Barcelona is a city where every detail, from its stunning architecture to its vibrant streets, is an expression of the unique Catalan spirit [00:36]. The city is a seductive, intense, and often chaotic “dream” built on layers of history and artistic vision [00:52].

Here is a guide to planning your vacation in the capital of Catalonia:

🎨 The Artistic Soul: Gaudí and Modernism

Barcelona’s architectural character is defined by Catalan Modernism, which embraced nature’s rhythms [07:36]. The movement’s giant was Antoni Gaudí, who is responsible for seven of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Barcelona [08:24].

• La Sagrada Família: Gaudí’s uncompleted masterpiece and greatest vision, due for completion within the next decade. Even unfinished, it stuns over 4 million visitors annually [11:14].

• Park Güell: Explore the gatehouses and a forest of stone columns, featuring designs laden with historical and mythical symbolism [10:36].

• Casa Batlló: Located on the “Block of Discord,” this building is often called the “House of Bones.” Its facade resembles a lily-covered pond, and the roof is sculpted like the back of a dragon [09:28].

• Casa Milà (La Pedrera): The last private residence designed by Gaudí, its facade evokes coastal cliffs or the peaks of Montserrat [10:00]. Its striking rooftop chimneys famously inspired the look of Darth Vader and his stormtroopers [10:19].

• Casa Vicens: The first residence designed by Gaudí, blending Moorish and Oriental styles to create a new architectural language [08:33].

• Palau Güell: Step through the arches just off La Rambla to see this building, which features striking basement pillars and detailed rooftop chimney pots [09:00].

Beyond Gaudí, see Sant Pau Hospital, a visionary Modernist work by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, known for its open courtyards and fragrant medicinal gardens [07:51].

🚶 The City Heart: A Walk Through the Districts

• Plaça de Catalunya & La Rambla: The city’s dream begins at Plaça de Catalunya [01:14]. From here, drift down La Rambla, the famous boulevard the poet Lorca wished “would never end” [01:32]. Be aware that the crowds on La Rambla make it a target for pickpockets [01:40].

• Passeig de Gràcia: A boulevard north of the center lined with creations by the giants of the Art Nouveau and Modernist movements, including Gaudí [01:51].

• Barri Gòtic (Old Town): Lose yourself in the 2,000-year-old history of the Gothic Quarter [02:28]. Walk past the Roman towers that once guarded the ancient city of Barcina [02:42] and visit the Barcelona Cathedral, a Catalan Gothic masterpiece 600 years in the making [02:51].

🌊 Sea, History, and Art

• Maritime History: High above Port Vell stands the statue of Christopher Columbus [03:27]. Explore the medieval dockyards at the Maritime Museum, which preserves the history of Barcelona’s seapower [03:40].

• Museums:

  • Museum of the History of Catalonia: A portal into the daily lives and aspirations of Catalans across the centuries [04:05].

  • National Art Museum of Catalonia: Located in the National Palace on Montjuïc, it showcases Catalan creativity from Romanesque murals to the Renaissance [06:01].

• Montjuïc Hill: A broad hill laced with gardens and trails. Take the cable car up to enjoy commanding views from Montjuïc Castle [06:23].

• Beaches: The city’s waterfront was given a major makeover for the 1992 Summer Olympics, adding two miles of shoreline and transforming the city into a great beach destination [07:02].

🍴 Food and Culture

• • La Boqueria: Located just off La Rambla, this vibrant market began as a goat market in the 13th century and is the best place to sample local delicacies like jamón (Spanish ham) [05:00].

  • Tapas: A tapas bar is always nearby, as Catalans have turned this snack into an art form [05:28].

  • Music: Barcelona’s soul is laid bare in the stirring laments of song. Experience this passion at the Palace of Catalan Music or in the many flamenco bars and clubs [04:23].