BARCELONA AIRPORT CONNECTIONS

The Barcelona Airport, known as El Prat, is located 15 kilometres aprox. south of the city. It has two Terminals: T1, the larger and newer one, and T2. Next you have the connections between Barcelona and the airport and back.

Zara store in Barcelona Airport Terminal 1

If you aren't in a hurry and you didn't have to go to the Barcelona city centre, I recommend the 46 Bus (TMB). This bus is cheaper and Plaça d'Espanya is well connected with most places of Barcelona.

Another shop in Barcelona Airport Terminal 1

- Metro L9 (TMB)

• Stops T1 or T2.

• Single ticket price for the airport T1 y T2: 4,5€ (2016). This ticket is needed to reach or leave from the airport stations.

Barcelona Airport Connections

- Bus (TMB)

• The 46 bus runs from Pl. d’Espanya to Barcelona Airport (T1 and T2) every 30 minutes aprox.
• Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).

• from 4.50am to 23.50pm departures from Barcelona Airport.
• from 4.50am to 23.50pm departures from Pl. d’Espanya.

• Further information: www.tmb.cat.

The Aerobus is probably the fastest way to arrive at Barcelona from the airport

- Aerobús (A1 and A2)

• Daily service every 5-10 minutes between Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça d'Espanya and Barcelona Airport (T1 and T2).
• Approximate journey time: 35 minutes.
• Ticket price: 5,90 € (single); € 10,20 (return) (2016).

• From 5am to 12.30am departures from Pl. de Catalunya.
• From 5.35am to 01.05am departures from Barcelona Airport.

• Web Site: www.aerobusbcn.com.

Another picture of the Barcelona Airport Terminal 1

- Train (RENFE)

• Daily connections every 30 minutes with Barcelona Airport from the Renfe (Spanish Rail) Barcelona Sants Station.
• Journey time: 20 minutes aprox. (from Barcelona Sants Station).

• From 5.13am to 11.14pm departures from Barcelona Sants Station
• From 5.42am to 11.38pm departures from Barcelona Airport.

• Web Site: www.renfe.es.

- Night bus (NITBUS)

• The N17 night bus runs every 20 minutes from Ronda Universitat / Pl. Catalunya to Barcelona Airport, stopping at Pl. d’Espanya.

• From 09:55pm to 4.45am departures from Ronda Universitat.
• From 11.00pm to 5:00am departures from Barcelona Airport T1.
• From 11.10pm to 4.40am departures from Pl. d’Espanya

• The N16 night bus runs every 20 minutes from Ronda Universitat / Pl. Catalunya to Castelldefels stopping at Barcelona Airport.

• From 11:30pm to 5.10am departures from Ronda Universitat.
• From 11.00pm to 4.40am departures from Castelldefels.

• Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).

• Website: www.emt-amb.com.

Other Buses:

• L99 from Castelldefels (Departures from Plaça de la Estació). Stops in Gavà and Viladecans. Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
• L77 from Sant Jian Despí (Departures from Hospital Moisés Broggi). Stops in Cornellà, Sant Boi and El Prat. Single ticket price: 2,15 € (integrated fare)(2016).
• PR-1 Shuttle Bus from T2 to T1 and back. Free ticket.

- By car

• The C-31 Barcelona-Castelldefels highway leads to Barcelona Airport from Plaça de Catalunya and Plaça d'Espanya and it also connects easily with the C-32 Barcelona-Sitges motorway and Ronda Litoral ring road.

• From the Avinguda Diagonal and the Ronda de Dalt the best way to get the Airport is the C-32 Barcelona-Sitges motorway.

- Further information in the Airport web site: www.aena.es

BARCELONA: PARC DEL LABERINT

El Parc del Laberint d'Horta es uno de los jardines más bonitos y con más encanto de Barcelona. Sin embargo no recorrí sus senderos y me introduje en su laberinto hasta octubre del 2007. Tampoco había oído hablar de él mucho antes, posiblemente debido a que está situado en el extremo opuesto de Barcelona al que vivía y alejado del centro de la ciudad.

Parc del Laberint d'Horta en Octubre del 2007, la  primera vez que entré en su laberinto

A pesar de lo bonito que me pareció no lo he vuelto a visitar hasta este año 2016, en que un soleado y caluroso domingo de abril decidimos ir a pasar la mañana.

