20 reasons to go to Barcelona

Do you love shopping and have a weakness for buying things? Or maybe you like the beach and nighttime strolls by the sea? Maybe you’ve already been to Barcelona and you’re familiar with the contents of the city guides, so today I’m going to give you the 20 reasons why you have to go to Barcelona this summer.

  1. First of all, choose a hotel, since it will be your base camp from which you’ll go to visit new places every day. The Room Mate hotels in Barcelona are a great option. The Room Mate Emma hotel is perfect for a stay in the centre of the city.
  2. If you want to be captivated, visit the unmissable Born neighbourhood. With its bohemian atmosphere, you’ll find plenty of places to sit down and have a good coffee.
  3. Look at the facades of the buildings to see really magical figures. They are carasses, which are stone figures embedded in the façades and which represent heads of satyrs, demons, women or unknown sinful faces. You can find the most famous one on the corner of Carrer dels Mirallers and Carrer Vigatans.
  4. If you like witchcraft and the esoteric, you have to visit the Carrer D’Estruc, better known as the street of the witches. As you walk around, you’ll find buildings decorated with a strange symbology, with texts of the talisman of King Solomon.
  5. Visit the old Hospital of La Santa Creu, one of the most majestic areas that exist in the heart of the El Raval neighbourhood. It is now the Biblioteca de Catalunya, a library.
  6. Another interesting place is to visit the Gardens of La Torre de Les Aigües or Platja de L’Eixample. There you can see the water tower and tank built in 1862.
  7. On Passeig de Gràcia, between the streets of Aragó and Consell del Cent, you will find a section known as the “Manzana de la discordia”, with three palaces that you definitely have to visit. The Casa Lleó Morera, the Casa Amatller and the Casa Batlló.
  8. Do you like dragons? The biggest dragon in the city is found on the Casa Batlló. The architect designed the roof so that, with its shapes and ceramic pieces, it resembled the backbone of a huge dragon.
  9. Also in the Eixample neighbourhood, the Palacio del Baró de Quadras is another must-see. On its stone facade, you can find legendary sculptures.
  10. La Casa Terrades or Casa de Les Punxes, located on Av. Diagonal looks like a fairytale castle. How could you not visit it?
  11. If you want to see a dragon in all its splendour, go to Casa Bruno Cuadros, located at number 82 of the Rambla and you’ll be surprised by the shape and colour of this work by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas.
  12. Another interesting sculpture is in the Palau de la Generalitat, a Gothic medallion with Saint George on horseback killing the dragon and, below them, a succession of gargoyles.
  13. You’re sure to be really hungry after this cultural tour, and what better than to eat at Alvart, a restaurant where you can try the best Catalan dishes, such as turbot with sage gnocchi.
  14. We continue with the day and if you fancy seeing the more modern side of Barcelona, you can take some pictures of Frank Gehry’s steel fish, a giant sculpure made from golden steel, which resembles a fish due to its curved lines. It is located at the Olympic Port.
  15. Did you know that Barcelona is full of submarines? It’s interesting to see the submarine opposite the Maritime Museum in Barcelona.
  16. The panoramic viewpoint of the Torre de Collserola is another interesting spot. Go up to level 10, where you’ll find a spectacular viewpoint with views over the city.
  17. Jardín Horta, a green labyrinth in Barcelona, is another magic enclave. You’ll be captivated by its sculptured beauty and plants.
  18. To have a fun afternoon, go on the Tibidabo big wheel, a classic way to see another panoramic view of the city in a different way.
  19. The glass dome of the Palau de la Música Catalana is another wonder. An architectural work by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who is one of the most prolific examples of Catalan modernism, along with Gaudí.
  20. Finally, take a picture on the most famous bridge in the gothic quarter, the neo-Gothic bridge on Calle del Obispo. By the way, don’t look at the skull just under the bridge, as they say it brings bad luck.

By Noelia Jiménez www.noemelia.com

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