I spent the summer in Barcelona, and I was lucky enough to be able to spend my weekend making these little day trips and narrowed this list down to my absolute favourites. Each one lends itself to a different kind of traveller or experience. So choose the one that best suits your intentions!

Day Trip from Barcelona

1. Montserrat: Where Nature Meets Spirituality
   • How to Get to Montserrat?
   • What to do in Montserrat
2. Figueres: Surreal Art at the Salvador Dalí Museum
   • How to Get to Figueres?
   • What to do in Figueres
3. Girona: The Medieval Marvel
   • How to Get to Girona?
   • What to do in Girona
4. Tossa de Mar: The Rugged Coastline
   • How to Get to Tossa de Mar?
   • What to do in Tossa de Mar
5. Sitges: A Coastal Haven
   • How to Get to Sitges
   • What to do in Sitges
6. Tarragona: Roman History Unveiled
   • What to do in Tarragona

Montserrat: Where Nature Meets Spirituality

Located just an hour’s train from Barcelona, Montserrat is a breathtaking mountain range renowned for its unique rock formations and dramatic peaks. At the top of the mountains, nestled within its rugged landscape, lies the spiritual centre of Montserrat, the 11th-century Monastery.

How to Get to Montserrat?

From Barcelona, the Montserrat train station is only an hour-long journey. You have several options from the station to get to the top of the mountain. The most impressive is the cable car, which launches you into the air for an aerial view of Montserrat. This provides a different perspective of the mountain’s geological formations and is a thrilling experience. You can also choose to take a funicular railway ride or hop on the rack railway. I found the cable car to be the most direct way up and was also one of the faster ways to make the journey.

What to do in Montserrat

There are so many different things to do here; you’ll want to ensure you arrive as early as possible to fit in all the summit’s different activities.

Hiking

Upon arriving at the summit of the mountain, there are many different activities. Montserrat is a hiker’s paradise with numerous well-marked trails catering to all levels of hikers. Even if you just want to go for a 20-minute hike, there are options there for you that allow you to explore even a hint of the rugged terrain and winding pathways that open up to breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and iconic rock formations. One of the shorter hikes takes you to see the Cross of Sant Miquel, which offers stunning panoramic views of the monastery below and the surrounding landscape. It’s a peaceful spot for reflection and taking in the natural beauty.

Montserrat Monastery

The Montserrat Monastery, also known as the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, is a religious and cultural landmark. Walking into the courtyard before the monastery, you can marvel at the combination of architectural styles spanning several centuries. While its origins date back to the Romanesque period, it has undergone various renovations and additions, incorporating Gothic and Renaissance elements. The buildings are made of stone and blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

Basilica of Montserrat

The Basilica of Montserrat is filled with incredible stained glass windows, ornate altars, and religious artwork. The most important thing to see inside is the famous Black Madonna statue, also known as “La Moreneta,” which is a revered icon in Catalonia and a major pilgrimage site. It is believed to have been carved in the late 12th century, though the exact date and artist are unknown. 

La Moreneta

The statue is called “La Moreneta” because of the dark colour of the Virgin Mary’s skin and the infant Jesus, giving them their distinctive appearance. According to legend, in the year 880, the statue was discovered by shepherds in a cave on the Montserrat mountain. The shepherds saw a bright light and heard angelic music from the cave. When they investigated, they found the Virgin Mary and the Child statue. Despite their attempts to move it, the statue remained in the cave, leading them to believe it was divinely placed there. The statue’s discovery led to the Montserrat Monastery’s founding in 1025. The statue became a focal point of worship and pilgrimage at the newly established abbey. The statue has been associated with numerous miracles and acts of divine intervention throughout the centuries, further strengthening its significance.

Escolania de Montserrat

When you arrive, check at the information desk what time the Escolania de Montserrat will be performing. The Escolania de Montserrat, or young boys choir, has a long and prestigious history dating back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest choirs in Europe. The choir school’s mission was to provide a musical education to young boys while also serving the liturgical needs of the monastery. These young choristers, known as “Escolans,” receive a comprehensive musical education at the monastery. They often come from various parts of Catalonia and beyond. The Escolania de Montserrat performs daily, offering their angelic voices during the midday liturgical services, which is a highlight for visitors to the monastery.

*Note: the boy’s choir is off on vacation during August.

Museum of Montserrat

I was surprised to find the Museum of Montserrat at the top of the mountain. Despite its smaller size, it is a powerhouse of renowned artists like El Greco, Picasso, and Dalí. In addition, you’ll find a collection of religious art consisting of paintings, sculptures, and jewel-encrusted liturgical objects. Many of these pieces are of exceptional quality and historical significance.

Marketplace

Every day, farmers from the local area drive up to the summit of the mountain to sell traditional Catalan delicacies. You can find delicious local cheeses and honey sold by some of the most passionate growers.

Figueres: Surreal Art at the Salvador Dalí Museum

Figueres is a charming town located in the northeastern region of Catalonia. While Figueres has a well-preserved historic town center with charming narrow streets, historic buildings, and picturesque squares, most visitors mainly come here to have their minds blown inside the Salvador Dalí Museum. 

How to Get to Figueres?

Figueres is located 140 km northeast of Barcelona, but from Barcelona-Sants train station, you can hop on one of the highspeed Renfe trains, which takes you to Figueres-Vilafant station in just under an hour. From the train station, it is a leisurely 20-minute walk into the city centre.

What to do in Figueres

Salvador Dalí Museum

Famous surrealist artist Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres on May 11, 1904. Before his death, Dalí wanted to give something back to his hometown and took it upon himself to create the Dalí Theatre Museum. Dali chose the old bombed-out Municipal Theatre of Figueres to build his new museum. The building had a lot of meaning to the painter. He had been baptized just next door, had his very first art exhibition in the theatre, and was such a theatrical painter that building his museum on those grounds seemed most fitting. 

The museum opened in 1974 and showcases the artist’s whimsical and imaginative works, including paintings, sculptures, and installations that challenge our reality. The museum includes a series of rooms that showcase Dalí’s surreal imagination. Visitors can explore labyrinthine corridors, cryptic symbols, and optical illusions that transport them into the artist’s eccentric world.

Dalí’s Crypt

A glass geodesic dome cupola is above the old stage inside the former theatre. The dome lets light pour into the room, creating the most ethereal effect. The light is centred around a rectangular panel on the floor, which is nameless but is actually Dalí’s final resting place, as his grave can be found in a crypt beneath the stage floor.

The Mae West Room

One of the museum’s highlights is the Mae West Room, where visitors can view a living room set designed to look like the face of the famous actress Mae West. By viewing the room from a specific point, the furniture forms the facial features of Mae West.

Paintings and Murals

Throughout the museum, you’ll find many iconic paintings by Dali, but my favourite is Galatea of the Spheres. This painting is a loving portrait of Dali’s wife, Gala, but only comprises these fragmented spheres. Today, the picture sits on an easel that once belonged to French Classicist painter Meissonier.

Another iconic part of the museum is the murals that Dali painted. These images are distorted visions of the world, in forced perspectives, many of which tell allegorical stories from the life of Dali himself. This is just one example of the profoundly personal nature of this museum.

Figueres Historical Walking Tour

After exploring the museum, take a self-guided stroll through the charming streets of Figueres, where you’ll find quaint cafes and shops. It’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the essence of Dalí’s birthplace and gain insight into the life of this renowned surrealist artist. 

Girona: The Medieval Marvel

Girona is a picturesque medieval town in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain. It is renowned for its well-preserved historic center, characterized by winding cobblestone streets, ancient stone buildings, and a rich cultural heritage. Girona gained international recognition when it was featured as a filming location for the popular TV series “Game of Thrones,” where it stood in for the fictional city of Braavos. The stairs outside the cathedral were also used in exterior shots for scenes inside King’s Landing.

How to Get to Girona?

From Barcelona, you can hop on a 40-minute train ride that will transport you to the medieval wonderland of Girona! The train ride is a beautiful journey through the Catalonian countryside.

What to do in Girona

Old Town

Girona boasts a history that dates back to Roman times, and its medieval roots are still very much evident in its architecture and layout. The town has been influenced by various civilizations, including the Romans, Moors, and Franks, each leaving their mark on the town’s culture and architecture. The Old Town (Barri Vell) is the heart of Girona, enclosed within ancient city walls. The old town is a labyrinth of narrow streets, plazas, and historic buildings. Visitors can explore the Jewish Quarter and the Museum of Jewish History, one of the best-preserved in Europe.

