BARCELONA: MONTJUIC MAGIC FOUNTAIN

The Magic Fountain in Montjuïc is one of the most impressive shows you can see in Barcelona. So I would like to show you some pictures of this impressive fountain and its nice environment in Montjuïc.

Maria Cristina avenue links Venetian towers in Plaça d'Espanya to the Montjuïc Magic Fountain and the Catalonia National Palace



Building of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Montjuïc



A closer view of the previous building from which you can enjoy fantastic views of Barcelona

In the background of this picture, taken in front of the MNAC, the two towers of the Olympic Village can be see



 Collserola Tower and the Sacred Coeur Church on the Tibidabo hill  from Montjuïc

Before 2010 the view of Barcelona was this one without the four colums representing the flag of Catalonia ("La Senyera")

From the same point, a view of Barcelona where La Sagrada Familia appears in the background on the left

Sagrada Familia on the left and Agbar Tower on the right from Montjuïc

In summer you can see the performance of the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc everyday from 9pm.

In summer a lot of people enjoy the performances of the Magic Fountain everyday

I like a lot the colored water jets to the rhythm of music of the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc

A closer view of the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc, one of the best attractions in Barcelona

And now more pictures of the Magic Fountain in Barcelona lit at night:

The Montjuïc Magic Fountain in a really colorful moment in a summer evening in Barcelona

High water jets from the Montjuïc Magic Fountain in Barcelona

Another picture of this Magic Fountain, which amazes everyone who looks at it

Magical Fountain Useful Information

- How to arrive:

• Metro L1 i L3, Plaça Espanya Stop
• Bus 9, 13, 27, 30, 37, 50, 55, 56, 57, 65, 79, 109, 157 and 165
• FGC parada Plaça Espanya
• Barcelona Bus Turístic, CaixaForum-Pavelló Mies van der Rohe Stop

- Web: www.bcn.es/fonts

Besides I would recommend the following beautiful places in Montjuïc:

• Montjuïc Castle
• Views of Barcelona from Montjuïc
• Montjuïc Park
• Olympic Ring
• Palauet Albéniz and Joan Maragall gardens
• MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya)
• Poble Espanyol
• Las Arenas Shopping Center

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

BARCELONA: POBLE ESPANYOL

The Poble Espanyol was built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition as the pavilion dedicated to art. Right from the start, it was conceived as a real “village” in the heart of a city. The aim was to give an idea of what might be an “ideal model” of an Iberian village that would bring together all the characteristics of all peninsular villages.

It was built in thirteen months and, curiously, had an expiry date, as it was supposed to last the same time as the Universal Exhibition: six months. However, thanks to its success, the Poble Espanyol still stands to this day.

Map of The Poble Espanyol in Barcelona beside the mountain of Montjuïc

So The Poble Espanyol is nowadays an open air architectural museum in Barcelona, just a few meters away from the Magical Fountain of Montjuïc. It is one of the biggest attractions of the city in a quiet and peaceful environment.

This museum is a selection of full-scale replicas of 117 buildings from different parts of the Peninsula, with streets, squares, houses, parks, restaurants and artisan workshops.

Next I would like to show you some pictures of the buildings I liked the most of The Poble Espanyol: 

The walls of Ávila are the entrance gate of The Poble Espanyol in Barcelona. It is made up of two 17-metre high cylindrical towers joined at the top to form a bridge from which the entrance gate was defended

Casa del Sol (Sol House) in the town of Cáceres, whose old town is World Heritage by UNESCO, near the entrance to The Poble Espanyol in Barcelona

Casa de Encomienda and Casa Consistorial in the town of Teruel beside the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) of The Poble Espanyol in Barcelona

Town hall of Sangüesa in Navarra called Las Arcadas because it has four arches

Ayuntamiento de Valderrobres (City Hall of Valderrobres) beside the Plaza Mayor in The Poble Espanyol

Ayuntamiento de Valderrobres y Casa de los Moreno (Segovia) in one of the corners of the Plaza Mayor of The Poble Espanyol

Ayuntamiento de Valderrobres and, on the right, a typical building of the village of Caldas de Reyes in Galicia

Gradas de Santiago (staircase of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela) with the Carmelitas church in Teruel behind

