The Gothic Quarter known to the locals and others speaking the native tongue "barri gotic" of Barcelona is amazing to visit. The various things to see and do will keep you busy for quite some time. Pablo Picasso used to eat here in barri gotic and believe it or not you can go and see his paintings in their very own museum.
If you get tired after sightseeing, stop by a little caf for some Spanish coffee and get recharged. Decided that you're not really interested in sightseeing but you would like to go shopping? Check out the available wares from merchants sharing the same space that their ancestors sold out of generations ago.
Sensory Overload
The city of Barcelona is steeped in history and a visit there will likely be somewhat of a sensory overload to someone who has never been there before: the smell of the famous Spanish coffee, intermingled with the slightly chalky taste of the water you can drink from the public fountains, the sore feet from traipsing around all day, and perhaps even the aching neck from tilting it back trying to "take it all in" when you are looking at the fabulous architecture like the Arc de Triomf which is no faade, it's very solid and real and amazingly well-crafted. You will likely see this landmark and be surprised to find out that it is not the same as the one found in France!
Font Magica's Universal Appeal
Feel free to take a break at night and take a look at the Font Magica which is a glorious fountain setup that is turned on nightly and features various colored lights. The fountains seem to dance with the music that is played which can be Vivaldi or perhaps even some other composer that you have heard on the classical radio station before. The lights shoot up into the sky, reflecting off the water droplets of the various fountains and create a spectacle that must be utterly amazing if viewed by air.
The fountains sit in front of a lit architectural wonder called the Montjuic Palace. If you are planning a trip this is definitely a tourist destination not to miss! It won't cost you anything to go see and the fountain display lasts a couple of hours, just enough time for you to be awed, but not too long so that you get bored with it. (This would be a great activity to take the kids to since they will probably be awestruck and keep quiet for at least a few minutes for you!)
Sardana Dance
Check out a Sardana dance in the square if you're interested. It's the national dance of the Catalunya and is composed of a group of people holding hands and dancing in a circle with small, mincing steps. The circle keeps growing to include people in it, however, tourists are NOT encouraged to join in because the steps are so complicated that just one misstep can throw off the whole circle. The Catalyans prefer if you just stand and watch.
If you get tired after sightseeing, stop by a little caf for some Spanish coffee and get recharged. Decided that you're not really interested in sightseeing but you would like to go shopping? Check out the available wares from merchants sharing the same space that their ancestors sold out of generations ago.
Sensory Overload
The city of Barcelona is steeped in history and a visit there will likely be somewhat of a sensory overload to someone who has never been there before: the smell of the famous Spanish coffee, intermingled with the slightly chalky taste of the water you can drink from the public fountains, the sore feet from traipsing around all day, and perhaps even the aching neck from tilting it back trying to "take it all in" when you are looking at the fabulous architecture like the Arc de Triomf which is no faade, it's very solid and real and amazingly well-crafted. You will likely see this landmark and be surprised to find out that it is not the same as the one found in France!
Font Magica's Universal Appeal
Feel free to take a break at night and take a look at the Font Magica which is a glorious fountain setup that is turned on nightly and features various colored lights. The fountains seem to dance with the music that is played which can be Vivaldi or perhaps even some other composer that you have heard on the classical radio station before. The lights shoot up into the sky, reflecting off the water droplets of the various fountains and create a spectacle that must be utterly amazing if viewed by air.
The fountains sit in front of a lit architectural wonder called the Montjuic Palace. If you are planning a trip this is definitely a tourist destination not to miss! It won't cost you anything to go see and the fountain display lasts a couple of hours, just enough time for you to be awed, but not too long so that you get bored with it. (This would be a great activity to take the kids to since they will probably be awestruck and keep quiet for at least a few minutes for you!)
Sardana Dance
Check out a Sardana dance in the square if you're interested. It's the national dance of the Catalunya and is composed of a group of people holding hands and dancing in a circle with small, mincing steps. The circle keeps growing to include people in it, however, tourists are NOT encouraged to join in because the steps are so complicated that just one misstep can throw off the whole circle. The Catalyans prefer if you just stand and watch.
About the Author:
Bert Ibartinger routinely pens newsletters on news related to barcelona travel news. You can learn about his comments on barcelona apartments over at http://www.barcelona-information.com .
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