Gothic Cathedral of Girona (Catedral de Santa Maria)

The cathedral is an iconic symbol of Girona and a stunning example of Gothic architecture. It features a grand staircase, a remarkable nave, and the widest Gothic nave in the world.

Visitors can climb the cathedral’s bell tower, known as the “Girona Cathedral Tower,” which offers panoramic views of the town and surrounding countryside.

Tossa de Mar: The Rugged Coastline

For those craving dramatic coastal scenery, Costa Brava is a day-trip paradise. This region is famous for its rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and crystal-clear waters. One of the best towns to visit in the Costa Brava from Barcelona is Tossa de Mar. This picturesque coastal town is renowned for its stunning Mediterranean beauty, historical charm, and vibrant cultural scene. 

How to Get to Tossa de Mar?

The fastest and easiest way to get to Tossa de Mar is to hop on the #2 bus from Barcelona’s Estacio del Nord. The bus takes just over an hour to arrive outside the Tourism office.

What to do in Tossa de Mar

Medieval Old Town

Tossa de Mar is often called the “Pearl of the Costa Brava” due to its exceptionally well-preserved medieval old town. The historic center is surrounded by ancient walls and towers, and it’s a maze of narrow cobblestone streets, charming squares, and centuries-old buildings. The most famous feature of the old town is the Vila Vella, a fortified area with watchtowers and battlements dating back to the 12th century.

Hiking

Surrounding Tossa de Mar are scenic hiking trails that lead you through pine forests along cliffs, and offer breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. The Camí de Ronda coastal path is a popular choice for hikers.

Beaches

The main thing that brings most people to Tossa de Mar is the beautiful beaches, each with its unique character. The main beach, Platja Gran, is a wide crescent of golden sand with crystal-clear waters, ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Nearby, you’ll find Platja d’es Codolar, a smaller, more secluded cove.

You can stroll along the Passeig de Mar, a beautiful seaside promenade lined with palm trees, restaurants, and cafes. It’s a great place for a leisurely walk, enjoying the sea breeze and savouring local cuisine.

Grab something to Eat

One of the best things to enjoy while visiting a seaside town is their dining options! Seafood restaurants serve fresh catches of the day combined with traditional Catalan flavours. Don’t miss the opportunity to try regional dishes like paella, seafood stews, and the local specialty, “romesco” sauce.

Sitges: A Coastal Haven

Sitges, often called the “St. Tropez of Spain,” is a coastal gem known for its beautiful beaches, charming streets, and vibrant nightlife. Spend your day lounging on the sandy shores, exploring the historic old town, or savouring delicious seafood at local restaurants.

How to Get to Sitges

From Barcelona-Sants train station, you can hop on an R2 train that arrives in Sitges in under an hour.

What to do in Sitges

Beaches

Sitges is famous for its sandy beaches. Some of the most popular ones include Playa de la Fragata, Playa de la Ribera, and Playa de San Sebastián. You can relax on the golden sands and swim in the Mediterranean Sea. But for me, my favourite part of a visit to Sitges is a leisurely stroll along the Passeig Maritim, a scenic promenade that runs along the coast. It’s perfect for enjoying sea views, people-watching, and stopping at beachfront cafes.

Explore the Old Town

Many people don’t spend enough time exploring the town’s historic and architectural heritage. Don’t miss the Church of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla, an iconic landmark with its distinctive bell tower. The Maricel Palace and Cau Ferrat Museum are also worth a visit to appreciate art and history.

Tarragona: Roman History Unveiled

For history buffs, Tarragona is a must-visit destination. This ancient Roman city boasts a wealth of archaeological treasures, stunning Mediterranean beaches, and a blend of modern and ancient charm. The city’s seaside location adds an extra layer of charm to your day trip.

How to Get to Tarragona

Head over to the Barcelona-Sants train station, where you can get on a regional train, arriving in Tarragona in just over an hour.

What to do in Tarragona

Roman Ruins

Tarragona was once an important Roman settlement, and its historical legacy is evident in the well-preserved Roman ruins throughout the town. The most iconic site is the Tarraco Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Roman walls, a circus, and various archaeological remains that offer a glimpse into the town’s ancient past.

The most impressive of all the Roman sites in Tarragona is the Roman Amphitheatre. This amphitheatre was used for gladiator contests and other public spectacles. Visitors can explore the well-preserved structure, which offers panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Old Town & New Town

Tarragona’s historic center is a charming labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets, medieval squares, and centuries-old buildings. The Cathedral of Tarragona, a beautiful Gothic-Romanesque structure, highlights the old town.

Be sure to head to the Rambla Nova, where you’ll find a bustling tree-lined promenade. This popular spot is great for shopping, dining, and people-watching.

Mediterranean Beaches

Tarragona boasts several picturesque beaches, including Playa del Milagro and Playa de la Arrabassada. These sandy shores are ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports, offering stunning views of the sea.

Hopefully, this post has inspired you to plan your next Catalonian day-trip destination! From the enchanting medieval streets of Girona to the artistic wonders of Figueres and the tranquil beaches of Sitges, these picture-perfect getaways reveal a unique facet of Catalonia’s rich cultural tapestry.

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The Best Day Trips from Barcelona, Picture-Perfect Getaways first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

This is my highlights tour but if you’re interested in a super in-depth guide, check out my ‘The Complete Guide to Visiting Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia‘.

Access

The Sagrada Familia is pretty easily accessible since it’s located in the centre of town. By metro, you just need to hop on the L5 line towards Sants Station. Upon getting out of the metro, simply follow the signs for the ‘Sagrada Familia.’ If you are arriving by bus, get on the H10 and get off at the València, Lepant stop. If you bought a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus ticket, these also all stop right in front of the church.

Tickets

As the Sagrada Familia is the most famous landmark in Barcelona, it draws in some shocking numbers daily. It’s no surprise that thousands of people enter their doors daily. To ensure you can experience this church easily, it’s always best to book your tickets in advance. You can buy your tickets online up to two months in advance, but I’d advise that you only book them about a week or two before your arrival unless you’re visiting during the holiday season.

When to Go?

When booking your ticket, you need to select a specific entry time. I’d recommend not leaving it too late at night since you want to give yourself plenty of time to explore before the church closes. I’d recommend booking your ticket an hour or two before sunset. That way, you can see the building in the light of day and enjoy the magnificent lighting effect of the sunset across the structure. The golden light inside the Basilica casts the most magical glow over the entire nave, and it feels like being transported to another earthly plane of existence.

Which ticket to buy?

There are basically four ticket types for visiting the Sagrada Familia

• Ticket with Audio Guide 26€
• Ticket with Guided Tour 30€
• Ticket with Audio Guide and Towers 36€

History of La Sagrada Familia

During the 19th century Barcelona, along with the rest of Europe, was undergoing a significant change. The church that had once held such immense power and authority over cities now lost its cultural influence with the growth of independent governments. Urban lifestyles were changing the way that Catalonians lived, and more and more, the church was becoming less and less a central part of their daily routine.

In 1866 the Spanish clergy created the Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph, who took it upon themselves to help bring back the relevance of faith and spirituality in Catalonia. They raised enough money to start construction on a wondrous temple, so spectacular and eye-catching that it would be the spot where pilgrims from all over the world would travel and which would encourage locals to come back into the fold. The church was dedicated to the Holy Family. The first architect of the church was Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano, but soon after construction started, he resigned. They then enlisted Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. And that one decision would be the catalyst for the creation of what is now one of the greatest manmade wonders of the world.

About La Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is 4,500 square meters large, the size of an American football field, and when you see it in person, you can truly understand just how big that is. The Basilica’s layout is that of a traditional Latin cross design. The Latin cross design features five naves, a crossing, an apse and an exterior cloister-style ambulatory.

The exterior has three different facades, each a varied work of art whose imagery tells a story. Although not yet built, the tallest part of the church will be 172.5 meters tall, the highest point in the city but shorter than Montjuic Mountain (because no manmade building should exceed what God created). The church can hold 14,000 worshippers! That’s the size of a small city. Gaudí wanted to create a place where everyone in the city could gather in one place, making it feel like it was always open to whoever wanted to come in. A small church just wouldn’t have had the same effect.

#1. The Nativity Facade

This was the only part of the church which was entirely designed by Gaudi and which he almost saw finished as it was completed in 1935, just after his death. He was there almost daily overseeing the work, and it feels like the part of the church which is the most personal. The three porticos on the Nativity facade are each dedicated to a theological virtue of the three members of the Holy Family; Hope, Charity and Faith.

