A Country Within A Country: Travel To Barcelona
The distinctive regional culture of Barcelona is largely due to
geography and a plentitude of national pride and elitism. Barcelona is
the capital of Catalonia, one of Spain's 17 semi-autonomous states. The
regional language is Catalan, along with the national language of
Castilian Spanish. There has long been pressure from the Catalonian
government and nationalists to earn complete autonomy from Spain.
Consequently, the exclusive culture can be difficult to adjust to and
there is significant animosity towards foreigners around the main
tourist street of Las Ramblas. To thoroughly enjoy the sweet life and
gentle hospitality of Barcelona, leave this busy area and explore the
many diverse districts, endless with possibility.
geography and a plentitude of national pride and elitism. Barcelona is
the capital of Catalonia, one of Spain's 17 semi-autonomous states. The
regional language is Catalan, along with the national language of
Castilian Spanish. There has long been pressure from the Catalonian
government and nationalists to earn complete autonomy from Spain.
Consequently, the exclusive culture can be difficult to adjust to and
there is significant animosity towards foreigners around the main
tourist street of Las Ramblas. To thoroughly enjoy the sweet life and
gentle hospitality of Barcelona, leave this busy area and explore the
many diverse districts, endless with possibility.
Café Life and Nightlife for the Night Owl
Barcelona is truly a city that never sleeps, particularly during the
warm Mediterranean summers. Avoid standing out like a sore thumb by
eating dinner when the locals do: after 10 p.m. It is common to see
children, grandparents and the family dog gathering at the outdoor cafes
at these hours when the day's work is finished and time for friends and
family has commenced. Since Barcelona hosted the Olympics in 1992, the
city has been revamped with visitor friendly attractions such as the
massive Olympic Village, a string of swanky restaurants,
state-of-the-art nightclubs and boutiques along the beach. Most
nightclubs do not get going until after 1 a.m. and club-goers typically
wander out onto the beach around 5:30 to watch the sunrise over the
Mediterranean.
A Modernista Mecca
The architectural wonders of Barcelona will keep even the most novice
eye bewildered and intrigued. Antoni Gaudi decorated Barcelona with his
treasures of modernism as a painter on a canvas. The grand boulevard of
Passeig de Gracia is lined with elaborately adorned Casa Batllo and Casa
Mila, both with the most intricate rooftops known to modern
architecture. Arguably the most stunning of Gaudi's work is the Temple
Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. Each of the church's facades are
meticulously designed with different themes and styles combining nature
with religion and the soaring towers topped with mosaic grapes are built
around a conch-like coiled staircase that visitors may choose to take
instead of the elevator. Another tribute to Barcelona's artistic
heritage is the Palau da la Musica Catalana. A view of the glass and
mosaic inverted chandelier on the ceiling of the theater is alone worth
the visit. Daily tours are offered in addition to the regularly held
musical performances. Afterward, get lost in the tiny twisting passages
of the surrounding historic Gothic Quarter.
Traveling Barcelona Right Not Your Weekend Visit
It is best to avoid traveling to Spain in August, when most of the
locals (and most of Mediterranean Europe) take their vacations. Chances
are that the restaurant you wanted to visit will be closed and museums
will have extremely curtailed hours. August can also be uncomfortably
hot.
Barcelona should be traveled with care and patience. The only
disappointment visitors have is the inability to see all of the city's
landmarks and hidden corners in a realistic amount of time.