Barcelona is a beautiful city that can offer you mumerous cultural experiences and amazing beaches that are only a few minutes walk from the city center. The architecture of Barcelona will delight you. Many great painters and artists have created in this city and their influence is evident today in Barcelona and around the world. On this page are the best sights of Barcelona, and it is up to you to make your own choice of which ones you want to visit during your stay in this Mediterranean metropolis.
The Monastery of Pedralbes is a Gothic monastery. It is now a museum, housing permanent exhibitions on its own art and legacy as well as third-party special exhibitions from time to time. The old Saint Michael chapel is located next to the monastery. After renovation in 2018, it is reopened for public again. The monastery was founded by King James II of Aragon for his wife Elisenda de Montcada in mid-14th century. It housed a community of the Order of Saint Clare, mostly members of noble families. The queen gave the monastery a series of privileges, mainly because she spent a certain period of her life there.
In Gaudi’s home town, among many others buildings that he designed, there is a building that is his first work of art where it all began. That building is Casa Vicens. It belonged to Manuel Vicens, an industrialist, who lived there with his family during summer. The building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This building constructed in 1885 is said to represent a work of art of the 19th century Modernism. As all other Gaudi’s buildings, this one is also geometrically unusual. It is decorated with rich details and it is hard to miss it. The house has a large garden in the backyard that resembles a private botanical garden that can be a place of escape from daily city noise.
The Columbus Monument - There is not a city in Spain that does not have at least one monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. At the end of La Rambla, there is a 60-meter tall monument dedicated to the great explorer and sailor. The monument in Barcelona is specifically devoted to Columbus’ travel to America. He first presented his findings to Queen Isabella I King Ferdinand V. The monument consists of a 40-meter column and a 7-meter Columbus’ statue atop. Columbus points to the “New World” with his right hand, and holds a map in the left. Rafael Atche designed the sculpture. Against the monument’s pedestal there are 8 important people that were somehow related to Columbus or they participated in his travels.
Refugi 307 is a shelter that was used as a means of defense against the bombardments during the Spanish Civil War. There were about 2.000 shelters, and 307 is a tourist attraction. It was built by the residents of the neighborhood, Catalan government and the army. The shelter has 3 entrances from La Rambla. It is 400 meters long, wide about 2 meters and 2.1 meters high. There are different rooms within the shelter: toilets, water supply, children’s rooms and a big lounge with a fireplace. Such underground experience is unique because it was not easy to spend days there trapped. As soon as the first bombs were dropped, people ran to shelters. Water and food had been previously supplied so people were on safe. When there was not enough room for all citizens, they went to the woods.
Villa Joana, located in the middle of Collserola Natural Park, is a two-storey house with a lookout and a gallery. Since 2016, the villa houses collection from the Barcelona History Museum. Besides history, there are also various documents about the villa as well as the works of the poet Verdauger, who died there back in 1902. Jacint Verdauger was one of the most prominent individuals of Catalan art, especially literature. He wrote his poems in Catalan which he spread outside of Spain, presented them to the whole world, and which children learn about in schools. He was also a priest with the name of Father (“mossen”) Cinto.