#2. The Tree of Life

At the top of one of the Nativity facade’s porticos stands the Tree of Life, a bright green cypress tree. The tree is one of the only colourful parts of the exterior, covered with polychrome. Polychrome decorates architectural elements, like pottery or sculpture, in various colours. The cypress tree symbolizes eternity since it’s an evergreen plant and never loses its leaves. Covering the tree are 21 white doves which fly out of their nests and into the sky. On the top of the tree, like a Christmas Star, is the red and white symbol of the holy trinity. The Greek cross formed the base of this symbol. The Greek cross combines the letters’ alpha’ and ‘omega,’ which mean the beginning and the end.

#3. The Charity Portico Vault

The vault in the Charity portico contains the scene of the Annunciation where the archangel Gabriel tells Mary that she is the chosen one who will bring the son of God into this world. Surrounding this petite scene are the signs of the zodiac depicted in constellations across the sky, just as they would have been on the night Jesus was born. Bands of rosary beads surround the scene.

Hanging around the rosary are medallions carved in stone representing the ‘Miraculous Medals’ you find around rosary bracelets. Above the Charity doorways, here is a chorus of angels. Each of them is a musician, playing instruments popular in both religious settings, like the lute, the violin and the harp, and instruments more accessible to the commoners, like the guitar, the bagpipes and the tambourine. Once more, this was a way of the common fold being able to see themselves in the divine. Running up between the two sets of stained glass windows behind the angels is the multi-pointed star of Bethlehem. This was the star that shone in the sky to announce the birth of Jesus.

#4. The Spires

Gaudi desired to make the Sagrada Familiar as the tallest building in Barcelona. He was inspired by stories of architects in medieval times who built their churches as the central figure in the city. These churches needed to be tall as they were often used as meeting points, a guiding light to those travelling into town. Their bell towers signal the beginning of the workday or even warn people of fires, earthquakes or other devastating events.

Gaudi wanted to implement this same idea, but just one tower wouldn’t suffice. He decided to far and away exceed anything created for basilicas before. His design called for eighteen spires, reaching up towards the heavens. The hollow and hole-filled design of the spires makes them look like a beehive or anthill, as the stone’s colour closely resembles the earth. But the hollow design was actually a form of lanterning, an architectural element that illuminates the church while also giving it enormous height and grandeur.

#5. The Rosary Portal

You’ll first pass through the Rosary Portal to enter the church’s interior. This incredible doorway is called the door of ‘Our Lady of the Rosary.’ In the tympanum above the doorway is the sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a crowed baby Jesus. Mary also wears a crown, as she is the Queen of Heaven on Earth, but she is also symbolically crowned with an archway of roses on the portal above her. Since the rose is the symbol of purity is almost always hidden somewhere in depictions of the Virgin Mary. Above this doorway is a cupola lantern which perfectly lets in a ray of light which highlights Mary’s face. This effect is almost too beautiful, and it looks heavenly if you didn’t know the cupola was there.

#6. The Arborescent Columns

The interior of the church was meant to resemble a spiritual forest. Gaudi wanted it to feel like a retreat into nature. Gothic churches were revolutionary in creating openness and space; they wanted the interior to feel light and the high ceilings as if they were reaching up toward the heavens. Gaudi once more wanted to take this to the next level. He wanted to incorporate huge stained glass windows on either side, which meant they could not be load bearing, so that load had to be carried elsewhere.

Gaudi researched for years to develop this new concept called the ‘Arborescent Columns.’ Inspired by the strength and beauty of large trees, the columns tilt slightly about their height so they can withstand the roof load. They also split off in two directions, like the branches of a tree and also like a flying buttress to better support the vaults. You expect to see birds flying from branch to branch, making a nest for themselves at any time. And what better place to do it?!

#7. The Vaults

Gaudi combined classical Gothic architecture and Catalan art to create these star-like vaults on the roof, which light could easily pass through. The stars are formed by combining concave and convex hyperboloid shapes, which are critical systems used to disperse light and spread out the roof load. The shape of the stars also closely resembles the form of palm leaves, a powerful symbol in Christianity. Each vault centre is filled with a light diffuser decorated with colourful stained glass in various Christian symbols.

#8. Stained Glass Windows

Light is one of the strongest symbols of faith in Christianity, so it was crucial for Gaudi to bring as much natural as possible, the light of God, into the Basilica. Gaudi developed a new way of creating stained glass, comprised of three panes resulting in a mixture of tones and colours to cast a magical glow into the nave. The leading artist who created these windows was Vila-Grau. Vila-Grau used curved shapes to create abstract forms and ensured that the warm and cool tones were kept separate, resulting in this consistent light flow.

#9. The High Altar’s Baldachin

Over the high altar, we find the incredible sculptural masterpiece, the ‘baldachin.’ A baldachin is a large canopy in a heptagon shape with seven edges, traditionally placed over an altar. These sever corners represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Fifty little hanging lights illuminate the rim of the canopy. Around the rim springs grape vines and wheat, the symbols of the Eucharist. A ribbon around the baldachin writes out the Prayer of Glory in back-lit red and Gaudí-style lettering.

#10. The Choir Galleries

Above the nave is a separate space that houses the choir during church services. This area can hold over 1000 singers since Gaudi wanted their voices to fill this enormous temple. Gaudi thought the importance of acoustics in the building to be of the utmost importance as he loved music so much. It was one of the few ways he could unwind and relax. The hyperbolic vaulting he used throughout the church was made to reverberate the sound in a harmonious way and provide light.

#11. The Passion Facade

The final portion of the tour of the church is the Passion Facade. This facade is located on the side of the building where the sun sets, the darkness reflecting the ultimate sacrifice and death Jesus would incur. Compared with the ornate, natural forms of the Nativity Facade, the Passion Facade is gloomy, stark and restrained. Gaudi made sketches for this part of the church when he fell ill with a terrible sickness and almost passed away.

This illness was the closest to death Gaudi would ever come since his eventual death would sneak up on him. During this sickness, he was consumed with fear and poured all these emotions into the design of this part of the temple. While Gaudi died long before this part of the church began construction, architect Josep Maria Subirachs took up his mantle and made it his mission to create precisely what Gaudi had envisioned. Subirach’s figures are inspired by expressionism, in contrast to the realistic figures on the Nativity portal. There are over 100 figures depicted, grouped into 13 different scenes. They rise upwards in an S-shape, starting, in chronological order, with the last supper and ending in the crucifixion.

#12. The Gaudi Museum

Located in the basement of the cathedral is the Antoni Gaudi Workshop and Museum. Although many of the original documents and plans were destroyed when a bomb went off during the Civil War, this newly created space is where the city has taken it upon itself to conserve, restore and put on display pieces of the history of the construction of this church. You can find drawings, period photographs, ceremonial furniture and several scale model copies of the originals here. There is also a model of the original workshop where Gaudi would spend all this time.

Have you been here before? What was your favourite thing to see? If you’re on your way, let me know what you’re looking forward to the most.

Happy Travel Adventurers!

The post The Ultimate Highlight Tour of La Sagrada Familia, an Insider’s Guide to Barcelona first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

This is a very detailed guide, so I’ve been sure to make a table of contents for you in case you want to jump to a particular church area. This works great if you’re visiting and need more clarification on a certain area. If you’re looking for a shorter summary of what to see, check out my post on the ‘Top 12 Things to See.’ That guide is ideal if you’re pressed for time and want just the highlights tour!

Table Of Contents

1. Access & Admission
2. History
3. Sagrada Familia Design
4. The Nativity Facade
5. The Charity Portico
6. The Tree of Life
7. The Monumental Columns
8. Faith Portico
9. The Spires and Towers
10. The Cloisters
11. The Rosary Portal
12. The Interior Apse
13. The Arborescent Columns
14. The Crypt
15. The Passion Facade
16. The Glory Facade
17. The Schoolhouse
18. The Gaudi Museum

Access & Admission

The Sagrada Familia is pretty easily accessible since it’s located in the centre of town. By metro, you just need to hop on the L5 line towards Sants Station. Upon getting out of the metro, simply follow the signs for the ‘Sagrada Familia.’ If you are arriving by bus, get on the H10 and get off at the València, Lepant stop. If you bought a Hop-On Hop-Off Bus ticket, these also all stop right in front of the church.

When to Go?

