Barcelona - Spain

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The origins of Barcelona go back to around the year 237BC, it was founded on Mons Taber a small hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and named Barcino, believed to be in honor of the Carthaginian general Hamilcar Barca. 

Barcelona is the capital of the region of Catalonia, this region extends from Perpignan in France to Valencia and the Balearic Islands, it is also the second largest City in Spain. Catalonia has two official languages Catalan and Spanish and its population is around 7 million people. The national dance is La Sardana where men, women and children join hands to form a circle and dance together performing the intricate steps. You can hear a Sardana performed by La Principal de la Bisbal, Cobla Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya by pressing the play control button located at the bottom of the page . 

The Avinguda Diagonal cuts the city of Barcelona in half, it is approximately 10Km in length dividing the lower districts of the city, from what at one time, were villages at the foots of the hills i.e. Horta, Pedralbes, Gracia and Sarria.

When you visit Barcelona I recommend you take a ride on the Barcelona Bus Turistic. The beginning and end of the Routes are located in Plaza Cataluña, the Red route stop is located by the Corte Ingles and the Blue route stop on the opposite side of the Plaza. The map above will show you the many places that you can visit on this Tour. You can hop on and  off the bus and visit the places of interest you wish to see, the bus runs at 15 minutes intervals.

There are many beautiful sights to see in Barcelona and too little space for me to tell you about them. I have taken a Panoramic Views of some of these places. Click on the names highlighted in blue and you will be presented with a panoramic view of the area that correspond to the numbers on the yellow circles on the map.

Panoramic Views (17)

  • Plaza de Cataluña (No 1 on the map)

  • Hotel Peninsular (No 2 on the map)

  • Plaza Real (No. 3 on the map)

  • Rambla del Mar (No.4 on the map)

  • El Pueblo Español (No.5 on the map)

  • Casa Mila or La Pedrera. (No.6 on the map)

  • Park Guell. (No.7 on the map)

  • Palacio National. (No.8 on the Map)

  • Arco del Triumfo (No.9 on the Map)

  • Plaza de San Josep Oriol (No.10 on the map)

  • Plaza Marques de la Foronda (No.11 on the map)

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  • South View of La Sagrada Familia. (No.12 on the map)

  • North View of La Sagrada Familia. (No.13 on the map)

  • AGBA Tower. (No.14 on the Map)

  • Columbus Monument (No.15 on the Map)

  • Port Vell (No.16 on the map)

  • Parc de la Citadel (No.17 on the map)

  • Back of The Cathedral (No.18 on the map)

  • Church Sta. Maria del Pi (No.19 on the map)

  • Plaza del Rei (No. 20 on the map)

  • Fountain Carro de la Aurora (No. 21 on the map)

  • Plaza de San Felipe Neri (No. 22 on the map)

    • Arco del Triunfo Plaza de Cataluña Hotel Peninsular Plaza Real Marina Bridge Plaza Mayor del Pueblo Español La Pedrera Gaudi Park Plaza del Pi Plaza Marques de la Foronda, Plaza España Palacio Nacional, Montjuic North Face of La Sagrada Familia South Face of La Sagrada Familia AGBA Tower Columbus Monument Barcelona Port Boating Lake in the Parc de la Ciutadella Fountain Carro de La Aurora, Parc de la Cuitadella. Gothic Area behind the Cathedral Plaza de San Felipe Neri Iglesia Sta. Maria del Pi Plaza del Rei

     

    Las Ramblas

    This mile-long boulevard cuts through the middle of the old part of the city and leads down to the waterfront. It is composed of five successive sections or Ramblas. As you descend from Plaza Cataluña down the central promenade it is flanked on both sides with mature trees.

    • The first section you come to is Rambla de Canaletas, on Sunday's the supporters of Barcelona Football club gather here to relive the match of the day. You will also see the first of many Newspapers stalls located along the Ramblas, where you can get many national and international newspapers, books and magazines.

    • Rambla dels Estudis, here you will find stalls with birds of all descriptions; fish, terrapins, puppies and kittens for sale.

    • Rambla de Sant Josep or Rambla de las Flores, so called for the exotic plants and flowers that are sold here. To your right you will find La Boqueria the city's largest market.

    • At the start of the Rambla Caputxins you find see to the right the newly constructed Grand Treatre de Liceu Opera House, on this section of the ramblas you will see a myriad of people sitting at the tables under the parasols watching world go by; sipping coffee or drinking a glass of cool beer from one of the many Bars and Cafes that line this section of the Ramblas. As you descend towards the Port on your left is Plaza Real.

    • You will be entertained by the many street performers as you proceed towards the Rambla de Santa Monica and the Monument to Cristobal Colon, at the entrance to the port.

      At the water front ahead you can see the new center Port Vell and to your right the Park of Montjuic, in 1992 the Olympics Games were held here.

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