Utebo Tower is a Moorish tower in The Poble Espanyol

This bell tower is one of the best examples of the Aragonese Mudejar style, combined with elements of Gothic architecture

Plaza Peñaflor (Peñaflor Square) where Calle Cuna begins is typical of an Andalusian White Village

A whitened house next to an Arab influenced arc that leads up to the street called Calle de Los Arcos in The Poble Espanyol

It is characteristic of many streets in Andalusia, with whitened houses with large grilles and crossed by arches joining the buildings and forming screens to protect them from the sun

The Romanic Monastery of Sant Miquel is made up of elements from different monasteries of Catalonia. As often happens in such cases, it is located outside the urban centre in a quiet place, surrounded by trees and with a great view of the city of Barcelona.

 
Romanesque Monastery of Sant Miquel in The Poble Espanyol you can visit in Montjuïc

Romanesque cloister of The Monastery of Sant Miquel in The Poble Espanyol

The cloister of The Monastery of Sant Miquel is a replica of the cloister of Sant Benet de Bages, a Benedictine monastery founded in the X century

Caballeros Street leads to the exit of The Poble Espanyol

Casa del Marqués de Santillana, en Santillana del Mar, in Caballeros Street of The Poble Espanyol

Caballeros Street near the entrance to the Poble Espanyol in Barcelona

Casa Ramos in Vinuesa, a village of Soria

Ayuntamiento de Graus, a village of Huesca, in Plaza Mayor of The Poble Espanyol

What I like the most of Pueblo Espanyol is that is an open-air museum and is quite pleasant to visit it on a sunny day. It also gives an idea of some typical elements of Spanish villages: walls, palaces, arcaded squares, Moorish churches, Romanesque monasteries or houses and streets of the Andalusian White Villages.

Next you have links of some of the most beautiful places of Barcelona. Most of them are located in four areas: Modernism Route, Gothic Quarter (and Old City), Montjuïc and Barcelona Seafront. Cliking on the links below you will get more and information and pictures.

- Modernism Route

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Casa Batlló
• Palau Güell
• Hospital de Sant Pau i la Santa Creu
• Palau de la Música Catalana
• Casa Calvet
• Torre Bellesguard
• Col·legi de les Teresianes
• Pabellons Güell
• La Boqueria

- Born, Gothic Quarter and Old City

• Santa Maria del Mar
• Santa Maria del Pi
• Plaça del Rei
• Cathedral of Barcelona
• Church of Sant Just i Pastor
• Sant Felip Neri
• Call Jueu (Jewish Quater)
• Plaça Reial
• La Rambla
• Carrer Petritxol (Petritxol Street)
• El Raval
• Born and La Ribera
• Church of Sant Pere de les Puelles
• Ciutadella Park
• Roman City

- Montjuïc

• Palau Nacional de Catalunya (MNAC)
• Montjuïc Castle
• Olympic Stadium
• Joan Maragall Gardens
• Magic Fountain
• Refugi 307 (Shelter number 307)
• Viewpoints

- Barcelona Marina and Beach

• Olympic Marina
• Promenade and beach

- Outside the city centre

• Barcelona Viewpoints

• FCBarcelona Stadium (Nou Camp)
• Vila de Gràcia
• Pedralbes Monastery
• Tibidabo
• Oreneta Park in Sarrià
• Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola
• Pantà de Vallvidrera in Collserola
• Carretera de les Aigües in Collserola

- Other museums in Catalonia:

• Teatre-Museu Dalí

BARCELONA - MONTJUIC: REFUGI 307

Refugi 307 is one of the bomb shelters which were built during the Civil War to protect the population from the indiscriminate bombing to which Barcelona was subjected. The first shelters were set up in the basements of houses and in metro stations. However, as the bombings intensified, people joined together to build air-raid shelters.

More than a thousand were built during the war, and among them was Refugi 307, (shelter number 307). This refuge consists of 400 metres of tunnel measuring 1.6 meters wide and 2 meters high. During the visit, you can discover what the living conditions were like within its walls and see the different rooms, including the toilets, a drinking fountain and an infirmary.

