Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is on Spain's east coast, on the Mediterranean Sea. There is a lot to this city, more than I was able to do or see in the short time I was there, so check out the links below for more info.

The famous artist Antonio Gaudi was from Barcelona, and his art dots the city. Part of his legacy is the Cathedral "La Sagrada Familia", shown below. It is impressive both from the outside and the inside.

Another famous artist is also showcased in Barcelona. The Museu Picasso houses a lot of Picasso's early work, but also has work from different later periods, such as his Blue and Pink Periods.

One famous section of Barcelona is Las Ramblas, the pedestrian-only streets. They are filled with street performers, small market stalls, some sidewalk cafes, etc. There is also a bird market. One end of Las Ramblas is the port, where you can see the Monument a Colum (Monument to Christopher Columbus), pointing out to sea.

Another neat neighborhood is the Barri Gotic. It has a lot of narrow streets, tapas bars, squares. The Cathedral and the Palau de la Generalitat are found here.

The Catalan region of Spain is known for its food - and seafood. You can't leave without having tried a paella and sangria.

Things I've heard are interesting - but missed- include Montjuic, a hill with a lot of the legacy of the '92 Olympics and the Fundacio Miro, a modern art institute, and Parc Guell, a whimsical park landscaped by Gaudi.

Links:

TravelNow Global Destination Guides

Lonely Planet