The seductive seaside city聽of Barcelona is a hard-working place聽with a strong hedonistic streak.
The story of two thousand years is etched into its Roman remains, Gothic churches and Modernista mansions (especially the dreamlike landmark buildings of Antoni Gaud铆). The assault on the senses intensifies in Barcelona鈥檚 restaurants, boisterous bars and clubs. In summer, beaches in and outside the city are a magnet for sun-worshippers.
Get a base in the old city centre at such budget options as 听辞谤 . For greater elegance and a touch of luxury, try 聽in the Barri G貌tic or 聽on La Rambla.
Morning
Start the day early with a caf猫 amb llet (coffee and milk) and pastry on Pla莽a de Sant Josep Oriol, a charming old town square in the heart of the Barri G貌tic.
Suitably energised, it is time to explore the labyrinth of twisting lanes around about. You could spend hours simply losing yourself in streets lined by an endless variety of shops, eateries and little bars. Although much regenerated in recent decades, the 'Gothic Quarter' still exudes a lived-in atmosphere that makes it anything but an outdoor museum.
Museums there are, however, and the most intriguing is the (Barcelona History Museum), in which you are led underground and two millennia back in time to an excavated chunk of Roman Barcino. Once you resurface, the museum includes the Sal贸 del Tinell, a grand Gothic hall.
A few steps away looms the Gothic . The rooftop views and the leafy cloister with its gaggle of geese should not be missed. The open air caf茅 at the nearby is the ideal spot for a rest, whether the zany collection is open or not.
From the Cathedral, stroll to what was once the Roman Forum, now Pla莽a de Sant Jaume, which is flanked by the Ajuntament (town hall) and Generalitat (regional government of Catalonia).
Across the busy thoroughfare聽of Via Laietana, search out the city's most beautiful Gothic building, the , raised in a record 59 years in the 14th century. Behind it, Carrer de Montcada leads to a series of centuries-old townhouses that together house the . The collection provides a fascinating insight into the master's early years.
Lunch
A short walk from the Museu Picasso is the colourful , a modern market that is home to several tempting eateries. At the very simple you can get a tasty set lunch for 鈧11. The star attraction is the Tuesday special, arr貌s negre (cuttle fish ink rice). The dynamic serves anything from classic Mediterranean cooking to sushi.
Otherwise, walk about 15-20 minutes from the Museu Picasso to the waterfront La Barceloneta district, peppered with seafood eateries, among them the .
Afternoon
After a stroll along the beach, it is time to cram in some of Barcelona's icons. Take the metro from La Barceloneta to Passeig de Gr脿cia and wander past two classics of Gaud铆 archictecture, 听补苍诲 .
Of the two, La Pedrera is the most rewarding to visit, especially its sci-fi roof with chimney pots that look more like Star Wars troopers. An afternoon of Gaud铆 would not be complete without taking in the mighty work-in-progress that is the basilica of. With soaring pillars that look more like trees, this is Gaud铆 at his imaginative best, a festival of twists and curves that is still some way off completion. Head up the towers for an angel's-eye view of the city below.
Evening
As locals don't bother with dinner before 9pm, you could tide yourself over with tapas at 听辞谤 the designer . Save space for a slap-up meal of largely Catalan dishes at , itself one of Gaud铆's early projects.
Still full of beans? The beautiful people tend to hit the bars above Avinguda Diagonal. Start in , with pavement聽seating for the warmer months. It happens to be virtually next door to one of the city's more popular clubs, . For drinks with views and then dancing downstairs, grab a cab for , halfway up Tibidado mountain. The vistas across the bright city lights and out to sea are second to none.
Practicalities
Barcelona's lies 12km southwest of the city at El Prat de Llobregat and is 鈥檚 busiest international hub after . Direct flights link Barcelona with destinations all over . There are also several direct intercontinental connections.
This article was originally published in September 2010听补苍诲 updated in February 2015.
Additional research by聽Sally Davies聽in聽February 2015.
