One of the most popular attractions in Spain is the Sagrada Família – a Catholic basilica designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who was famous for championing the architectural style known as Catalan Modernism or Modernisme. It has been under construction for over 100 years and isn’t expected to be completed until 2026, yet the originality and grandeur of its design attract over 3 million visitors each year.
2. Casa Batlló
Another Modernist marvel designed by Gaudí, the Casa Batlló is a former townhouse constructed for the Batlló family in the 19th century. Its unusual appearance rich in curves, natural forms and a quasi reptile-like tile facade have earned it the nickname of Casa del Drac, or House of the Dragon.
3. Park Güell
Park Güell is one of the most popular outdoor attractions in Barcelona, and yet what few people know is that it was initially conceived to be a revolutionary housing estate. Antoni Gaudí and his patron and friend Eusebi Güell originally acquired the area and began construction on a model home. When no one invested in the project, they eventually abandoned it, and it was later donated to the local council and transformed into a public park.
4. La Rambla del Raval
Barcelona is known for more than one Rambla, which is roughly translated into a ‘wide, tree-lined promenade’. Just a few blocks west of the more heralded Rambla is La Rambla de Raval, the heart of Barcelona’s counterculture district. The street is mostly known for being the connection point for multicultural groups and for its famed sculpture of a giant corpulent cat by Colombian artist Fernando Botero.
5. Arc de Triomf
Designed by Modernist architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas, the Arc de Triomf is Barcelona’s answer to the eponymous triumphal arch in Paris. However, unlike its northern cousin, this arc was constructed for a very different reason – as the main access gate for the 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition. It is a main artery of the city and the site of numerous cultural fairs, including markets and parades celebrating Chinese, Thai and Bolivian heritage, just to name a few.
6. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
At MNAC, visitors can immerse themselves in Catalan history via sculptures, paintings, ancient relics and more. The most famous of the permanent exhibits features Romanesque murals that were carefully relocated from church apses across Catalunya and reconstructed here in the 1920s. The museum is also home to the region’s largest collections of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art, as well as a large section dedicated to modern artworks, including the Picasso masterpiece Woman in Hat and Fur Collar.
7. Port Vell Aerial Tramway
The Port Vell Aerial Tramway is, as its name suggests, a large air-borne cabin that transports people from the Port Vell harbour to the slopes of Montjuïc. It first opened in 1931, at which time it went to the top of Montjuïc. However, after falling into disrepair after the Spanish Civil War, it was later re-opened in its new form and has become a popular attraction offering great views of the city.
8. Santa Maria del Mar
Located just off the Via Laietana in the neighbourhood of El Born, the church of Santa Maria del Mar is a Catalan Gothic basilica that has existed in some form since at least the 10th century. Among residents, it is sometimes referred to as ‘the church of the poor’ or ‘the church of the common man’, in contrast with the other cathedrals, which were attended by the city’s wealthier citizens.
9. Barcelona Chocolate Museum
Chocoholics, be warned: things are likely to get a little messy at the Barcelona Chocolate Museum. The city has long had a close relationship with all things cacao-based. For example, the Spanish historically extracted the product from Central America, and troops of the Bourbon Kings are said to have received a daily chocolate allowance for breakfast. Aside from learning about the process of making chocolate, visitors can admire original chocolate sculptures and take part in a workshop to be a chocolatier for the day.
10. Parc de la Ciutadella
Ciutadella Park is Barcelona’s centrally located green space, which has been a gathering point for life in the city since its creation in 1877. Indeed, when it first opened, it was only public park in the city. These days, it is home to an increasing amount of yoga groups, the Catalan Parliament and the Barcelona Zoo.
