BARCELONA VIEWPOINTS

In Barcelona you can enjoy fantastic views of the city from many places. In this post I would like to show you the ones I think are the best. These viewpoints are:

• Montjuïc
• MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) in Montjuïc
• Castle of Montjuïc
• Park Güell
• Sagrada Familia
• Tibidabo
• Collserola Tower
• Carretera de les Aigües in Collserola
• Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola
• Oreneta Park
• Hotel Vela
• Hotel Arts

Montjuïc

Port Vell and Moll de la Fusta in Barcelona from Montjuïc

MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya)

Magic Fountain in Barcelona from MNAC

Castle of Montjuïc

Barcelona from the Castle of Montjuïc. You can also see the snowy peaks of Montseny in the background 

Relaxing view of Mediterranean Sea from the Castle of Montjuïc in Barcelona

Park Güell

From left to right you can see the Agbar Tower, the Sagrada Familia and the Twin Towers of the Olympic Village from Park Güell in Barcelona

Sagrada Família

From the Towers of Sagrada Familia you can enjoy nice views of Barcelona

Tibidabo

From left to right you can see the Agbar Tower, the Sagrada Familia and the Twin Towers of the Olympic Village from Tibidabo in Barcelona

Collserola Tower

On a clear day you can even see the Island of Mallorca from Collserola Tower in Barcelona

Carretera de les Aigües in Collserola

From this point in Carretera de les Aigües, on the left you can see Montjuïc and, on the right, the Camp Nou (FC Barcelona Stadium)

Another view of Barcelona from Carretera de les Aigües in the afternoon

Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola

Barcelona from the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir

Montjuïc and Camp Nou (FC Barcelona Stadium) from Sant Pere Màrtir in Barcelona

Oreneta Park

Barcelona from Oreneta Park

Hotel Vela

From Hotel Vela the views of Barcelona must be wonderful

Hotel Arts

Wish I had ever enjoyed the views of Barcelona from the Hotel Arts

Clicking on the following links you will find more information about some of these viewpoints:

• Montjuïc
• Castle of Montjuïc
• Park Güell
• Sagrada Família
• Tibidabo
• Carretera de les Aigües in Collserola
• Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola
• Oreneta Park

Finally, clicking on beautiful places of Barcelona you will discover some of the places you can't miss if you visit this city.

BARCELONA: BORN AND LA RIBERA

The visit to the Born and La Ribera I recommend begins in the crossroads of La Rambla and Carrer Ample (next to the Columbus Column), in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. The first interesting building we will find is the Basilica de la Mercè. If we keep walking along this street we will arrive to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, one of the most beautiful churches in Barcelona.

And in the rear of this impressive church begins the Born Boulevard, a peaceful place during the day, but a lively place at night. I recommend two pubs to have a drink:

• El Copetín (Pg. del Born 18, Metro L4 Jaume I Station)
• Ribborn (Carrer Antic de Sant Joan 3, L4 Jaume I Station)

Also at the rear of Santa Maria del Mar, on the left, begins Montcada Street. This narrow and typical medieval street was possibly the most exclusive one in the past, as the palaces of this street indicate. In two of these palaces the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum are located.

These are the interesting places and buildings we will see along this route:

• Basílica de la Mercè
• Santa Maria del Mar
• Born Boulevard
• Born Centre Cultural
• Carrer de Montcada
• Picasso Museum

Basilica de la Mercè

Basílica de la Mercè is the church of the patron saint of Barcelona

Santa Maria del Mar

Facade of Santa Maria del Mar. This church is surrounded and hidden by really nearby buildings, which difficults to obtain an overall impression of this imposing church, whose total width is 33 meters, which is also equal to the maximum height of the building

Inside the church of Santa Maria del Mar is really easy to realize the beauty of this gothic church



The church of Sant Maria del Mar in Barcelona is actually an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic, with a purity and unity of style that are very unusual in large mediaeval buildings

From the Fossar de les Moreres, one of the former cemeteries which existed next to Santa Maria del Mar, we can get a nice image of the buttresses of the the side facade, ended with an slender bell tower

Streetlamp in Born Boulevard with the apse of Santa Maria del Mar in the background. The apse of this wonderful church is in the beginning of the Born boulevard, where there are a lot of pubs. The Born is always a really animated quarter

Born Boulevard

Another image of the Born boulevard at this sunny midday of Christmas Day. Santa Maria del Mar appears at the end of this boulevard

A nice medieval palace in Born Boulevard

This image provides a better overall view of the heart of the Born quarter, the Born Boulevard, a typical cobble street in the Born quarter. In the background of this image appears shyly the apse of Sta Maria del Mar

Born Centre Cultural

An image of the Born market, built in 19th century. In February 2002, while building works were done to take in a library, archaeological remains of the medieval town appeared

Roman Remains inside Born Centre Cultural



Below the cast-iron structure of Born Centre Cultural in Barcelona you can visit roman remains found in 2002 and a exhibition on the Siege of 1714

