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Barcelona Travel Guide 2018

Welcome to Barcelona, Gaudi's city, and
much more
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Table of contents
1- Welcome to Barcelona
2 - Casa Vicens
3 - La Pedrera
4 - Casa Batlló
5 - La Sagrada Familia
6 - Tibidabo
7 - Montjuïc Castle
8 - Museum D’Art's
9 - City Views
10 - Top Memories
The End ?
 1-WELCOME TO BARCELONA

Welcome to Barcelona, Gaudi’s city, and much more

The capital of Catalunha’s region (Spain) is a city where

you feel good, safe and with a lot to see.
It’s inevitable to feel like you’ve been won over by Antoni
Gaudi’s imagination by visiting places like La Pedrera, Casa
Batlló, La Sagrada Família or Parc Güell’s gardens, but there’s
more to see and feel in Barcelona.
For that, we made this book, to share not only what you
can see, but also to try to transmit what we felt while visiting
this city in April 2018.
Barcelona is a holiday district that is worth visiting or
revisiting, and we hope that with this book, you’ll think the
same way.
Visit Barcelona with us, it’s worth it!
 2 - CASA VICENS

If you visit the city famous by Gaudi’s art, it makes sense

for you to visit his first works, right? Barcelona’s Casa Vicens
is the first of Gaudí’s works in Barcelona. There, he was able
to show for the first time all his talent and for that it is
considered the first masterpieces of Modernism on this city.

The bright colors, the inspiration from the world of nature

that you can find in the decoration and the corridors that
seem like infinite corners that can lead you to anywhere, will
stay in your memory. It is located in the calm
neighbourhood of Gràcia. If you also plan to visit the
Tibidabo church and park (and you should) you can see the
house on the way. It won’t take you much time, around one
hour will be enough to admire and get a closer feeling of the
Gaudí amazing creativity.

Barcelona’s Casa Vicens was declared a World Heritage Site

by UNESCO in 2005, is located in the neighbourhood of
Gràcia and the building is covered with spectacular green
and white tiles.
 It was built by a young Gaudí as a summer home
commissioned by Manel Vicens y Montaner (1836-1895), a
stock market dealer and broker. It is the first of Gaudí’s
works in Barcelona in which he was able to display the full
range of his talents. He created an innovative and original
project that broke completely with the style of anything else
built in Catalonia up to that point. Casa Vicens is one of the
first examples of an aesthetic renewal in art and architecture
that took place in Europe at the end of the 19th century. It
marks the beginning of Gaudí’s artistic career and is
considered to be one of the first masterpieces of Modernism.

The most important source of inspiration in all Gaudí’s

work is the world of nature, and Casa Vicens is one of the
first examples, given that it represents and incorporates a
variety of natural elements into the overall design.
 3 - LA PEDRERA

With the nickname La Pedrera (meaning “The Quarry”),

this building official name is Casa Milà.
This art nouveau building is famous for its wavy stone
facets and intricate carvings that will feel strange in the
middle of the city but also kind of attract you, like if you
were going to enter some kind of modern fortress on a busy
street.

It’s another result of Gaudí’s singular style and was made as

a home residence for the commissioners of the building with
a complex of apartments they also wanted to rent in order to
create a permanent source of income.

Casa Milà has been designated as a World Heritage site by

UNESCO and is situated in the Passeig de Gracia. When you
get to the house, look also to the other side of the street and
you will see, very another, completely different work of
Gaudi: Casa Batlló.

Stop for a minute, look at the two houses for a few

minutes, admire the architecture, and be surprised: how did
these so different ideas came from the same mind? Amazing!
 4 - CASA BATLLÓ

Ready to enter a very special world of fantasy? Ok, just

walk across the street and enter Casa Batlló, one of the most
impressive works of the famous Catalan architect Antoni
Gaudí.

Vibrant colors, skeletal terraces, a facade that seems

decorated with giant Venice Carnival masks and many more
elements will surprise you in this very special place.

Here you will also see, in a real house, some details (like
doorhandles), whose story / origin were explained in videos
on the La Pedrera and that show how Gaudi liked to create
shapes based on human forms, and some creative solutions
for technical building issues (like the heating system)

A masterpiece is the most used adjective to describe this

house, and in this case, it’s absolutely correct.

