WELCOME

to

Barcelona

Saturday 12th May 2007

Barcelona

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, and the second biggest city in Spain. It is situated on the Mediterrean coast, and it has aproximatly 1.600.000 inhabitants. In Barcelona there are the most important institutions: the Parliament of Catalonia and “La Generalitat” (the Catalan government). It is a very turistic city.

The most notable sites in Barcelona are la Sagrada Família, the Gothic district, Montjuïc, la Ciutadella, el Parc Güell and el Port Olímpic (Olympic Harbour). You also can visit the “Camp Nou”, where the FCBarcelona plays.

LES RAMBLES

• Les Rambles are in the centre of Barcelona, at the Gothic District.It’s an avenue that goes from Catalunya Square to Colombus monument, next to the harbour.The zone of Les Rambles is an important shopping zone.

Human Scultures

• There are dozens of human scultures standing still along Les Rambles. They will only move if you drop a coin into one of the pots they usually put in front of them. Try and the artists will surprise you with a funny trick.

Are the alive?

• Very often you need to look at them for a long time to find out it they are alive or not. Some are colourful, some are frightening, some are incredible, but you will always admire them.

El LiceuThis building is called ‘The Liceu’, and it is the most important theatre in Catalonia. It was burnt in 1994 and rebuilt a few years later.

It is also the most famous opera house in Spain. In the past, people from the middle class went to this theatre.

Canaletas fountain• This fountain is

Canaletas. This is the place where the Barça supporters meet when Barça wins a championship. It’s situated at the beginning of Les Rambles.

Colombus monument

• It was built in 1888. This monument is dedicated to Columbus, the discoverer of America.That’s why people think he’s pointing with his finger to the New World. Well, in fact he’s pointing to the Balearic Islands.It is at the end of ‘Les Rambles’, very near the sea.

Modernisme

Modern Style is an international style of art, architecture and design that peaked in popularity at the beginning of the 20th century (1880-1914) and is characterized by highly-stylized, flowing, curvilinear designs often incorporating floral and other plant-inspired motifs. It was very popular in Catalonia.

Palau de la música

Barcelona has a lot of buildings built with this style.

Antoni Gaudí i Cornet

Antoni Gaudí is the most representative Modernist artist from Catalunya. He was born in Reus in 1852. He went to live in Barcelona in 1870 because he wanted to study architecture.

His first work was Casa Vincens. After he built Casa Milà “La Pedrera”, Parc Güell, Casa Batlló and Sagrada Famíla.

El Parc Güell

It was designed by Gaudí and it is an extraordinary park full colour and surprising decorative elements. The combination between nature and art is perfect.

Sagrada FamíliaLa Sagrada Família (Catalan, 'The Holy Family') is a large Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Its formal title is Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this construction.

Every part of the design of La Sagrada Família is rich with Christian symbolism, as Gaudí intended the church to be the "last great sanctuary of Christendom” A total of 18 tall towers are called for, representing in ascending order of height the twelve Apostoles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ

Casa Milà “La Pedrera”

La Pedrera is a Modernist building.It’s situated in the “Passeig de Gràcia” in Barcelona. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí and it was built between 1906-1910.

Gaudí got inspiration from the nature and the building looks like the sea.

Santa Maria del Mar

This temple is a work of the architect Berenguer de Montagut, and it was built with the help of the population, that carried the big stones to the church.

It is the unique big Gothic Catalan church perfectly finished.

In its façades we find the characters of the Catalan gothic, that are different from the European characters.

The CathedralIt’s situated in the Gothic district, and it’s a Gothic building. It was started in 1298.

The façade is more modern (19th century)

El mercat de La Boqueria

• In the heart of Las Ramblas we find the picturesque and colourful market of La Boqueria where you can find any product, from an exotic scorpion to a common apple.

Shopping in Barcelona

The city is home to the famous 5 KM shopping line. The shopping line stretches from the top of the Ramblas, through Placa de Catalunya along Passeig de Gràcia and up Avenue Diagonal.

El mirador de l’Alcalde

• From this high place you’ll enjoy a really impressive view of the whole city, from the harbour to the Sagrada Familia temple.

Many people enjoy shopping in Barcelona. Here you can find almost anything at nice prices from a mere souvenir to a sophisticated and elegant diamond bracelet.

BYE BYE

We hope you enjoy a lot the

visit to Barcelona!