Barcelona, the second-largest city in Spain, is located in the Catelonian region. It is a bustling hub for many locals, tourists and others who keep the city busy with activity from sun up to sun down. Barcelona has been home to many traditions and holidays like St. George’s Day and La Mercè festival, has old buildings with traditional medieval architecture, and has been host to many different sporting events. If you plan on visiting Barcelona, there are 10 must-see places to visit on your trip.
1. La Sagrada Familia
Spain has long been a dedicated Roman Catholic nation and this church in Barcelona exhibits much of this tradition. It is a newer church that was begun in 1882 and designed by Antoni Gaudi and it is still being worked on today. This church is a combination of both Gothic and modern-era architecture to give it a longer lasting stability.
2. Pabellon Mies van der Rohe
Otherwise known as the Barcelona Pavilion is a building that features what is basically a garden in the middle of the city. It’s built out of mostly marble and glass material and it contains the sculpture Alba on the grounds as well. It’s a place where you can escape the bustle and noise of the city and come relax by the pool.
3. Torre Agbar
This central tower in Barcelona is an amazing spectacle when lit up at night. This skyscraper in Barcelona is one of the most breath-taking sights of Barcelona and is more than worth a look. Its structure is round-shaped and it narrows into an apex as it nears the top. It has many different colors woven into the 4500 windows that make up the tower and it has many different lighting patterns that are set for different times of the year.
4. Casa Lleo Morera
The Casa Lleo Morera is a house that was built for the Lleo Morera family at the turn of the 20th century by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The building is comprised of a lot of colors amid the masonry and has columnades that line its porches and balconies. You cannot go into the building itself but you should definitely stop by and take a look at it.
5. Barcelona FC Museum
FC Barcelona, a world-famous soccer club, has a museum that you can go see and revisit many exciting moments in the history of this club. You can see profiles of many great players, old jerseys, trophies, and so much more. You can also take tours behind the scenes of the FC Barcelona Stadium in connection with your visit to the museum. This museum is definitely a must-see for a glimpse into one of the largest traditions of Barcelona.
6. L’Aquarium de Barcelona
The Barcelona Aquarium is one of the largest aquatic exhibits in the world and has the only oceanarium in all of Europe. It hosts 450 different species of ocean animals and has an underwater tunnel 80 meters long. The aquarium hosts many different underwater exhibits and is a fun place for people of all ages. This place is one you definitely will want to mark on your to do list.
7. La Monumental
Of course you probably wouldn’t want to visit Spain without a glimpse at another tradition that Spain is known for, Bullfighting. Inside the La Monumental building is the famous Barcelona Bullfighting Museum. This museum gives you an up close and personal look at some of the most famous Catelonian bullfighters and bulls that have taken center stage in the ring.
8. CaixaForum Barcelona
This is an art gallery that brings together a wide variety of modern art and multi-culturalism to one place. Besides being an art exhibition, this place has other features such as bookshops, restaurants, and is host to many conferences and international events. Visiting here will give you the chance to experience different ideas from around the world that all merge at this center.
9. Cathedral de Saint Eulalia
This church, unlike the Sagrada Familia is actually preserved from the 15th century in which it was built. It has undergone remodeling and renovation projects over the years, but it still functions as a church even today. Guided tours of this church are also available for all visitors.
10. Parc Guell
This is another masterpiece built by Antoni Gaudi and it was actually intended to be a residential district that would take on a similar form of the British upper class houses of the time. Unfortunately the project was unable to be completed, so Gaudi took over construction and transformed it into a park that featured buildings that look like traditional Spanish houses and churches but have some checkered steeples and roofs that look like cake icing among other structures that have also been built at this park.