El laberinto hecho de cipreses da nombre a este bonito parque de Barcelona

Quizás lo que más me atrae de este parque es su ambiente tranquilo por estar alejado de las zonas más turísticas de la ciudad, aunque últimamente es visitado por más gente que, como yo, lo está descubriendo. Además de sus senderos íntimos y su conocido laberinto hecho con setos de ciprés, también me gusta mucho los elementos artísticos que salpican este parque, como:

• Esculturas y relieves sobre mitología griega
• Palacios y templetes de estilo neoclásico, neoárabe y neogótico
• Jardines de estilo neoclásico y romántico
• Cascada, fuentes y canal romántico

Las zonas del Parc del Laberint que recorrí en esta segunda visita fueron:

• Palacio Desvalls
• Jardín de los Bojes
• Templete de Danae
• Mirador o Belvedere
• Gruta de Eco y Narciso
• Laberinto y Estátua de Eros
• Canal Romántico
• Pabellón Neoclásico y Estanque
• Fuente de la Ninfa Egeria
• Templete de Ariadna
• Jardín Romántico y Cascada

Palacio Desvalls

Fuente junto al Palacio Desvalls en la entrada del Parc del Laberint

El Palacio Desvalls está construido con elementos neoárabes y neogóticos

Jardín de los Bojes

Jardín de los Bojes en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Desde el jardín de los Bojes salen los caminos que llevan a los templetes de Danae y Ariadna, al jardín doméstico y también al jardín romántico, que ocupa todo el flanco izquierdo del parque.

Templete de Danae

Templete de Danae

Escultura de Danae en el Parc del Laberint

Mirador o belvedere del Parc del Laberint d'Horta con el laberinto a la izquierda visto desde la zona del templete de Danae

Laberinto hecho de setos de ciprés con una estátua de Eros en el centro

Mirador o Belvedere

Templete de Ariadna tras la escalinata del mirador del laberinto

Escalinata del belvedere en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Gruta de Eco y Narciso

Gruta de Eco y Narciso a la salida del laberinto

Laberinto y Estátua de Eros

Estanque a la salida del laberinto visto desde el mirador o belvedere

Laberinto desde el mirador o belvedere

Centro del Laberinto desde el mirador

Estátua de Eros en el Centro del Laberinto desde el mirador o belvedere

Estátua de Eros en el centro del laberinto

 
Estátua de Eros en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta con el templete de Danae en el fondo

Canal Romántico

Canal Romántico en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Pabellón Neoclásico y Estanque

Pabellón de Carlos IV de estilo Neoclásico y estanque en la parte posterior

Estátua sobre el Pabellón Neoclásico que representa a Apolo y las Musas vista desde el mirador del Parc del Laberint

Fuente de la Ninfa Egeria

Ninfa Egeria cuya fuente nutre el estanque del Pabellón de Carlos IV

Templete de Ariadna

Templete de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint en Barcelona

Estátua de Ariadna en el Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Mirador o Belvedere del Parc del Laberint con el templete de Danae al fondo

Vista del laberinto desde la zona del Templete de Ariadna



Una última vista del laberinto que da nombre a este parque de Barcelona antes de introducirnos en el jardín romántico del Parc del Laberint

Jardín Romántico y Cascada

Caminos a través del jardín romántico del Parc del Laberint d'Horta

En la zona norte del jardín romántico se encuentra esta Cascada

Jardín romántico del Parc del Laberint d'Horta a la sombra de grandes árboles

A pesar de estar un poco alejado del centro de Barcelona, para mí vale mucho la pena acercarse a este parque. Está bien comunicado con transporte público y el laberinto es un fantastico lugar para niños.

Información Útil

- Dirección: Pg. dels Castanyers, 1
- Como llegar:

• Metro L3, parada Mundet.
• Bus 27, 60, 73 y 76.

- Website: www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins

Por supuesto, hay muchos otros fantásticos parques para disfrutar en Barcelona:

• Park Güell
• Parque de la Ciutadella
• Jardines de Pedralbes
• Montjuïc - Jardines Joan Maragall
• Montjuïc - Jardines Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer
• Montjuïc - Jardines del Mirador
• Montjuïc - Mirador del Migdia
• Parque Joan Miró
• Parque Cervantes y Jardín de Rosas
• Parque del Castell de l'Oreneta
• Collserola - Sant Pere Màrtir
• Collserola - Carretera de les Aigües
• Collserola - Pantà de Vallvidrera
• Parque de Torreblanca en Sant Feliu de Llobregat
• Parque de Can Vidalet en Esplugues de Llobregat
• Parque de Can Mercader en Cornellà de Llobregat

Finalmente, en el siguiente enlace podéis encontrar links a otros bonitos lugares de Barcelona, entre ellos, más parques y jardines de Barcelona.