When booking your ticket, you need to select a specific entry time. I’d recommend not leaving it too late. You want to give yourself plenty of time to explore before the church closes. I’d recommend booking your ticket an hour or two before sunset. That way, you can see the building in the light of day and enjoy the magnificent lighting effect of the sunset across the structure. The golden light inside the church casts the most magical glow over the entire nave. And it feels like being transported to another earthly plane of existence.

Tickets

As the Sagrada Familia is the most famous landmark in Barcelona, it draws in some shocking numbers daily. It’s no surprise that thousands of people enter their doors daily. Booking your tickets in advance is always best to ensure you can experience this church easily. You can buy your tickets online up to two months in advance. But I’d advise that you only book them about a week or two before your arrival unless you’re visiting during the holiday season.

Which ticket to buy?

There are basically four ticket types for visiting the Sagrada Familia:

• Basic Ticket 17€
• Audio Guide Ticket 25€
• Guided Tour Ticket 26€
• Audio Guide and Towers Ticket 32€

While I did enjoy my guided tour, and I’d usually strongly recommend them, I felt like the guide rushed us through the church. Fair enough, there is so much to see, and you only have them for an hour. But even still, it felt incomplete. Even though I could go back to what I felt I’d missed after the guided tour, there was so much to see that I wished I could have understood better. That’s why I created this blog!

This self-guided tour allows you to go at your own pace. You can sit and absorb what you’re seeing. Take a moment to just listen to the sounds around you. And learn about all the facets of the church. Plus, this free tour will save you a bit of money. While the towers are interesting to see and give a nice view over the city, there are betters views to be found for a much lower price. So I’d advise skipping them and instead focusing on looking into the building instead of out of it.

History

During the 19th century Barcelona, along with the rest of Europe, was undergoing a significant change. The church, which had once held such immense power and authority over cities, now lost its cultural influence with the growth of independent governments. Urban lifestyles were changing the way that Catalonians lived, and more and more, the church was becoming less and less a central part of their daily routine.

In 1866 the Spanish clergy created the Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph. They took it upon themselves to help bring back the relevance of faith and spirituality in Catalonia. They raised enough money to start construction on a wondrous temple. A church is so spectacular and eye-catching that it would be the spot where pilgrims from all over the world would travel and which would encourage locals to come back into the fold. The church was dedicated to the Holy Family. The first architect of the church was Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. But soon after construction started, he resigned. They then enlisted Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. And that one decision would be the catalyst for the creation of what is now one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world.

Master Architect Antoni Gaudi

Antoni Gaudí is the mastermind behind this incredible church design. Gaudí’s works can be seen all across Barcelona. And he was one, if not the most, influential artist who helped create the Modernism movement in Catalonia. Gaudí was inspired by neo-Gothic art, organic forms, and Oriental techniques, which can be seen throughout.

Gaudí’s style formed the artistic style of the city, and the critical piece to his portfolio is the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s greatest inspirations were nature and religion. In designing the Sagrada Familia, he combines these elements to near perfection. Gaudí’s aim in creating this Basilica was to link heaven and earth together. He was inspired by the nearby Montjuic Mountains’ shape and power over the valley. He wanted the church to feel like a new mountain sprung from the ground.

Gaudi’s Death

Gaudí was run down by a streetcar and died in 1926. Only a small portion of the Basilica had been built when he passed. Although his life was cut short, Gaudí knew he would never see the church finished. He looked back to the great medieval cathedrals which took hundreds of years to create. Some take over 100 years from start to completion. He put every ounce of creativity, innovation and imagination into the temple’s design. When he died, his revolutionary work would inspire the next architect who took over. Many people were surprised that Gaudí would set out to create something which would take so long to build; when asked why, Gaudí would always say, “My client is not in a hurry.” This is where he got the nickname “God’s Architect.”

Sagrada Familia Design

The Sagrada Familia is 4,500 square meters large. It’s the size of an American football field. And when you see it in person, you can truly understand how big it is. The Basilica’s layout is that of a traditional Latin cross design. The Latin cross design features five naves, a crossing, an apse and an exterior cloister-style ambulatory. The exterior has three different facades, each a varied work of art whose imagery tells a story.
Although not yet built, the tallest part of the church will be 172.5 meters tall. The highest point in the city but just shorter than Montjuic Mountain (because no man-made building should exceed what God created). The church can hold 14,000 worshippers! That’s the size of a small city. Gaudí wanted to create a place where everyone in the city could gather. Making it feel like it was always open to whoever wanted to come in. A small church just wouldn’t have had the same effect.

It’s important to highlight that, for our readers to understand Gaudi’s vision and references, we will be talking broadly about stories from the bible. And while not everyone who visits this church will be religious, the context will help you understand the meaning behind the construction. If you aren’t spiritual, just think of these citations as stories (or consider the real people who inspired those characters).

The Nativity Facade

To enter the Sagrada Familia these days, you’ll approach via the Nativity Facade. This was the only part of the church entirely designed by Gaudí. And he almost saw it finished as it was completed in 1935, just after his death. He was there almost daily overseeing the work, and it feels like the part of the church which is the most personal. The Nativity Facade has three entrances. One central and two lateral topped with four hollow bell towers, representing the four stripes of the Catalan flag. The Nativity facade faces the rising sun, as it represents the dawn of the life of Jesus Christ.

The three entrances on the Nativity facade are each dedicated to a theological virtue of the three members of the Holy Family; Hope, Charity and Faith. A portico is a triangular porch hanging over the church’s entrance. One of the most delightful little aspects of these entrances is the little details you might miss, so keep your eyes peeled.

One of these small details to notice when looking at the entire facade are the snowcaps carved into the stone. The snow is meant to look like it is melting off the tops of the hollows of the entrances. Gaudí used snow to remind the people of the festive Christmas season. So many aspects of Gaudí’s plans were drawn from historical architectural references. But others were meant to evoke a response for the common man. Something everyone can understand and evokes something within them.

Gaudi’s Gargoyles

Instead of gargoyles, which are so prevalent in neo-gothic architecture, you’ll find a different kind of creature which caps the various edges of the roofline on the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí chose to use reptiles and amphibians (like snails, frogs, chameleons and lizards.) These creatures crawl on the edges of the building. While gargoyles are mythical creatures, Gaudí chose to pick beasts from our world who are biblically associated with the lower ranks. Gaudi believed they served the same monstrous purpose as the gargoyles in Gothic churches. They are not decorative, but their open mouths are used to drain rainwater from the temple’s roof.

The Hope Portico

The Hope Portico, dedicated to Saint Joseph, is on the far left side of the facade. This portico depicts scenes of virtue in times of adversity. We’ll study this piece from the top of the entrance, continuing downwards, beginning with St. Joseph’s Pinnacle.

St. Joseph’s Pinnacle

St. Joseph’s Pinnacle is almost hard to make out. It’s so high up, and sculptures blend in with the rest of the stonework. The textures given to the exterior are designed to reflect the crags you find on Montserrat, the sacred mountain of Catalonia. Just below the climax of the Hope Portico, you’ll see the figure of Saint Joseph sitting inside a small boat. The boat is an important symbol. Saint Joseph helped navigate the Catholic church as the patriarch of the Holy Family.

On the ship’s helm are three emblematic objects; a dove, an anchor and a lantern. The dove symbolizes the holy spirit, the anchor signifies faith’s constant grounding, and the lamp implies the light the word of Jesus Christ provided to the faithful. It’s important to note that this carving of Saint Joseph is thought to resemble Gaudí himself. The sculptors decided after his untimely death to immortalize Gaudí in the church. Gaudí himself feels like a patriarchal figure to all those architects who would follow in his footsteps.

The Holy Marriage

Below the pinnacle, in the hollow of the top arch, we find a grouping of three people. This is the scene of the marriage of Saint Joseph to the Virgin Mary carried out by a high priest who stands in the centre. They kneel over a basket of roses that symbolize God’s love at work in the world. Blossoming below this sculptural group are luscious flowers reminiscent of those growing on the Nile banks. Egypt was where the holy family experienced so much fear and terror; eventually, they had to flee the country. But they fled not without hope, which is what this entrance is dedicated to remembering. Hanging amongst the flowers are stone-carved rosary beads. 59 beads surround most of the windows on the porticos. Another way in which Gaudí combined the physical act of prayer into his church.

