Las Ramblas or Les Rambles is a 1.2-Kilometer Tree-Lined Pedestrian Mall: Once exclusively a flower market, the historic and bustling Las Ramblas area of Barcelona is the perfect place for leisurely walks, shopping or engaging in some people watching. Whereas Las Ramblas was once lined with convents and churches, the streets are now thronged with […]
La Boqueria – Barcelona’s Spectacular Food Market
La Boqueria is Popular with Tourists Even Though Few Come to Buy Fresh Produce: La Boqueria, Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, St. Joseph’s Market…. No matter what name you use to describe it, the sights and smells of this famous Barcelona market will be the same. La Boqueria La Boqueria is one of […]
Barcelona, The Creative Capital of Catalonia
Barcelona, An Ancient City Which Sizzles with Creativity: Like many great cities around the world, Barcelona flowered in the late Middle Ages and blossomed in the mid-19th century. Although it is an ancient city, born of the Roman Empire, there are many exciting elements of the modern period to be seen in Barcelona as well. […]
Sagrada Familia – Gaudi’s Temple of the Holy Family
The Temple Expiatori Sagrada Familia is One of Barcelona’s Great Wonders: Think of Barcelona and Antonio Gaudi easily comes to mind. Whilst Gaudi did not create Barcelona, he most certainly is Barcelona’s patron architect. Much of the city bears his stamp and nowhere is this more evident than in his unfinished masterpiece, Temple Expiatori Sagrada […]
La Pedrera – Gaudi’s Stone Quarry
Gaudi’s Casa Milà is Otherwise Known as La Pedrera or The Stone Quarry: Along Passeig de Gràcia, in the ultra-fashionable Quadrat d’Or (Golden Square) neighborhood of Barcelona stands one of the most unusual examples of the city’s architecture – or anywhere else in the world: Casa Milà, otherwise known as La Pedrera, is another of […]
Parc Güell – Another of Gaudi’s Gift to Barcelona
Gaudi’s Parc Güell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Parc Güell is yet another of architect Antonio Gaudi’s great gifts to the city of Barcelona. When you visit this mind-boggling 20-hectare park, you’ll quickly understand why it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Parc Güell sits on the hills to the north of Barcelona’s […]
Gaudi Architecture of Barcelona
Antonio Gaudi – A Nut or a Genius: When Elies Rogent signed the diploma in 1878 certifying Gaudi as an architect, he made the following statement “Qui sap si hem donat el diploma a un boig o a un geni: el temps ens ho dirà.” (Who knows if we have given this diploma to a […]
Palau de la Música Catalana – A Palace for Catalan Music
The Palau de la Música Catalana is the Most Beautiful Concert Hall in Europe: Few concert halls are as exuberant as Barcelona’s century-old Palau de la Música Catalana (Palace of Catalan Music). Said to be the most beautiful concert hall in Europe, the Palau Musica has the UNESCO World Heritage stamp of approval as a […]
Plaza Mayor – A Historical Madrid Plaza
Plaza Mayor – This Madrid Square has been the Scene of Many Historical Events: Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s main tourist attractions. This Madrid square is the most likely venue for visitors having a drink at one of the many cafes and enjoying the Spanish sunshine. However, things have not always been so peaceful […]
Madrid Shopping
Madrid Shops, Shopping Malls and Shopping Precincts: While perhaps not as famous for its shopping as Paris, Milan, London or New York, Madrid nevertheless has heaps of excellent places to shop – 60,000 shops open their doors every day in Madrid! Whether you’re looking for a valuable antique or just a simple gift for someone […]