Refugi 307 in Barcelona

Refugi 307 in Barcelona was built under the mountain of Montjuïc

Open air Exhibition inside the Refugi 307 in Barcelona

Bombardment of Barcelona during the Civil War

Occupation of Barcelona during the Spanish Civil war in 1939

Plan for Refugi 307 in Barcelona

Latrines inside Refugi 307 in Barcelona

Tunnels of Refugi 307 in Barcelona

Refugi 307 consists of 400 meters of tunnels 

Throughout the length of the shelter, you can get a glimpse of living conditions in its tunnels

- Useful information:

• Address: Nou de la Rambla, 169
• How to get there:
• Metro: L2 and L3 stop Paral.lel.
• Bus: 20, 21, 36, 57, 64 and 157
• Web site: www.museuhistoria.bcn.cat

Other interesting places to visit in Barcelona are:

- Modernism Route

• Sagrada Familia
• Park Güell
• Casa Milà (La Pedrera)
• Casa Batlló
• Palau Güell
• Palau de la Música Catalana
• Torre Bellesguard

- Gothic Quarter and Old City

• Santa Maria del Mar
• Santa Maria del Pi
• Plaça del Rei
• Cathedral of Barcelona
• Sant Felip Neri
• Call Jueu (Jewish Quater)
• Plaça Reial
• La Rambla
• El Raval
• Born and La Ribera
• Roman City

• Montjuïc - Montjuïc Castle and Magic Fountain
• Tibidabo

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Barcelona

SHOPPING IN BARCELONA: LAS ARENAS MALL

After having talked about El Portal de l'Angel, one of the main shopping streets in Barcelona together with El Passeig de Gràcia and La Diagonal, today I would like to speak about a new shopping center in Barcelona: Las Arenas.

Located next to La Plaça de Espanya and near the Montjuïc Magic Fountain, it opened its doors on 25th march 2011. From that day, many people go to Las Arenas, which was a bullring, for shopping or to enjoy the views of Montjuïc from the dome.

However, as well as shopping, inside the six floors of Las Arenas you can go to the twelve-screen cinema, you can exercise in the fitness center, visit the Museum of Rock or have dinner in one of the many restaurants. If you prefer to eat near the city center, in a previous post I recommended some great restaurants.

I went to Las Arenas on 30th april and the next pictures show what I liked the most of this bullring converted into a shopping center.

Las Arenas Shopping Mall

Las Arenas shopping center, located near Montjuïc, one of the most beautiful areas in Barcelona

Overview of Las Arenas Shopping Mall where you can see the dome, the terrace and the Neomudejar facade

Views from the dome of Las Arenas

Behind La Plaça d'Espanya, you can see Maria Cristina Avenue with the Venetian Towers and the Magical Fountain of Montjuïc at the end

View of Joan Miro Park located next to Las Arenas

Neomudejar windows give an arab look to the facade of Las Arenas

Inside Las Arenas Shopping Mall

From the platform in the middle of Las Arenas shopping center this is what I saw

Some of the 115 shops inside Las Arenas shopping center

Las Arenas Shopping Mall lit at night

The Neomudejar facade of Las Arenas shopping mall lit in the evening



Las Arenas shopping mall lit at night

Las Arenas shopping center has become one of the most spectacular ones of Barcelona



Detail of Las Arenas shopping mall decorated with Christmas details

I also would like to give you some useful information about Las Arenas:

- Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes núm,373-385.
- How to arrive:

• Metro: L1 and L3, stop Plaça Espanya.
• Bus: 9, 13, 27, 30, 50, 56, 57, 65, 79, 91, 109 and 157.

- Opening time:

• Shops: from 10:00 to 22:00 (Monday to Saturday).
• Restaurants: From 10:00 to 00:30 (Monday to Thursday), from 10:00 to 02:30 (Friday, Saturday and eve of public holidays), from 10:00 to 01:30 (Sundays).

- Website: http://www.arenasdebarcelona.com/

 Other shopping areas in Barcelona are:

• Shopping in Passeig de Gràcia
• El Portal de l'Angel in the Gothic Quarter
• Shopping malls and Outlets
• Shopping in La Diagonal
• Shopping in Carrer Pelai
• Shopping in Fira de Santa Llúcia
• Viladecans The Style Outlet

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Barcelona, among them, more nice places in Montjuïc.