Barcelona is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Europe. Visitors from all over the world come to the city of Barcelona to see its cultural offerings. Barcelona is renowned for its contemporary architecture. The architecture of Barcelona is one of its kinds and is really a beauty to behold. There are over 45 famous museums in Barcelona. The works of architecture by famous architect Antoni Gaudí is one of the biggest attractions in Barcelona. Tourism in Barcelona is flourishing. The steady increase in the number of hotels proves this. From 170 in 2000 the number of hotels has risen to 209 in 2004. 9 of these are 5 Star hotels, though the 4 Star category is the one that has seen a larger increase.
Barcelona has many beautiful beaches. There are seven beaches that have a total length of 4.5 km. Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta both 1100 m in length are the two largest beaches in Barcelona. They also have a glorious history. They are separated by the Olympic port from the other five beaches. Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Nova Mar Bella are some of the other beaches. All these beaches are not only beautiful but also well maintained. It is a pleasure to come and bask on these beaches. Tourism in Barcelona is flourishing largely because of these wonderful beaches.
History of Barcelona
History of Barcelona dates back to more than two millennia. The exact date of establishment or details about the founder of the city of Barcelona is sketchy. There are mainly two theories regarding the establishment day of this coastal Spanish city. According to mythology, Hercules founded this city 400years before Rome had been founded. Rebuilt by the father of Hannibal in the third century B.C, Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca named the city after his family. The second theory attributes the foundation of the city to the Holy Roman Empire. It is said that in 15 B.C., the Romans used this city as a military camp.
History of Barcelona attributes the growth of this city to its excellent harbor. Because of this positional advantage this city started to grow in wealth and size. The economic prosperity of this town can be attributed to the fact that the city minted its own coins. Some of these primitive coins were excavated from various parts of Barcelona and can be seen preserved in this city’s museums. Conquered by the Visigoths in the 5th century; by the Moors in the onset of the 8th century and subsequently by Charlemagne’s son, Barcelona changed hands constantly. The merchants nonetheless became very rich and as their wealth grow; they started to maintain their private armies.
In the medieval period, the events took a completely different turn and Barcelona which is located in the province of Catalonia was devastated after the Republic of 1640 – 1652. The hard times for this city were however far from over and the city suffered huge destruction in 1714 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The combined army of the wealthy merchants was completely destroyed by the forces of King Philip V of Spain. Speaking Catalan was prohibited and other restrictions were also imposed on the city. The city again was conquered by Napoleon but with the downfall of him the city again gained independence.
The 19th century however brought prosperity and growth for this city. With Industrial Revolution setting on, the city became abuzz with manufacturing industries. People started coming from all over Spain to participate in this industrial revolution thereby rendering this city cosmopolitan character.
Popular Destinations in Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the popular holiday destinations of Europe and it boasts of all the requisites of being an avant-garde destination. One of the premier highlights of the city is its rich cultural and historical heritage, which is reflected through the countless landmarks and monuments of the city. Apart from this, Barcelona also boasts of numerous popular tourist destinations. Some of the major popular destinations in Barcelona are Passeig de Gràcia, Ciutat Vella and Stone Mammoth.
Passeig de Gràcia is a celebrated for its rich historical and cultural heritage. During the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Passeig de Gràcia was the residential centre of the Catalan bourgeoisie. Today Passeig de Gràcia is a lively street and it features traditional shops, brightly lit entrances and modern commercial galleries. The modernist movement left a permanent impact on the Passeig de Gràcia and even now there are many buildings, which stand testimony to the modernist tenets. For example buildings like Lleó Morera mansion, de Domènech i Montaner, the Batlló house, all of which were designed by Antoni Gaudí, mirror the deep impact of the modernist movement on Passeig de Gràcia.
Ciutat Vella is one of the major popular destinations of Barcelona. Situated in between the Mediterranean Sea and the neighborhood called l'Eixample, Ciutat Vella includes Les Rambles, Raval and Barri Gòtic. Les Rambles is located in the heart of the Ciutat Vella and it extends from the Plaça Catalunya to the Mediterranean Sea. The different Les Rambles have different features. Some of the popular tourist attractions of the area are El Mercat de Sant Josep and Teatre del Liceu, which a Opera House. Raval is another integral part of the Ciutat Vella and the local people refer the place as the el Barri Xinès, or China town. The entire place is interlarded with numerous ethnic and stylish restaurants along with cafes. Barri Gòtic is home to the Cathedral of Barcelona, la Generalitat or the Catalan government hall and l'Ajuntament or Barcelona city hall. There are also many celebrated shopping arenas in the area that include Plaça Reial.
Stone Mammoth is situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Stone Mammoth is a popular attraction of the city and the statue is situated in the near vicinity of the lake of the park. The initiative behind the Stone Mammoth was taken by the multifaceted Norbert Font i Sagué, who is a renowned geologist, speleologist and writer. The idea of creating a statue of the mammoth was conceived by the Junta de Ciències Naturals or the Board of Natural Sciences. In accordance to their wish the Stone Mammoth was constructed on the basis of a model by the sculptor Miquel Dalmau.Sightseeing in Barcelona
Barcelona is the capital city of Spain. It is also the second largest city in Spain. Barcelona is situated in the comarca of Barcelonès, along the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the Llobregat and Besòs rivers. Sightseeing in Barcelona can be really interesting as the city boasts of a number of sightseeing options in Barcelona.