The Tympanum

Above the doorway, in the Hope Portico, we have the tympanum, which contains scenes from Jesus’ childhood. These tender moments between the young Jesus make him much more human rather than godly. On the bottom right, we see the Holy Family with Mary and Joseph and an angel guide fleeing Egypt. In the centre, we see the child Jesus in his father’s arms. A single dove flies off into the distance below them. Amidst this scene of father and son is something which you might miss. A set of carpentry tools carved in stone. Jesus’ adolescence was spent being a carpenter’s apprentice. And it was lovely to see that human side of his life immortalized in stone.

Slaughter of the Innocents

On the right, we have one of the most violent scenes from the bible: the Slaughter of the Innocents. This display shows a Roman soldier tearing a child from their mother’s arms. Under the soldier’s feet are babies’ bodies who have already fallen to the soldier’s sword. Although this is hard to see, if you manage to look closely, you can see that the Roman soldier has six toes on one foot. A small detail but one denoting his monstrosity.

Although this is a sad scene, it’s an important historical moment. When hope was all that these people had to cling to survive. On this side, the edges of the entrance are formed into the shape of a chameleon. The chameleon is an animal that represents change, and change is what hope is based upon. The fact is that even in the darkest times, there will be light. Light is representative of change, and the turning of tides gives even the most lost hope.

The Charity Portico

The central and most crucial portico on the Nativity Facade is the Charity Portico. Jesus’ charitable nature was one of his most notable characteristics, yet this entrance is filled with scenes of the Virgin Mary. This reflects how those who nurture us pass on their core values and attributes. The textural treatment of this portico is slightly different than the others. The exterior is covered in design elements that resemble or call back to the stable in which Jesus was born. Animals, birds and various plants are hidden throughout the mass of ornamentations that swell over the pointed portico.

The Tree of Life

Again, starting from the top down, let’s first focus on the Tree of Life. The culminating part of this portico is capped with a polychrome-coated green cypress tree. Polychrome decorates architectural elements, like pottery or sculpture, in various colours. Gaudí originally intended for the entire Nativity facade to be polychromed. He believed that if every sculpture, face, plant and animal were painted, they would come to life in a much more realistic way. Unfortunately, the cost of this much exceeded the budget! And so, polychrome was used sparingly. But therein making where you see those colours that much more impactful.

Symbolism on the Tree

The cypress tree symbolizes eternity since it’s an evergreen plant and never loses its leaves. Covering the tree are 21 white doves that fly out of their nests and into the sky. On the top of the tree, like a Christmas Star, is the red and white symbol of the holy trinity. The Greek cross formed the base of this symbol. The Greek cross combines the letters’ alpha’ and ‘omega,’ which mean the beginning and the end. Atop the cross is the last white dove, its arms spread wide, resembling the shape of Jesus on the cross.

Two ladders are placed below the tree, representing our mortal desire to reach eternal life. Below the tree, you’ll see a pelican perched, her beak angeled toward two baby birds, ready to be fed. The pelican was once believed to be a symbol of the Eucharist as in ancient times, people thought the pelican opened its chest to feed its young, just like Christ offered up his own body to feed his disciples. Hidden beneath the young pelicans is a brightly coloured egg adorned with red and yellow glass. The egg is thought to represent either the birth of the universe or the symbol of Jesus’ resurrection.

Below the tree is a group of angels burning incense inside old vessels called ‘centers.’ Burning incense in the church is an ancient tradition representing the faithful’s prayers rising to heaven. The pinnacle’s stonework is covered in little bubbles, thought to represent the incense floating up toward the sky. It’s important to note that the angels here were actually sculpted by Gaudí himself.

The Crowning of Mary

Below the tree of life, we come to a small cave. Here we can see a little intimate scene of Jesus placing a copper crown atop the Virgin Mary’s head. Crowning her the Queen of Heaven on Earth. This was her reward for her ceaseless love for God and humanity. Despite what they had done to her beloved son. On the left, we see Saint Joseph there to witness the event. And on the right, we see the Holy Spirit represented as a man. The entire scene is set in front of one of the incredibly colourful stained glass rose windows. At certain times of the day, the glass seems to set the entire scene aglow with mystical light.

The Charity Vault

The vault in the Charity portico contains the scene of the Annunciation. We find the archangel Gabriel told Mary that she is the chosen one. Who will bring the son of God into this world? Surrounding this petite scene are the signs of the zodiac. And depictions of constellations across the sky. Just as they would have been on the night Jesus was born. Bands of rosary beads surround the scene. Hanging around the rosary are medallions carved in stone representing the ‘Miraculous Medals,’ which you find around rosary bracelets.

The Chorus of Angels

Above the Charity doorways, here is a chorus of angels. Each angel is a musician, playing popular instruments in religious settings. Instruments like the lute, the violin and the harp, the more common guitar, the bagpipes and the tambourine can all be found here. Once more, this was a way of the common fold being able to see themselves in the divine. Running up between the two sets of stained glass windows behind the angels is the multi-pointed star of Bethlehem. This was the star that shone in the sky to announce the birth of Jesus.

The Adorations

To the left of the double doorway, we can see sculptures of the Adoration of the Magi. And on the right, we have the Adorations of the Shepherds. Some scenes from the Nativity represent how Jesus’ arrival brought people from such disparate groups together. For me, this scene is especially poignant since I feel Gaudí achieved a similar reaction in the construction of this church. No matter if you are religious, spiritual or neither, this building still draws people from far and wide into its arms. And once they behold it for themselves, there is never a question of its outstanding cultural value.

The Monumental Columns

Three primary columns are located at the base of the church, each representing a member of the holy family. The one in the centre of the two charity doors is the Jesus’ Column, and the other two flanking the charity portico are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. On the very top of the central column is baby Jesus, being placed into a bassinet by his mother. His father looks on, as do an ox and mule, just like the Christmas carol. To the left of this scene is a small text inscription expressing “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” a phrase spoken by the angels on the night Jesus was born.

Large palm leaves look like they’re supporting the group atop the column. Palm leaves are a symbol of victory in Roman culture, and the date fruits hanging from the leaves symbolize faith. Surrounding the column is a thick ribbon with inscriptions inlaid upon it. The form of ribbon almost looks like one side of a DNA strand. Fittingly, it is thought that the inscriptions on the fabric are Jesus’ genealogy dating back to Abraham. Halfway down the column, the stone is surrounded by dense iron mesh. If you peek through the mesh, you can make out the shape of the snake biting an apple, the symbol of original sin. The iron mesh traps the reptile from fleeing the garden and invading the pious world.

Carvings on the Column

Atop the two remaining columns flanking the sides of the Charity portico are a pair of angels playing long bronze trumpets announcing the birth of Jesus. The models for these sculptures were a group of military musicians who were good friends with Gaudi. The angels stand atop more palm leaves, covered in snow and dates. The centre of the columns is marked with an inscription, each inscribed with the names of those to whom they are dedicated to. At the bottom of the columns are carvings of a tortoise and a turtle, holding the entire weight of the column up. The turtle represents the land, and the tortoise the sea. Both of these animals are unchanging and, as such, are capable of being the foundation upon which this church is built.

At the bottom of the columns is the carving of a tortoise and, on the other, a turtle, holding the entire weight of the column up. The turtle represents the land, and the tortoise the sea. Both of these animals are unchanging and, as such, are capable of being the foundation upon which this church is built.

Faith Portico

The last of the tree porticos is on the far right-hand side, called the Faith Portico. This portico is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, yet most of the scenes here actually feature her son when he was a young boy and his life during adolescence.

While centred around Jesus, these scenes show Mary’s faith in God. Imagine being a mother and seeing your son grow up so innocent and kind, all the while knowing he will die for the sins of humanity, and you’ll be the one to bury him. It takes a strong woman to keep faith in this knowledge, and yet she persevered and, not only that, made sure to be the best mother she could be against all the odds. I think everyone can take something from this story into their own lives at times when they feel they perhaps have lost faith in themselves or the direction their lives are going.

Blessed Virgin’s Pinnacle

At the very top of the portico is the Blessed Virgin’s Pinnacle. The head of the pinnacle is capped with ears of wheat springing forth. These symbolize the bread Jesus shares with his disciples in the Last Supper. Below, in a small hollow cave, is a carving of a hand with an open eye in the centre. This is the symbol of divine providence, which represents God, who can see all and even perhaps influence the destiny of humankind. Vines and grapes intertwine all over this pinnacle, another symbolic element of the Last Supper.

