which features undulating staircases, palm tree gates made of iron, and a colorful ceramic salamander.
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2. Walking Las Ramblas
Measuring just over three miles, La Rambla is a popular pedestrian walkway in Barcelona’s historic district that has been used since the Middle Ages. Today, roughly 150,000 people walk along this street enjoying the sights of souvenir shops and the smells of food vendors.
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One easy-to-miss landmark on this stretch of five avenues is the colorful Pla de l’Os floor mosaic created by famed Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983). Located near Passatge del Crèdit, which is where Miró was born, this colorful mosaic uses simple geometry to express feelings of childhood nostalgia.
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3. Discovering Barcelona’s beloved Surrealist at Fundació Joan Miró
If you want to see more of Joan Miró’s work (and you should), Barcelona has an entire museum dedicated to the famed Barcelona-born artist called the Fundació Joan Miró. Founded by the artist in 1975, this museum houses a wide range of Joan Miró’s masterworks. Miró was fascinated with child psychology and often employed a childlike sense of painting to express Surrealist themes like the subconscious and the nature of dreams.
Self Portrait II (1938) by Joan MiroDetroit Institute of Arts
Although Miró began his career heavily indebted to artists like Picasso and Van Gogh, he soon developed his own style in the Surrealist movement that favored simple geometry and bold colors.
St's Peter and Paul (1587 - 1592) by El GrecoThe State Hermitage Museum
4. Catalonia’s largest art collection at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya – MNAC
The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) was officially founded in 1990 after Spanish government decided to put the collections in the Catalonia Museum of Art, the Numismatic Collection of Catalonia, and the Museum of Modern Art inside the National Palace. In addition to one of the largest collections of medieval paintings in the world, the MNAC boasts artifacts from Romanesque cloisters, over 130,000 precious coins, and paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder, El Greco, Salvador Dalí, and Diego Velázquez.
Altarpiece of Saint Vincent (Circa 1438-1440) by Bernat MartorellMuseu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC, Barcelona
One of the most exceptional pieces in the MNAC is the Altarpiece of Saint Vincent created by 15th century Catalan artist Bernat Martorell. This work is important because, unusually, it has survived completely intact. Made with tempera, wood, and gold leaf, this vivid altarpiece is also significant because it shows the Virgin of Pity rather than the more conventional Calvary scene on the top panel.
Tracey Miles - Barcelona 1992 (1992) by Bob Martin / Getty ImagesThe Olympic Museum
5. Barceloneta: Fit for Olympians
Today, Barcelona is celebrated as one of Europe’s great beach cities. Before 1992, however, there were no beaches to be found in the capital of Catalonia. It was only after Barcelona was selected to host the 1992 Summer Olympics that the local government invested in creating the now famous Barceloneta Beaches. Before the Olympics, the Barceloneta area was composed of various shops and industries.
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Today, Barcelona’s seven man-made beaches stretch and impressive 2.7 miles.
Pablo Picasso (1949) by Gjon MiliLIFE Photo Collection
6. A glimpse of Picasso's early years at the Picasso Museum
Although the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was born in the southern city of Málaga, he spent most of his teens and early 20s in Barcelona. Picasso always spoke highly of his time in Barcelona, telling interviewers the city taught him “how far [he] could go.”
To honor the influential artist’s time in Barcelona, city leaders created the Picasso Museum in 1963. Housing over 4,200 of Picasso’s works, the Picasso Museum has the distinction of being the only dedicated museum that opened while Picasso was still alive.
Melancholy Woman (1902) by Pablo PicassoDetroit Institute of Arts
This museum has a very good collection of Picasso’s early work, especially from his famed Blue Period (1901-1904). While Picasso was struggling to make ends meet in Paris, he received the tragic news that his best friend Carlos Casagemas committed suicide in 1901. Picasso translated his deep sadness into all of his Blue Period paintings, many of which depict society’s destitute people in blue or blue-green tones.
Boquería Market (1840)Real Academia de Gastronomía
7. A bite to eat at Barcelona’s premier food market
The popular Boqueria Market on La Ramblas was officially founded in 1840, but it was used as a market area since at least 1217 CE. There are now over 300 food stands, many operated by fourth-generation vendors, in this 2,500-plus square meter market.
The most popular theory behind Boqueria’s is that it comes from the Catalan word “boc,” which translates to “goat.” For many years, goat meat was the most popular food in the market.
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8. Catalan Gothic at its finest at the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar
Constructed between 1329 and 1384, Barcelona’s Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Since this basilica was created in a relatively short span of time, it’s considered to be the only basilica in Spain that’s solely built using the Catalan Gothic style.
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8. Catalan Gothic at its finest at the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar
Constructed between 1329 and 1384, Barcelona’s Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Since this basilica was created in a relatively short span of time, it’s considered to be the only basilica in Spain that’s solely built using the Catalan Gothic style.
The Chocolate Party (1710) by UnknownDesign Museum of Barcelona
9. Indulge in Barcelona’s chocolate obsession
One of the most unique museums in Barcelona is the Chocolate Museum, which is housed in a former Christian monastery in the Old City district. Founded in 2000, this museum tells the story of how hot chocolate culture spread from Barcelona to Europe from the 15th century onwards, popularizing the still common churros and chocolate found in most xocolateria shops.
The chocolate culture in Barcelona is undeniable and can even be found in various artworks displayed throughout Barcelona museums such as the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona.
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In addition to teaching visitors about chocolate’s influence on Barcelona’s culture, the Chocolate Museum houses numerous eye-catching statues – all made entirely of chocolate. The statues in the museum’s tasty collection range from historical buildings to humorous cartoon characters.
2.50 pesetas (25.09.1936) by Generalitat de CatalunyaMuseu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC, Barcelona
Although Barcelona has become a haven for travelers who enjoy sun, sand, and soccer, it’s also one of Europe’s most culturally sophisticated cities. As you can see, Barcelona has many unique treasures, and locals work hard to preserve their Catalan heritage. Happy exploring!