BARCELONA: PEDRALBES MONASTERY

One sunny sunday afternoon (free admission from 3pm) of this early spring we decided to visit again the Monestir de Pedralbes. The environment of this monastery, located in a well-off area of Barcelona, is really peaceful. This gothic monastery, one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, is well preserved and its cloister is really large and beautiful.

The monastery of Pedralbes was originally surrounded by a wall. However only two towers and two gates that gave access to the monastery are preserved.

On the left the apse of the church of Pedralbes Monastery and its bell tower appear and, on the right, a building belonging to the Conventet 

This street, called Baixada del Monestir, belonged to Pedralbes Monastery, so this door was its former entrance

The bell tower of the Pedralbes Monastery from its main entrance

A closer view of the Monastery of Pedralbes from one of its former gates

Baixada del Monestir street in Barcelona

Gothic window, buttress and the top of the bell tower of the church of the Pedralbes Monastery

Pedralbes Monastery Church

Bell Tower of the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery from Plaça del Monestir (Monestir Square)

Bell tower and doorway of the church of the Monastery of Pedralbes

Main entrance to the church of Pedralbes Monastery, where you can see the gothic archivolts

Inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery

Stained glass window inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery

Pedralbes Monastery Cloister

This cloister of Pedralbes Monastery has three floors. I haven't ever seen this kind of cloister with so many floors

 Inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona

 Gothic cloister and bell tower of Pedralbes Monastery

  Orange trees inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery

A closer picture of the gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery with its gothic archs in the foreground

This cloister of Pedralbes Monastery surprises me because of its hugeness. It's bigger than the other cloisters I had visited before

In Baixada del Monestir Street there are the buildings that belonged to the walled monastery, like the Conventet. 

Baixada del Monestir Street in Barcelona. The Monastery of Pedralbes is on the left and the Conventet on the right

Conventet de Pedralbes

In the corner of Baixada del Monestir Street and the Monastery square is the building known as the Conventet, which currently remains outside the monastery.

Romanesque door to the garden of willows in Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona

It was built in 1329 to accommodate the community of friars who took care of the spiritual care of the nuns of the monastery. It is a simple building with a small cloister, which is the only original element preserved.

The Romanesque elements of El Conventet (windows, doors and the upper gallery) come from the collegiate of Sta. Maria de Besalú in Girona

It was reformed in 1919 by the architect Enric Sagnier incorporating elements from the former Romanesque church of Santa Maria de Besalú. Nowadays the Conventet is a private property, belonging to Gòdia family.

In the Conventet in Pedralbes, the architect Enric Sagnier adapted some old constructions next to the Pedralbes monastery

Besides Saugnier enhanced the modest facade with items brought from a great Romanesque building, the collegiate church of Santa Maria in Besalú (Girona)

Another view of the romanesque elements (upper gallery, windows and doorway) of The Conventet of Pedralbes

Conventet of Pedralbes in Baixada del Monestir Street

Some of the houses downhill from the monastery, facing the Conventet between the entrance and the lower gate of the wall, were a bakery or a butcher

Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes

Courtyard of a house next to Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes

Nice corner beside Plaça del Monestir in Pedralbes

Montserrat Abbey is another interesting visit to do near Barcelona (it's located 60 km away from Barcelona), especially if you like religious buildings. I also recommend visiting other beautiful monasteries in Catalunya, like:

• Poblet Monastery
• Santes Creus Monastery
• Vallbona de les Monges Monastery
• Montserrat Abbey
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery
• Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery
• Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery
• Sant Cugat Monastery

Besides if you like gothic architecture, you would be interested in visiting the following religious buildings in Barcelona:

• Santa Maria del Mar church
• Barcelona Cathedral
• Santa Maria del Pi church
• Santa Anna church
• Sant Just i Pastor church
• Sant Pere de les Puelles church

- Useful information:

• Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9 (08034 Barcelona)
• How to get there: Metro L6 - Reina Elisenda Stop. Bus 22, 63, 64, 75 and 78 and Barcelona Bus Turístic, Blue Route, stop Monestir de Pedralbes.
• Web site: http://monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat/

- Opening time:

• From 1st October to 31th March: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm. Saturday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
• From 1st April to 30th September: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Sunday from 10am to 8pm
• January 1st, May 1st, Good Friday, June 24th and December 25th closed.

- Clicking on the next link, a Pedralbes Monastery location map.

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