In the centre of these vines is the figure of the Virgin Mary, her hands crossed over her chest and head leaning back, utter vulnerability and trust emitting through her language. Mary stands upon a three-pointed lamp, representing the light of the holy trinity. Below her figure, we can see Saint Joseph’s anagram, another little detail tieing these two people together consistently through the design, even when they are not physically together.

Jesus in Simon’s Arms

In the hollow at the top of the portico is Jesus in Simon’s arms in the temple of Jerusalem. Many parents would bring their children to the temple to be blessed. A bowl is at the bottom of the scene, and within it are two birds. But these are not doves as we’ve seen before, but are pigeons. Every parent needed to bring a sacrifice to the temple for their child to be blessed. Most people would bring a lamb to display wealth, but as Mary and Joseph were poor, they could only afford to bring two meagre pigeons.

Central Scene on the Faith Portico

Under the vault on the Faith portico is a beautiful rose window made up of multicoloured glass. Looking up from underneath the vault is the figure of Jesus seated in a chair, his hands raised towards the sky. On his left side is Saint John the Baptist. On the right is Saint Zachariah. These two scholars were some of Jesus’ best teachers and would shape how he would preach. Despite being his elders, they are seen here looking at Jesus with admiration and wonder. Below the scholars, right above the doorway, is the symbol of the heart of Jesus, surrounded by thorns and covered in bees who feast on the blood. A morbid foreshadowing of things to come.

On the left-hand side of the doorway, we can see the scene of the visitation of the Virgin Mary. Here we have Mary, pregnant with baby Jesus, visiting her cousin who at the same time was pregnant with the would-be Saint John the Baptist. In the scene on the right, we find Jesus as a young carpenter at his work table. In front of him are the figures of Mary and Joseph. Their faces are that of surprise, anguish and denial as they learn of their son’s fate for the first time. But Jesus remains unphased, working quietly on his carpentry, his posture slightly slumped, mirroring a more human figure who knows not yet of his divine destiny.

The Spires and Towers

Gaudi desired to make the Sagrada Familiar as the tallest building in Barcelona. He was inspired by stories of architects in medieval times who built their churches as the central figure in the city. These churches needed to be tall as they were often used as meeting points, a guiding light to those travelling into town. Their bell towers signal the beginning of the workday or even warn people of fires, earthquakes or other devastating events. Gaudi wanted to implement this same idea, but just one tower wouldn’t suffice. He decided to far and away exceed anything created for basilicas before.

Gaudi’s design called for eighteen spires, reaching up toward the heavens. The hollow and hole-filled design of the spires makes them look like a sort of beehive or anthill, as the stone’s colour so closely resembles the earth. But the hollow design was actually a form of lanterning, an architectural element that illuminates the church while also giving it enormous height and grandeur.

The Spires

The spires are representative, in ascending order of elevation, of the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ. The Evangelists’ spires were designed to be topped by sculptures of their corresponding symbols. A bull for Saint Luke, symbolizing sacrifice, service and strength. An angel stands for Saint Matthew, who represents Jesus’ human Incarnation, who, upon his death, became divine. An eagle sets off to soar in the representation of Saint John, as the eagle symbolizes a figure of the sky and the fact that Christians should look to their eternal fate instead of their mortal one. And finally, we have Saint Mark represented by a lion. Saint Mark’s beautiful gospels were thought to be the “voice of the one who cries in the wilderness,” like the roar of a lion.

Atop each of the spires along the perimeter of the church, over top of the cloisters, are a set of pinnacles. These are in various shapes, abstractions of elements of the bishop’s attire, such as the mitre, the ring, the cross and the staff. They are all decorated in rich tones of Murano glass which is much stronger than ceramics, so they can withstand the elements up high.

Jesus and Mary Towers

The Virgin Mary tower will be the widest right over the high altar. Her tower is currently finished, but its shape has already been a form of a cathedral. Her tower, once completed, will be crowned by the ‘morning star.’ This star is the guiding light that travellers use to find their way even in darkness, and the star is still visible even when the sun has risen at dawn.

The interior of her tower is made up of a large hyperboloid skylight which brings natural light into the presbytery. The hyperboloid will be covered in white tiles, the colour of purity, looking like a divine cyclone sucking in the light from above. The largest and tallest of the towers, the Jesus Christ Tower, has yet to be built, but once completed will be the most impressive of them all, reaching a height of 172.5 meters, capped with a Gaudí-style four-armed cross. The tower’s interior will act as a giant lantern since Gaudi wanted this part of the church to reflect the phrase Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world.”

The Cimborio

At the top of the spires, you’ll find elaborately coloured and designed cimborio. A cimborio is a dome or a cupola from traditional Spanish architecture. Gaudi’s cimborio is more sculptural, with images of plants decorating the surface, specifically those plants connected to the Christian faith. We see ears of corn, wheat, cedar and lavender all swirling around. Gaudi also chose plants native to the Mediterranean or that once grew on the site where the church was built. Gaudi used his technique of trencadis cladding to ensure the tops were as colourful as possible so you could see them across the sky from all over town.

The Cloisters

As you enter the Nativity facade, you pass through those large doors and enter the cloisters surrounding the entire church. A traditional cloister was first used in monasteries and was meant “enclosure.” It was a covered walkway for the monks to use as a space of private contemplation. When cloisters were incorporated into cathedrals, they would run along one side of the church.

Gaudi used his cloisters in a revolutionary way; instead of just placing them on one side of the church, he wrapped them around the entirety of the Basilica. This was his solution to create separation or barrier between the church’s interior and the loud and obnoxious outside world. This resulted in a quieter interior and an almost zen-like atmosphere. A conventional monastery cloister would surround a garden. Because the interior here would be the church’s apse, Gaudi made sure that his interior still felt like a garden, like the of Eden. A mythical forest in the centre of town.

Cloisters and Light

Gaudi wanted to find a way to bring natural light into the interior of the church even though there were no windows that faced directly outside the apse. He did this through his ingenious redesign of the cloister windows. Gaudi went through two different variations in his light experiments. Both of which are still present to this day. The first was designed in 1890 and was based on the three ogival modules inspired by traditional Gothic architecture.

The secondary design done in 1919 was a more modern interpretation of Gaudi’s which looked less like Gothic art and was more inspired by nature. These circular windows, stacked in a triangular pyramid, looked like a honeycomb and fit better with the rest of the naturalist design across the temple. The cloisters also served another purpose. By having this area around the entirety of the church, Gaudi made it so that these galleries could be an area where people could move throughout the church quickly without interrupting the worship that was taking place inside.

The Bronze floral Doors

To enter the church, we must head back to the Charity portico and walk through the archway. The doors you pass on your way are made from polychrome bronze and designed by various plant species and covers and are ed in highly realistic insects. The paintwork on these doors is breathtaking and an introduction to the colours you’ll be wowed with inside.

The Rosary Portal

You’ll first pass through the Rosary Portal to enter the church’s interior. This incredible doorway is called the door of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the tympanum above the doorway is the sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a crowed baby Jesus. Mary also wears a crown, as she is the Queen of Heaven on Earth, but she is also symbolically crowned with an archway of roses on the portal above her. Since the rose is the symbol of purity is almost always hidden somewhere in depictions of the Virgin Mary.

Above this doorway is a cupola lantern which perfectly lets in a ray of light that highlights Mary’s face. This effect is almost too beautiful, and if you didn’t know the cupola was there, it takes on looks heavenly side of the doorways are various sculptures of characters from the old testament.

On the bottom of the arches around the door are scenes dedicated to the theme of temptation. We see the temptation of woman, the death of Judas and the temptation of man. The temptation of man is the most surprising as it is symbolized by a fish-like devil offering a bomb to man. While you might not always associate the devil with bombs, this scene was of particular significance to the people of Barcelona. Bombs were heavily used during the Spanish civil war, and this particular artist was inspired to make this alteration after the bombing of Barcelona’s Liceo Theatre in 1893.

The Interior Apse

The floorplan of the Sagrada Familia is designed to replicate the traditional Latin cross, but Gaudi’s floorplan featured five naves, a large central one and four lateral naves. He also took it upon himself to widen the naves, therein creating an unparalleled vastness of space, which feels impossible to have in such a lavish interior. But with all this space, there had to be structure. Some way to keep the building from falling down without sacrificing that ethereal atmosphere.

The Arborescent Columns

The interior of the church was meant to resemble a spiritual forest. Gaudi wanted it to feel like a retreat into nature. Gothic churches were revolutionary in creating openness and space; they wanted the interior to feel light and the high ceilings as if they were reaching up toward the heavens. Gaudi once more wanted to take this to the next level. He wanted to incorporate huge stained glass windows on either side, which meant they could not be load-bearing, so that load had to be carried elsewhere.

