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TRAVEL TIPS |
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| BARCELONA |
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| On the Spanish Mediterranean coast 160 km of the Pyrenees, Barcelona has been a pioneer throughout its istory, paying homage to a past that is imposed on the modernism and has Gaudí as its eternal reference. |
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Places to visit |
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| Discovering Barcelona is dropping a "wow" at every corner. In the Gothic Quarter, between the narrow streets, with the Cathedral and part of the medieval city wall at the epicentre, it is imminent the feeling of being back in medieval times. Continuing along the Gothic Quarter, you inevitably head to the Ramblas, a pedestrian street with just over 1km, where you will find terraces and the Boqueria Market (Mercat St. Jose), ending at a beach of white sand, which is one of the hotspots, presenting visitors with the sculpture of the German artist Rebecca Horn, L'Estel Ferit. As bullfights are prohibited, the building Arena - located on Plaza d'Espanya with its steeples imitating Venice - was converted into a shopping centre (Las Arenas) and you can visit the top. However to have a perfect view of the city, we suggest visiting the majestic National Art Museum of Catalonia. The most difficult task will be to climb the staircase (although the escalators and the cable car minimize the challenge). The Montjuic is a mountain that includes museums, such as the Joan Miró Foundation, the Botanical Gardens, the Montjuic Castle and the Olympic complex built for the 1992 Olympic Games, which is still a point of interest. Next to the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the fountain built for the International Exhibition of 1929 turns the evenings into a show of light and water. Barcelona has its highest point at Tibidabo, in Collserola. Over 500 meters high, it is home to an amusement park, a telecommunication tower and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrat Cor). A synonym of the Catalan capital is Gaudí, the architect who transformed Barcelona into his greatest work of art, leaving his mark throughout the city. |
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What to eat? |
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Between the mountain and the sea, Barcelona has a traditional cuisine based on garden and sea products, but the international influences are evident.
The Catalan’s gastronomic highlights are the bread with tomato, the paella, the coca or the Catalan cream, in addition to the typical tapas. |
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Curiosities |
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| The Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family (Sagrada Família) is perhaps the most mythical work of Gaudí. Its construction began in 1883 and it is a "working progress", whose conclusion is scheduled for 2025, when the renovations works... begin The aerial view shows us that seven of the major works of Gaudí: the Palau Güel, Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Casa Vicens, Park Güell, Casa Calvet and the Holy Family form the Plough. Barcelona was the first Spanish city to embrace the industrial revolution and it is the largest industrial centre of the country and its port is the most important of the Mediterranean. The beaches, now a former symbol of the city, were used for industrial purposes and they only began to be used for recreational purposes in the late 80's. April 23rd marks the World Book Day, dedicated to San Jordi, when couples usually exchange roses and books with each other. The Catalan capital has a network of twelve abandoned underground stations, which occasionally open to the public for visits and holding events. The largest football stadium in Europe, Camp Nou, is the venue of F.C. Barcelona games and has a capacity for more than 99,000 people. |
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Advices |
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| In order to visit Park Güell one must now pay €7 if the purchase of the ticket is made online and €8 on site. One of the options for traveling around the city is acquiring the Barcelona Card, with 2 to 5 day option and access to transport, discounts and tickets to some tourist attractions. Since culture is one of the strengths of Catalonia and Barcelona, you can find free exhibitions of various genres in every corner. Barceloneta is one of the most popular beaches, but the truth is that there is a total of 10 other beaches to discover. The El Prat airport has many connection options to the city centre: the cheapest is the train, but there is also the Aerobus and the underground, besides the taxi, of course. With wet and warm winters and dry and hot summers, Barcelona is characterized by its Mediterranean climate, with an average annual temperature of 21ºC. |
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