Things to do in Barcelona

About Barcelona

Barcelona is the cosmopolitan capital of Catalonia, characterized by its distinct Modernista architecture and grid-based Eixample urban planning. The city hosts the iconic Basílica de la Sagrada Família, a massive unfinished basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí that serves as a global architectural landmark. Visitors can explore the surreal landscape of Park Güell or traverse the historic streets surrounding the Cathedral of Barcelona. The city serves as a primary Mediterranean hub for culture, blending deep-rooted maritime traditions with a sophisticated contemporary urban aesthetic.

Good to know

1. 1

   Barcelona was not originally a city of beaches; its coastline was largely industrial until the massive urban redevelopment project for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

2. 2

   The city is home to a unique tradition called 'caganer', a decorative figurine found in traditional Catalan nativity scenes that depicts a person in the act of defecation.

3. 3

   Barcelona's Eixample district features octagonal street blocks with chamfered corners, an innovation by Ildefons Cerdà designed to facilitate better traffic flow and ventilation.

4. 4

   The city has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish, with Catalan appearing on almost all official signage and local administrative documents.

5. 5

   Despite its massive popularity, the city's street layout in the Gothic Quarter remains largely based on the original Roman settlement of Barcino, founded in the 1st century BCE.