A Country Within A Country: Travel To Barcelona

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.
A Country Within A Country: Travel To Barcelona

 



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.

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