Gaudi researched for years to develop this new concept he called the ‘Arborescent Columns.’ Inspired by the strength and beauty of large trees, the columns tilt slightly about their height so they can withstand the roof load. They also split off in two directions, like the branches of a tree and also like a flying buttress to better support the vaults. At any time, you expect to see birds flying from branch to branch, making a nest for themselves. And what better place to do it?!

36 Tree Columns

There are 36 columns in total with different heights and widths. The variation of these sizes makes them seem more unique and less man-made. Four materials were used to create the columns; porphyry, basalt, granite and Montjuic stone. The Porphyry columns support the vaults over the crossing and are the widest in diameter. They are the red-coloured columns which contain the Evangelists’ lights. The basalt columns have ten sides and are one of the most durable materials. The granite columns are blueish-grey in colour and are only eight-sided. The final columns are made from Montjuic stone and are the thinnest.

The Vaults

Gaudi combined classical Gothic architecture and Catalan art to create these star-like vaults on the roof, which light could easily pass through. The stars are formed by combining concave and convex hyperboloid shapes, which are systems used to disperse light and spread out the roof load of the stars also closely resemble the form of palm leaves, a powerful symbol in Christianity. Each vault centre is filled with a light diffuser decorated with colourful stained glass in various Christian symbols.

Natural Light

Light is one of the strongest symbols of faith in Christianity, so it was crucial to Gaudi to bring as much natural light as possible, the light of God, into the Basilica. Gaudi developed a new way of creating stained glass, comprised of three panes resulting in a mixture of tones and colours to cast a magical glow into the nave. The leading artist who created these windows was Vila-Grau. Vila-Grau used curved shapes to create abstract forms and ensured that the warm and cool tones were kept separate, resulting in this consistent light flow.

The Evangelist Capitals

Four Porphyry columns are capped with the Evangelists’ symbols, two on each side of the transept. The capitals are decorated with tetramorphs, the four angelic beings from Babylonian symbolism, which describe the vision of the Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel of the Evangelists. “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.” These capitals are lit from within to ensure they are always illuminated even when there isn’t any natural light.

The High Altar

When you enter the church, before looking up (although I know that’s really hard), take a look at the flooring. The shimmery golden tiles are accented with two thick red lines. One of the lines symbolizes the ‘Path of Humanity,’ which runs from the Glory facade to the apse, and the ‘Path of Jesus Christ,’ which runs from the Nativity to the Passion facade. Where the two lines meet is where we find the high altar. The meeting of the divine and the human in one place here inside the church. The high altar has a ceiling two meters taller than the rest of the nave to give it that little extra touch of gravitas.

Over the high altar, we find the incredible sculptural masterpiece called a baldachin. A baldachin is a large canopy in a heptagon shape with seven edges, traditionally placed over an altar. These sever corners represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Fifty little hanging lights illuminate the rim of the canopy. Around the rim springs grape vines and wheat, the symbols of the Eucharist. A ribbon around the baldachin writes out the Prayer of Glory in back-lit red and Gaudí-style lettering.

Saint Joseph Transept

Located on the Nativity side of the church is the Saint Joseph Transept, presided over by a large sculpture of Joseph himself. Joseph stands there prominently with a sceptre of lilies in his hand. Lilies represent his holiness and his celibate marriage to the Blessed Virgin. The walkway above the transept is made of dozens of Roman columns and is an easy way for the clergy to get around the church without interrupting the service. The stained glass windows featured on this wall are made of cool tones, and the morning light pours through this portion of the church.

One interesting aspect of studying stained glass is that the colours become denser and denser as we descend from the top down, letting in less and less light. This is so that the light is the brightest at the top, where you’ll find the divine, and lower to the ground, where we have humanity and slightly less light, creating a perfect space for meditation and reflection.

On the opposite side, facing the Passion Facade, is the Virgin Mary Transept. In the centre is the figure of the Virgin Mary under a simplistic, geometric star-shaped vault. Behind her is a beautiful example of abstract stained glass made by Joan Vila-Grau entitled ‘The Resurrection.’ This side faces the setting sun and is coloured with entirely warm tones, warm tones which make the heart feel full and content, expressing hope upon Jesus’ Resurrection.

The Apsidal Chapels

The apse has seven chapels dedicated to the seven gospels of Saint Joseph. These chapels are lit from above and by impressive stained glass windows. In between these panels are the adorable carving of angel heads peeking out from the walls.

The Great Doorway

This entrance, called the Great Doorway, will eventually be the main entrance into the church once the Glory facade is finished construction. The two solid bronze doors will open out into the facade, weighing over two thousand kilos! The designer of these doors is the same one who made the Passion Facade, Josep Maria Subirachs. The doorways are inscribed with the words “Give us this day our daily bread” in fifty different languages. Above the door is the abstracted sculpture of Saint Geroge, the patron saint of Catalonia.

The Choir Galleries

Above the nave is a separate space that houses the choir during church services. This area can hold over 1000 singers since Gaudi wanted their voices to fill this enormous temple. Gaudi thought the importance of acoustics in the building to be of the utmost importance as he loved music so much. It was one of the few ways he could unwind and relax. The hyperbolic vaulting he used throughout the church was made to reverberate the sound throughout the church in a harmonious way and provide light.

The Organ

The large pipe organ looks almost holographic in certain lights and has over 1,492 pipes. And what a sound it makes when played. Gaudi wanted this organ and the music of God it created to fill the nave like the ocean. Washing across the worshippers and visitors alike.

Winding Staircase

Gaudi didn’t ever want to break up the natural movement of the Basilica. No straight set of stairs would be acceptable. So Gaudi created these sets of winding staircases which the clergy could use to access the upper levels. The staircases are almost completely open, with some circular cutouts, similar to those in the cloisters, to ensure they are perfectly lit without artificial light.

The Crypt

As you walk along the back of the nave, behind the altar, be sure to look down and see if you can peek into the small peepholes which open up into the crypt. Head down to see the interior of this hidden part of the church. The crypt, located under the nave and high altar, holds 12 chapels. The roof of the crypt is supported by 22 ribbed cross vaults, each decorated with shimmering keystones. Some of the keystones are adorned with scenes from the bible. The central keystone with the gold-leafed carving of Mary’s Annunciation is the most impressive. The bright gold brings the smallest details to life, making this image shine like a star underground.

Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

You’ll find the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel inside the crypt. This chapel is of particular significance since it is where you’ll find Gaudi’s final resting place. Located on the far left-hand side of the front wall, his tomb is presided over by the Lady of Mount Carmel. Gaudi is laid to rest under a simple, jet-black tombstone.

Gaudi made it his mission to bring natural light into the otherwise darkened crypts. And he did so through those small holes in the vaults which bring light in from the nave. He also made sure to include a lot of vibrant stained glass. This created a feeling of lightness and brightness despite being underground. It is unlike any other crypt I’ve visited around the world. The stained glass within the crypt is decorated with images of angels, another interesting juxtaposition for a crypt since angels are generally found in the sky, whereas these ones are found buried under the foundation.

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The Passion Facade

The final portion of the tour of the church is the Passion Facade. This facade is located on the side of the building where the sun sets. The darkness reflects the ultimate sacrifice and death Jesus would incur. Compared with the ornate, natural forms of the Nativity Facade, the Passion Facade is gloomy, stark and restrained. Gaudi made sketches for this part of the church when he fell ill with a terrible sickness and almost passed away. This illness was the closest to death Gaudi would ever come since his eventual death would sneak up on him. During this sickness, he was consumed with fear. And he poured all these emotions into the design of this part of the temple.

While Gaudi died long before this part of the church began construction, architect Josep Maria Subirachs took up his mantle and made it his mission to create precisely what Gaudi had envisioned. Subirach’s figures are inspired by expressionism, in contrast to the realistic figures on the Nativity portal. There are over 100 figures depicted, grouped into 13 different scenes. They rise upwards in an S-shape, starting, in chronological order, with the last Supper and ending in the crucifixion.

Capping the facade is the pyramid-shaped pediment. This pediment is formed with eighteen bone-shaped pillars, which symbolize those who died. The columns of the Passion Facade reach out towards the street. Unlike a regular column which just goes straight up, they are placed at an angle. Seemingly drawing the viewer in from the outside.

