Barcelona- places you must see

The capital of Catalonia has many faces. It is a large metropolis, a seaside resort, and a city of excellent bars and interesting architecture. How can you choose the most interesting places from that immense palette of possibilities? What should you see in Barcelona to feel the spirit of the city?

Start from the bustling, crowded and very vast Plaça de Catalunya, where different roads and thoroughfares meet. Delineated during the 19th century reconstruction of the city, the square represents the scale typical of that period. The pompous architecture and scale of the project, as well as the revealing name, are often used by Catalans to manifest their independence from Spain.

From there, head south where La Rambla, Barcelona's and perhaps Spain's most famous street, runs towards the sea. It is lined by trees which give a pleasant shade. If you wish, you can take seat for a brief while in one of the local cafés, or pop inside one of the boutiques. Here, you must see various street artists, magicians and itinerant tradesmen. Effusion of colours and cacophony of sounds, i.e. a hot afternoon in a nutshell. Standing at the end of the street, there is the monument to Christopher Columbus. Extraordinary attractions of Barcelona can be listed on and on, but you should spend a longer while at that monument, for this is where the great sailor set off to discover new lands.

To the east of Rambla, you can delve into a completely different world. The Gothic Quarter, i.e. the Medieval centre of the Old Town, has something that you should absolutely see in Barcelona! Unlike the rest of the city, it is a maze of narrow cobbled streets with a unique atmosphere, where you can come across a splendid square or a gem of Gothic architecture every step you take. The greatest treasures include the impressive Gothic Cathedral of St. Eulalia and a complex of squares Pati dels tarongers.

It's time for Eixample now. It is a unique urban planning and aesthetic experience, for the city centre was built between the mid 19th century and the early 20th century. Thanks to a well thought out plan, it is amazingly divided in a chequered pattern, where each square has almost identical dimensions. Have a look at the map, it looks stunning! Be prepared for a long walk, for the central district is vast. However, there are plenty of places to take a breather. You can find a bar that serves drinks and tapas around every corner.

Barcelona's most recognisable attractions were designed by none other than Antonio Gaudi. If you want to see his craft, have a look at Casa Mia with its undulating façade, and, most importantly, at the never ending temple of Sagrada Familia, the architectural symbol of the city. If the extraordinary Barcelonian convinced you to its style, you must visit also the Güell Park, a vast garden with various architectural solutions. Since the park gently ascends up a hill, you will have a clear view of the entire city.

Barcelonians spent the late 1920s on preparations for the EXPO World Fair, the second event of this sort to ever have been organised. The most beautiful site in the expo grounds Fira de Barcelona is the famous Madic Fountain, and you must see the spectacular Palau Nacional, now home to the National Museum of Catalan Culture, built on the Montjuïc hill rising behind it.

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