A Visitors Guide To Barcelona Spain
Barcelona-a sparkling jewel of a city by the sea-is the second biggest city in Spain and the birthplace of many of the world’s greatest artists, including painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. The great artistic tradition of this city is reflected in its many museums and galleries, as well as the beauty of its architecture. Just looking at the wide range of architectural styles-from Roman to modern-can be a lesson in history.
Other signs of Barcelona’s cultural presence include a number of great libraries and universities, beautiful museums and galleries, and a growing film industry. Throughout its 2000 year history, Barcelona has welcomed outside visitors and incorporated elements of their cultures into their own. This is evident in everything from the languages spoken (Spanish and Catalan) to the huge variety of dining options.
One such building is the Hotel Diagonal (205 Venida Diagonal). Designed by Barcelona architect Juli Capella, this hotel has established itself as one of the hippest hangouts for locals and one of the best deals in travel lodging for tourists. The hotel’s ultra-modern black and white exterior belies a surprisingly warm and eclectic interior. All 240 rooms (which range in size from singles to suites) are crisp and clean, but never sterile, thanks to such elements as dark wood desks and glass-walled bathrooms.
Other amenities include a restaurant featuring Basque and Catalan cuisine, a caf that serves a buffet breakfast to its guests, a piano bar that has become one of the coolest places to hang out for locals and tourists alike, a spacious outdoor pool with a wooden deck, and a solarium which offers great views of the city. The hotel also offers special deals to tourists, such as the ‘Cultural Barcelona’ package, which provides tickets to various sites of interest, as well as discounted room rates.
The best time of year to visit Barcelona is the fall, after the busy summer tourist season. Located on the Mediterranean coast, weather is mild year-round, but autumn temperatures are the most comfortable, with temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Fewer tourists mean less crowds-an important factor in a city chock-full of fascinating places to visit-and lower hotel rates. During the off-season, deals can also be found at local shops and restaurants, so ask around.
Tourists have many options when it comes to places to visit. You might not be able to fit all your desired destinations into one trip, but there are a couple of cultural hot spots that you definitely don’t want to miss. The Museo Picasso and the Fundacion Joan Miro are world-class art museums dedicated to showcasing the lives and works of two of Barcelona’s most well-known citizens. Barcelona is also known for its terrific food, and one of the best places to sample its local cuisine is the Mercat de la Boqueria (located on La Rambla).
This food market has been called the best in all of Spain by Travel + Leisure magazine and features a wide variety of high-quality dishes from skilled chefs. When it comes to shopping, head to Fira de Nautumismo (in Placa Reial), one of the region’s top street markets. There you’ll find collectibles and crafts handmade by local artisans, which make perfect gifts for your friends and family back home (or for yourself).
You can find a <a title=’Barcelona center hotel’ href=’http://www.searchspainhotels.com/Barcelona-1.shtml’ target=_top>Barcelona center hotel</a> by going to the Search Spain Hotels website <a title=http://www.searchspainhotels.com/Barcelona-1.shtml href=’http://www.searchspainhotels.com/Barcelona-1.shtml’ target=_top>www.searchspainhotels.com/Barcelona-1.shtml</a> Our website also showcases Barcelona vacation packages, car rentals, flights to Barcelona and last minute deals.