Carrer de Montcada (Montcada Street)

Here, where Montcada Street begins, there are some boutiques a bit exclusive

A nice courtyard of one of the medieval palaces in Montcada Street. In this palace is located the Textile Museum

Montaca street near Picasso Museum

Picasso Museum

This courtyard is the main entrance to Picasso Museum. This museum is also located in a medieval palace of Montcada Street

Finally, this courtyard is the exit of Picasso Museum

Museo Picasso Useful Information

• Address: C/ Montcada 15-23
• Tel: 93 256 30 00
• How to get there: Metro L4, stop Jaume I. Bus 14, 17, 19, 39, 40, 45, 51 and 59. Barcelona Bus Turístic, stop Pla de Palau.
• Web site: www.museupicasso.bcn.es

Opening time:

• Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, from 10am to 8pm.
• January 1st, May 1st, June 24th December 25th & 26th closed.

In the old city of Barcelona you can also visit other beautiful places:

• Church of Santa Maria del Mar
• Church of Sant Pere de les Puelles
• Cathedral of Barcelona 
• Plaça del Pi and Santa Maria del Pi
• Plaça del Rei
• Sant Felip Neri Square and Church
• Plaça de Sant Just and Sant Just i Pastor church
• Plaça Reial
• Barcino Roman City
• Santa Anna Church

• El Portal de L'Angel
• La Rambla
• El Raval
• Call Jueu (Jewish Quarter)
• Born-La Ribera district
• Carrer Petritxol

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to more beautiful and interesting places of Barcelona.

CATALONIA: PORT AVENTURA

PortAventura theme park has six areas which will let you discover new and wonderful worlds with magnificent shows and breathtaking rides. From the tallest and fastest roller coasters in Europe to the smaller rides that parents and children can enjoy together in the magical family area of SésamoAventura. 

Map of PortAventura

Besides PortAventura has a privileged location in one of the best resorts in Catalonia, in the heart of the Costa Daurada and quite near of Barcelona, which will allow you to enjoy weekend breaks and holidays.

If you are also a lover of water rides, you can also enjoy the water park Costa Caribe Aquatic Park.

The six thematic areas of PortAventura are:

• Mediterrània: PortAventura Mediterránia perfectly combines the tranquility of a typical Meditteranean fishing village with exciting rides, like Furius Baco.

• Polynesia: Lush vegetation where aquatic attractions are hidden.

• Sésamo Aventura: The place for the younger kids.

• China: Shambhala and Dragon Khan will make you remember this area.

• Mexico: In this are you can walk through the Colonial Mexico with its ancient ruins, like a Mayan pyramid.

• Far West: The area of Port Aventura I like the most. Here I enjoyed an amusing Rodeo Show.

Mediterrània

Harbour where Port Aventura is built around



Halloween Pumpkin in Port Aventura Mediterrània



Furius Baco in Port Aventura

Polynesia

Tutuki Splash in Port Aventura

Tutuki Splash splashing water in Port Aventura

Going from Polynesia to China in Port Aventura

Sésamo Aventura

Sésamo Aventura in Port Aventura

China

China area in Port Aventura

Shambhala in Port Aventura is the highest ride in Europe

About to enjoy Shambhala in Port Aventura

Hurakan Condor from China area in Port Aventura

Mexico

Welcome to Mexico in Port Aventura

Hurakan Condor in Port Aventura

Overview of Hurakan Condor in Port Aventura

El Diablo or Tren de la Mina in Port Aventura

Stampida Ride in Port Aventura

Gran Teatro Maya in Port Aventura

Far West

Halloween Pumpkin in Far West in Port Aventura

Grand Canyon in Port Aventura

Rodeo show in Port Aventura

Saloon de Roxy in Port Aventura

Together with a dancing girl and a spectator of Saloon de Roxy in Port Aventura

Silver River Flume in Port Aventura

Silver River Flume begins in this factory of Milling and Lumber

About to leave Port Aventura after a day of fun and excitement

A last memory of Port Aventura

The best rides of Port Aventura

In the previous picture you can see the best rides of Port Aventura. Below, I will rank them. The first one will be the one that impressed me the most:

1) Shambhala

2) Furius Baco

3) Hurakan Condor

4) Dragon Khan

5) Stampida

6) Silver River Flume

7) El Diablo

8) Tutuki Splash

9) Grand Canyon

Near Port Aventura there a lot of interesting places to visit, like:

• Ancient Roman Tarraco
• Reus Modernist architecture itinerary
• Delta de l'Ebre (Ebro Delta)
• The beautiful beaches and coves of L'Ametlla de Mar
• Miami Playa
• Castle of Tamarit
• Roc de Sant Gaietà
• The medieval village of Montblanc
• The Cistercian monasteries of Poblet and Santes Creus
• The medieval village of Siurana
• The medieval village of Miravet 
• The Iberian citadel of Calafell
• Playing golf in Golf Costa Dorada Tarragona
• Wine tours through the main designation of origin regions

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful villages, beaches and landscapes in Catalonia.