The Olympic Harbour, Barcelona is one of the popular sightseeing options in the city. The Harbour was built for the 1992 Olympic Games which were held in the city. It is an excellent global work built by architects Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell, David Mackay and Albert Puigdomènech and the engineer Joan Ramon de Clascà. The Harbour today remains one of the most visited landmarks in the city.
The Magic Fountain, Barcelona is another frequently visited and popular sightseeing destination in the city. The fountains are a must visit. The fountains were the fruits of engineer Carles Buïgas who had conceived a new type of fountain where the artistic element consists in the changing shapes of the water. This was one of the last works to be constructed in the grounds of the Universal Exhibition of 1929.
Another sightseeing option in Barcelona is Poble Espanyol ("Spanish Village"). The village is definitely a must visit for those who wish to gain an overall vision and also admire the different styles of architectural and urban constructions of the different towns and cities of the whole Spanish state. The village has become a meeting place for people who also want to enjoy different forms of entertainment such as theatrical shows or concerts. The Poble Espanyol or the Spanish Village is also a good place to share a dinner with friends in the innumerable restaurants that the village offers.
The Church of Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona is the only perfectly finished Catalan Gothic church. The outer walls of the Basilica displaythe features which differentiate Catalan Gothic from European. The church is a built in Catalan style and there is a predominance of horizontal lines, of solid panels over empty spaces, of flat terraces without roofs, and a preference for large bare surfaces.
Amusement Parks in Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in the country of Spain and the capital of Catalonia. Barcelona shot to international prominence when the city played host to the 1992 Olympic Games, and this event entirely transformed the outlook of the city. Barcelona is always bustling with activity, and boasts of a busy port area, fashionable shops selling top labels, wonderful restaurants and many architectural landmarks. There are also a notable number of amusement parks in Barcelona, and notable among them are the Tibidabo Amusement Park, Big Fun and the Isla de Fantasia.
Let us take a closer look at these three major tourist attractions:
- Tibidabo Amusement Park - Tibidabo Amusement Park is one of the most famous tourist destinations of the city of Barcelona. Major crowd pullers include the famous Blue Tram and the Funicular, Castle of Terror and the Big Dipper. However, the crown jewel of the Tibidabo Amusement Park at Barcelona is undoubtedly The Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart.
- Isla de Fantasia - The Isla de Fantasia, Barcelona is a superbly built aquatic park. Apart from a huge range of aquatic attractions, the park also features macro swimming pools, 9 bars and restaurants, free buffet service, and so on. Other services provided by the Isla de Fantasia, Barcelona, include free parking, infirmary, supermarket, mini golf, shopping spots, ATM's, showers, locker facilities and dressing rooms.
- Big Fun - Big Fun, Barcelona is one of the most famous amusement centers of the city and is located on the second floor of the Centre Comercial Maremagnum. In Big Fun, it is possible to find all the latest novelties that are associated with the world of video games as well as a mind blowing variety of fair games. The place has a separate children's play zone, where they can jump, climb up, slide down or simply play around with plastic balls.Festivals and Events in Barcelona
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea; Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain. The city traces its origin to the Roman times and the old quarters of Barcelona still bear the traces of these early Roman settlements. Culturally rich, the festivals and events in Barcelona are a major attraction for the denizens of this city.
Held annually in the month of June; Sonar festival is a much sought after music festival of Barcelona. This festival continues for three consecutive days and during the duration of the festival; musicians from all parts of Spain gather at Barcelona to display their talents. The music festival is divided into day and night performances. Sónar By Day is held near Les Rambles but the venue of Sónar By Night is located outside proper Barcelona city area. However the festival is not only about music. Multimedia artists too display their innovative sound mixing and editing masterpieces.
Barcelona Early Music festival is an important event in the city's musical calendar. First started in 1977; this festival began with singers and musicians unknown in Spain. The festival at first was thus looked with apprehension and the obvious Europe bias of the organizers was vehemently criticized. You can listen to musicians playing instrumentals like Spanish guitars, banjo and violin at this festival.
In the honor of La Merce, the Patron Saint of Barcelona, the Festes de la Merce music festival is held in Barcelona. During this festival, almost all the city streets get converted into music venues. Starting every year in the last week of September, this week long music festival sees live music stages erected at strategic locations in the city. The folkloric Catalan festival events are staged in the old parts of Barcelona and in Saint Jaume as well.
Festival de Sant Joan is an important event in Barcelona. Held every year on June 24 on the Ibiza island; the spirit of this festival is electrifying. The whole island plunges into celebration. Singing, dancing and various other types of competitions are held during this festival. The impressive fireworks display forms a major part of the attraction.How to Get in
Barcelona is one of the popular tourist destinations in Spain and attracts travelers from all across the globe. How to get there to Barcelona is not difficult to answer as there are several modes of transport making it all easy.
The quickest and comfortable way to get to Barcelona is by air and flights connect all the important cities of the Barcelona and also important cities of the world. The El Prat de Llobregat airport of Barcelona connects to important cities of the world.
Getting to Barcelona by train would enable the traveler to get to see the diverse culture and scenic beauty. There are several trains that connect to different parts of the country and also outside the country.
Another option to get to Barcelona is by road. There are several means like buses, taxis, hired cars, trams and metros. Barcelona provides all easy facilities of transport via road by means of buses, taxis, hired cars, and even trams and metros. The travelers can also come from other European countries and also from important cities of Spain. Those interested to get to Barcelona by boat can make use of the ferry services. There are services between Majorca and Minorca.Hotels in Barcelona
