Travel to Barcelona, Spain |
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 Barcelona is a city with a pulse. Whether you are staring at the ongoing construction of Antonio Gaudí’s cathedral La Sagrada Familia or having a sangria on one of Barcelona’s Mediterranean beaches, you can feel the city’s heartbeat. Barcelona is very proud of its heritage and as such has preserved its bilingual culture, mixing the language of catalan with the traditional castellano version of Spanish. The city is a juxtaposition of historic monuments next to modern apartment buildings. Gaudí, Cataluña’s most famous architect, contributed to the synthesis of modern function and historic decor with his nature inspired architecture around the northeastern region of Spain. One of Gaudí’s most famous contributions is the famous Parc Guell, which provides inspiring views of the city with equally fantastic architectural anomalies. As the heart of Cataluña, Barcelona offers a cultural legacy and picturesque setting that will provide every student with an unforgettable opportunity to live and breathe the Cataluñan lifestyle.
Things to do on a visit to Barcelona:
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- Admire the exquisite architecture of the gothic style church still under construction, La Sagrada Familia, which is a masterpiece of the famous architecture, Antonio Gaudí. Also check out his famous works and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Parc Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló.
- Take a ride up the coast to Figueres and see the world-famous Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, the museum of Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí.
- Get a full panoramic view from the Torre de Collserola on the Tibidabo hill which has a platform viewpoint at 152 m (499 ft). While up there, take a few rides at the amusement park and visit the Temple de Sagrat Cor, the Catholic church on the summit.
- Wonder the beauty of a village built in the city. El Poble Espanyol has numerous theaters, restaurants, shows etc. to enjoy and give a warm village feel in the busy city and catch a Flamenco show with the best dancers in Spain in Tablao de Carmen.
- Check out the Picasso Museum in five conjoined medieval palaces near the city center.
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- If you feel like escaping the
city life, rent a cabaña in La Costa Brava, where you can relax and
play around in the sun and Mediterranean Sea.
- Get tickets for a game and feel the passion of
soccer at Camp Nou, the home stadium on FC Barcelona and be sure to
take a glimpse in their museum at the same location.
- Hop outside the city and take a cable car up to the Monastery of Montserrat, for breath taking views of the city and hiking.
- Have a drink at El Bosc de les Fades, a forest-themed bar, right off of the famous Las Ramblas outdoor market.
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History of Barcelona
 Barcelona’s roots date to around the third century B.C., as a town originally attributed to the foundation of Hercules. In the first century A.D., the city was converted into a military camp by the Romans. Control of Barcelona traded hands throughout its early history amongst Visigoths and Moors, eventually becoming the possession of the Counts of Barcelona ruling over all of Cataluña. However, when the the Crown of Aragon (and Cataluña) combined the region with the Castillo region of Spain, Barcelona began to decline in power. The transition from an independently governed territory to part of a sovereign nation was certainly not a favorable change in the eyes of the Cataluñans; such an unpopular shift in power is evident in the die-hard resolve and passion to continue Cataluñan tradition and language. Amongst the clash of identities, Barcelona has emerged as a major European economic entity and with a unique patriotic enthusiasm for both Spain and Cataluña.
Go to Spanish Courses
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5. The City
