A vibrant city along the Mediterranean Sea that will wow and intrigue you: that is Barcelona. Conveniently located along the north eastern coast of Spain very close to France, Barcelona is easy to combine with a multi-city European vacation. But spending only a couple nights here means you will only get a sliver of what the destination has to offer. So make it a full week or at least several days.

The Works of Gaudi – Sagrada Famlia

I was a very different kind of traveler last time I had visited Spain: a college student living abroad for a semester, exploring the many cities of the country. Barcelona, of course, was a weekend stop during my many Spanish escapades. At that time, the first sight of Gaudi’s architecture was a bit of a surprise. During this recent visit, being older and wiser, I knew what to expect and can better understand it.

My husband, daughter and I were there to visit our college age son, whose turn it is to retrace some of his mother’s footprints as he spends his own semester in Spain.
Much has changed through the years and mostly for the better. Antoni Gaudi’s infamous Basilica of the “Sagrada Familia” is still under construction as it will be for many more years. But the work that has been completed is beyond anything you have seen in any church, ever. Incredibly beautiful and unique; the colors and the play on light are fantastic.
You can visit the church during various times of the day and see the play on light the architect so meticulously orchestrated. A visit to this sacred work of art is a must do when visiting Barcelona. I highly suggest getting a guided tour to gain a sincere appreciation of this masterpiece that can easily take another 10 years or more to complete.
The Cathedral of Barcelona, though not as artsy as “Sagrada Familia”, is another must see. A beautiful gothic cathedral where the Archbishop of Barcelona still holds a seat. The church ruled the cities in ancient times so churches hold much history and insight to the culture and lives of those days.
Structures

Antoni Gaudi’s influence in Barcelona is quite deep. He built some incredibly unique buildings; several even acted as residences for the wealthy who paid quite a lot to live in one of his creations. He was ahead of the times in his style and design and added a quirkiness that influences architecture even today.

Gaudi has several “casas” (houses) that are still residential apartments today, but which have sections set aside as museums, so you can walk thru and feel as if you have stepped back in time. We could not visit them all, but we certainly made the time to explore the most famous “Casa
Mila” (also known as “La Pedrera”).
A step onto the rooftop of the building is the perfect introduction of Gaudi efforts in combining beauty and functionality mixed with his out this world creativity. You must experience it first hand to understand. Rooftop chimneys and antennas should be functional and be works of art – that was his intention and I say he accomplished it.

The Park Guell

A park originally designed to be a gated community that was never completed by Antoni Gaudi is now a masterpiece of art and beauty. “Park Guell” is another of this architect’s works. It is one of the most beautiful public parks in the world and is home to several of his famous creations ranging from the famous stairway and benches that adorn the park entrance, to little crevices he designed within the columns so that even the birds could find a home. He was always trying to integrate light, color and nature.
    
City Life
Now for the vibrancy of this metropolitan city. The subways are clean, and we easily navigated them. We found much within walking distance or just grabbed a quick cab. The options of great bars and restaurants are astounding. Barcelona is one of the food capitals of the world and is home to over 20 Michelin star restaurants.
Eat your way through Barcelona and don’t forget to enjoy some of the seafood, since you are on the coast, the fish is caught fresh daily. Try the black paella flavored with the black ink of squid. Tastes no different than regular seafood paella but you will be eating like a local. We enjoyed a lovely black paella and sangria lunch at one of the beachfront tavernas. The locals love their beach. It’s low key and fun. So grab a beach towel and siesta after your heavy lunch.
Day Trips
Ready to venture outside the city? Many day trip options are at your disposal here. We chose to visit Montserrat, a hilltop monastery located alongside these unique rock formations that offer breathtaking views, and where we were lucky to hear the famous boys’ choir sing during Sunday mass.
It was so peaceful and beautiful. We bought some delicious local cheeses and then climbed up to the highest point for some must-have selfies on the
mountainous landscape.
Did you know that Dali also has a museum in his home town, Figueres, about 87 miles outside of the city? That can also be a day trip. And with Dali you can expect to be amazed and intrigued by his work.
Or maybe you want to venture north to the Costa Brava region where you will find villages along the sea. Charming and less touristy than the bustling cities. Could be a nice break for a few days of low key exploring.
Spain has so much to offer. Barcelona is just ONE of many amazing cities to explore. We packed our bags and headed south but that is for another newsletter. Stay tuned because you know I never stop traveling.
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