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| ATTRACTIONS |
| La Rambla La Rambla is not one street, but rather a seamless series of pedestrian avenues stretching from the Monument a Colom on the waterfront to Plaça de Catalunya in the centre of the city. Attractions along the way include Gaudí's Palau Güell, Carrer Nou de la Rambla 3, open Monday to Friday 10.00-14.00 and 16.00-19.30. Some of La Rambla's most captivating attractions are its famous street entertainers who delight the crowds with their weird and wacky shows. Other points of interest are the Liceu (see the Culture section), the legendary Café de L'Opera and La Boqueria - Barcelona's wonderful, bustling food market (see the Shopping section).La Rambla has the same place in the psyche of the city as the Champs Elysées in Paris or Oxford Street in London, but is far less snooty than the former and far more attractive than the latter. Lined with trees, cafés, restaurants, flower stalls, shops and newspaper stands, La Rambla is the perfect place to stroll and soak up the unique Barcelona atmosphere. Plaça Reial, just off La Rambla, is one of the most attractive squares in the city - elegant nineteenth-century houses look down on palm trees, lampposts designed by Gaudí, and an eclectic mix of people enjoying the lively atmosphere at outdoor cafés. Barri Gòtic The maze of streets known as the Barri Gòtic or Gothic Quarter contains an exemplary collection of Gothic buildings dating from Catalonia's Golden Age in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, interspersed with Roman ruins, delightful squares and numerous bars and restaurants. Plaça Sant Jaume, at the heart of the district, is the epicentre of the city's political life. The square is overlooked on one side by the Renaissance-style Palau de la Generalitat - location of the Catalan government, and on the other by the Ajuntament (town hall). Nearby, the Palau Real on Plaça del Rei houses the Museu d'Història de la Ciutat. The remains of the Roman city of Barcino were uncovered underneath the Palau in 1931 and Roman streets are still visible in the vast cellar space which stretches as far as the Cathedral (see below). The museum admission fee gives access to the cellar and to a number of beautiful medieval buildings. Plaça del Rei Tel: (93) 315 1111 (Museu d'Història de la Ciutat). Transport: Metro Jaume I. Opening hours: Oct-Jun Tues-Sat 10.00-14.00 and 16.00-20.00 and Sun 10.00-14.00; Jul-Sep Tues-Sat 10.00-2.000 and Sun 10.00-14.00. Admission: Pta1000 (concessions available). Catedral de la Seu Catedral de la Seu was built in the fourteenth century on the site of an earlier basilica, but the spire and façade were not added until the end of the last century. Highlights include the spiritual space of the cloisters, the carved choir stalls and the Capella de Lepanto. Plaça de la Seu Tel: (93) 315 1554. Fax: (93) 315 3555. Transport: Metro Liceu or Jaume I. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-13.30 and 16.00-19.30; Sat and Sun 08.00-13.30 and 17.00-19.30. Admission: Free. Santa Maria del Mar Santa Maria del Mar is generally considered to be the most beautiful church in the city and a prime example of Mediterranean Gothic architecture. It is located just to the northeast of the Barri Gòtic in the Ribera district. A fifteenth-century rose window adds colour to the simple harmony of the columned interior. Passeig del Born 1 Tel: (93) 310 2390. Transport: Metro Jaume I. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-13.30 and 16.30-20.00; Sat and Sun 10.00-13.30 and 16.30-20.00. Admission: Free. |
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