Barcelona

Barcelona is a large city located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. It is also the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is also an important cultural and tourism center of the area.

Sights & Activities

The city bears several impressive structures that were designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. One of his most ambitious projects is the Sagrada Familia church or the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. The church’s foundation was laid in 1882 and the structure is expected to be completed in 2026. Despite its unfinished state and the undergoing construction up to the present times, the church has been a popular tourist destination of the city. For miles around, locals and visitors can behold its spindle-shaped towers that Gaudi planned to be infused with symbolism, just like the rest of the church. The church bears three façade, each with different themes.
Another popular attraction in Barcelona is the Museu Picasso, which showcases most of the works of the painter as well as the artworks that he had collected during his lifetime. Located along Carrer de la Princesa, the museum first opened its doors in 1963 and now keeps more than three thousand items which visitors from all over the world come to behold and admire.
A similar establishment is the Joan Miró Foundation, located within the district of Montjuïc. The museum showcases the works of the artist itself and promotes modern art in general. It is housed in a distinctively modern building built in 1975.
Nearby is the National Art Museum of Catalonia, dedicated to Catalan visual art. The museum is housed within the Palau Nacional, a structure built in 1929. It contains important artworks collected from all over the community. It displays collections of Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern art and also has impressive collections of photographs and coins.
Lovers of contemporary art can head out to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, situated in Ciutat Vella. It showcases artworks collected from the later part of the 20th century and onwards. The museum is housed in an impressive modernistic building that also contains a library of art books.
Another impressive religious structure in Barcelona is the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. This Gothic structure took several centuries to complete, starting from the 13th century onwards. One interesting feature of the cathedral is its cloister, where thirteen geese are kept to correspond to the age of the saint when she was killed during the Roman times.
The architect Gaudi also had a hand in restoring the Casa Batlló, an extraordinary building along Passeig de Gràcia. It is characterized by flowing stone work, curves, and oval windows. It is also totally devoid of straight lines and can be broadly described to be of Art Nouveau style.

Weather

Barcelona enjoys hot, dry summer with cold and wet winter. The average temperature during winter is a mere 10°C and the coldest days in the city occur in January and February. July and August are considered to be the hottest months, with sometimes scorching outdoor temperature. Because of this, spring and autumn are still the best times to visit Barcelona so tourists can walk around and explore its sights in relative comfort.