If you are a fan of creativity this will be the house that will
make you say: I would love to live here!
 5 - LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

It’s time so see something different from anything you’ve

ever seen: La Sagrada Família (Church of the Sacred Family).

From 1882 until his death (in 1926) Antoni Gaudí devoted
himself to this project, a very unusual building that is today
still in construction and is estimated to be completed only by
2026.

More than an architecture giant project, more than a

“church”, La Sagrada Família is one of those things we find
really hard to describe.
A giant mix of forms, shapes and emotions might be a way
to resume the feeling you will have when you put you head
up to see the giant cone shaped towers that seem to reach the
sky.

You will never find anything like this elsewhere, so you

must go see it. Make sure you walk around the whole way
around the building, see all the sides of the construction and
look closely to see the different shapes and figures in every
side of the building. Done? Ok, you have created a memory
that will last a lifetime.
 6 - TIBIDABO

Barcelona has many activities that fit the whole family, and
between them, the Tibidabo adventure park stands out, with
more than 100 years of history.

Located at the top of Collserola Hill, it’s an adventure park

with many rides, but it’s also where you can visit an
enormous church, from where you can enjoy an amazing
view of Barcelona and its surroundings.

If you’re not afraid of heights, at the park try out the ferris
wheel or taking a small ride on a mini suspended airplane.
Don’t forget to visit some of the collections available such as
Museum d’Auto`mats - where you can look at dozens of
automatic dolls originally from the 1800s.

After, visit the church (Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor) to

enjoy the view from the top. It’s quite high, but don’t be
scared, you can buy a ticket at the elevator next to the main
entrance to get to the top, where you’ll be impressed by the
view and the majestic statues that seem to watch Barcelona.
 You can buy joint tickets (access them through the cable
railway plus the complete amusement park, or just the cable
railway and once you’re up there just buy the tickets for the
initial ride).

A great plan for a family day!

 7 - MONTJUÏC CASTLE

The castle itself isn’t very spectacular, and it doesn’t have

much to see inside, but it’s worth it to visit it for the
incredible views of the bays (cruises and merchandise) and
the beaches where you can enjoy the view of the Montjuïc
Castle.

You also have the advantage of it being one of the only

attractions in Barcelona with accessible prices, and where the
kids don’t pay to enter.

If you’re lucky, you may witness some of the bow and

arrow lovers practicing at the castle’s gardens.

About an hour is enough to visit the castle.

 8 - MUSEUM D’ART'S

The Museum D’Art's building and surroundings are one of

the most fantastic of Barcelona.

Barcelona’s views are very interesting from this point on,

and the city also had the amazing idea of placing escalators at
the ends of the gardens so you can get to the Museum
without breaking a sweat.

We didn’t have time to visit the museum itself but the trip
to the location was worth it to look at the beauty of the
buildings, views and environment.
 9 - CITY VIEWS

Going to the main square of Barcelona (Catalunha Square)

and walking around the most popular streets (Ramblas) is
also something we recommend to everyone who wants to
feel the heartbeat of the city.

Between the crowds that fill these streets and the Ramblas
don’t forget to take a break (also because it’s going to be hard
to walk that fast) visit the market (Mercat de Sant Josep de la
Boqueria) where stalls filled with candy and fruit fill your
senses.

While you’re walking around the city, now and then, you’ll
be surprised by multiple buildings, on one hand for their
majesty and on the other hand for the architecture that
attracts your look. For sea lovers, there’s also amazing
beaches to enjoy.

To have a tasty break, stop by “Dino”, next to El Corte

Ingles at Catalunha Square where you have amazing italian
ice creams (with many flavours and gluten free options)
waiting for you - it’s worth it!
 10 - TOP MEMORIES

Barcelona, the places we will always remember

The list could be much longer, but to keep it pratical here

are the main places our family will remember more from the
visit to Barcelona and that we recomend you visit too.

La Sagrada Família (Church of the Sacred Family, by

Gaudi)
Casa Batlló (Gaudi)
Casa Mila - nicknamed “La Pedrera” (the Quarry), by
Antoni Gaudí
Parc Güell (Güell Park) by Antoni Gaudi
Las Ramblas streets
Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria (Boqueria Market)
Montjuic hill & Poble Espanyol
Tibidabo (hill, Sagrat Cor church and park)
Palau de la Musica Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music)
 THE END ?

Barcelona travel guide 2018

The End
(or the beginning of your next travel?)