Last Supper

In the bottom left corner, we see Subirachs’ interpretation of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane during the Last Supper. All the faces we see here are gaunt and abstract. They seem less human, and each one appears to have an expression of sadness on their face. Jesus turns to his disciples to explain what will happen as Judas is off to the side, accepting the blood money for betraying his friend.

The Kiss of Judas

We then move to the scene where Juda kisses Jesus, indicating he is the man whom the Roman soldiers must arrest. In the bottom right corner of this scene, you’ll see the snarling face of a snake. The snake represents the devil as this reptile is regarded as one of the lowest terrestrial animals, closest to the devil’s lair. Besides the two men is a set of numbers on a grid called the ‘magic square.’ The magic square features a collection of numbers which, when added either along one row, one column or diagonally across, always add up the same number. In this case, the number is 33. 33 is the age at which it is thought that Jesus Christ died; it also contains the number 3 twice, which is the symbol of the holy trinity.

The Flagellation Column

On the main level, in the centre, we have the Flagellation Column. Bringing this scene almost at eye level with the visitors is a critical choice and, once more, brings humanity back to this otherwise godlike man. Everywhere else where Jesus is depicted, he is within a group, but here he is totally alone. An interesting detail is the three steps which lead up to the column, symbolizing the three days between Jesus’ crucifixion and the resurrection. Subirach used travertine marble to carve the column, the same stone used in all the buildings in ancient Rome.

The Bronze Doors

Three broad sets of bronze doors are set behind and on either side of the Flagellation Column. On the right, we have the Gethsemane door; in the centre is the Gospel door and on the left is the Coronation of Thorns. The main entrance used today into the church is through the Gospel door. This door contains thousands of raised letters with passages from various texts relating to the last days of Jesus’ life.

The Gethsemane door looks almost like a sketchbook. It combines text and images relating to the prayers Jesus’ made in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading for God to change his mind and save his mortal life. The Coronation of Thorn’s door has two main scenes. One of the scenes depicts the soldiers presenting Jesus to Herod and Pontius Pilate and being crowned with thorns. The top scene is of the humiliation of the soldiers who tortured Jesus on the way to the cross.

The Denial of Peter & Ecce Homo and the Trial of Jesus

This sculpture depicts the three times Peter denied he knew Jesus, represented by three women. He wears a large sheet, a symbol of cowardice. In the next scene, we see Pilate presenting Jesus to the people. In the final scene, we see Pilate washing his hands as he announces to the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see you to it.”

The Three Mary’s and Simon Cyrene

In the next vignette, we see the three Marys; The Virgin Mary, Mary Magdelene and Mary of Cleophas. On the ground is the fallen form of Jesus, and the man carrying the cross is actually Simon Cyrene, who helped Jesus take the cross to the sight of the crucifixion. It is thought that this man showed sympathy for Jesus as he walked, so the soldiers forced Cyrene to carry the cross, another example of the soldier’s cruelty. Now, Simon Cyrene is considered the patron saint of passersby.

Veronica and the Evangelist

Over the Gospel door, we find the scene where Jesus falls again. A woman named Veronica bends down to brush the blood off his face with a cloth, and when she removes it, the face of the Messiah is imprinted on it. The carving of Jesus’ face on the cloth is masterfully done, and no matter where the viewers go, Jesus’ eyes seem to follow. To the left of the group, you’ll see the legionnaires whose armour was made in the shape of Gaudi’s famous chimneys from Casa Milá, a little reference to Gaudi’s history.

Saint Longinus

The figure to the right of Veronica is a Roman soldier on horseback. This is Saint Longinus, who was a Roman general that stuck a spear into Jesus. Legend has it that Longinus was half blind, but when he speared Jesus, a drop of blood spurted into his eyes, and they were healed. Upon this miraculous healing, Longinus repented of his sins and converted to Christianity.

Soldiers Player Dice

We have a small group of Roman soldiers to the left of the crucifixion scene. They can be seen playing a dice game. The victor of this game would win Jesus Christ’s clothing and possessions. A heartless moment but another depiction of the cruelty of man.

The Crucifixion

The top of the facade is dominated by the form of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. He is tied to a cross composed of two iron beams. The iron beam meets to form the shape of an “I.” This is thought to recall “INRI,” which in Latin stands for ‘Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum’ meaning ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, something which they nailed over Jesus on the cross as he lay dying. At his feet is the sobbing form of Mary Magdalene, while the Virgin Mary stands to the side, her face in her hands, consoled by St. John. At the base of the cross, we can make out a skull symbolizing Jesus’ final death. In the upper right corner, we can make out a full moon, as it is said that the night he died, there was a full moon.

The Burial

To the right of the Crucifixion scene, we have the burial of Christ. In this sculpture, we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus preparing and wrapping Jesus’ body to make it ready for the tomb. The image of Nicodemus is actually a self-portrait of the sculptor Subirachs. In the background is the Virgin Mary with an egg on her head, symbolizing the resurrection.

The Passion Vaults

Under the vaults of the Passion’s portico, when you look up, you’ll see a torn cloth hanging in front of a brightly coloured mosaic. The enormous torn fabric acts almost as a type of baldachin hanging beneath the cross. In the Temple of Jerusalem, there was always a large cloth that separated the holier areas of the temple from the ordinary people. At the very moment of Jesus’ death, it was said that this cloth split in two, bringing together common people and God as one. The glasswork is Venetian and contains texts and imagery relating to the resurrection. Unlike the rest of the facade, which is bleak and monotonous, this hidden bright spot is representative of the hope that Jesus’ resurrection gave the people, always present but hiding in the darkness.

The Glory Facade

The Glory facade is the one part of the church which has not begun construction. This side faces the midday sun when the sun is the brightest and therefore exemplifies the idea of Glory and Hope. The design of the Glory facade is made up of a series of large lanterns and a grouping of fluffy white clouds. The three types of clouds represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each inscribed with words of prayer. By entering this doorway, worshippers will have a sense of movement through the earthly plain into the divine heavens.

The Schoolhouse

Outside the Passion, the facade is a small building, a recreation of the 1909 original, which once served as the children’s schoolhouse. During the Basilica’s construction, there were so many workers that they needed a dedicated school to cater to their children. Gaudi made it his mission to educate these kids and create a beautiful place for them to do it. You can enter the old schoolhouse, study the Catalan vaulting technique he employed here, and study the classroom’s various details. You can even see some of the things the children studied during their time here.

The Gaudi Museum

Located in the basement of the cathedral is the Antoni Gaudi Workshop and Museum. Although many of the original documents and plans were destroyed when a bomb went off during the Civil War, this newly created space is where the city has taken it upon itself to conserve, restore and put on display pieces of the history of the construction of this church. You can find drawings, period photographs, ceremonial furniture and several scale model copies of the originals. There is also a model of the original workshop where Gaudi would spend all this time.

If you’ve made it all the way through, I commend you and know that I appreciate the time you took to understand the immense amount of history, art and cultural values instilled in this incredible temple. I genuinely wish I could spend every day here, and I hope your time visiting this space is just as magical as mine was.

Have you been here before? What was your favourite thing to see? If you’re on your way, let me know what you’re looking forward to the most.

Happy Travel Adventurers

The post The Ultimate Insider’s Self-Guided Tour of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

History of Street Art in Barcelona

Graffiti in Barcelona will always be part of the city. The city became a center of fashion, design, art and creativity after the Olympics in 1992. The new art expression became popular in Barcelona. As a consequence, many Graffiti artists visited the city just to paint a part of the city.

Jordi and Miguel changed the urban art industry in 1994 when they created Montana Colors, the first store to sell spray cans. Barcelona and New York were the most popular cities for urban art until restrictions came along. New York carried out a project in 1990 that erased all Graffiti from the city and Barcelona, was next.

Restrictions for Urban Art in Barcelona 

When Barcelona became a touristic destination, people related Graffiti with vandalism and therefore, the “clean up” project was implemented. Barcelona’s Government banned Graffiti in 2006 and fines were charged up to 3,000€. Some artists started painting in private indoor spaces or decided to open art galleries. Others just left town due to these regulations. As a result, the old good days were over for Graffiti lovers in Barcelona. But that didn’t stop some of them from doing what they loved.

Graffiti in Barcelona Today

Even with the current Graffiti restrictions in Barcelona, you can still find amazing street art around the city. Artists continue to stand up and fight to express themselves through art as it’s only allowed in some authorized public spaces. You’ll certainly find Graffiti masterpieces in the following neighborhoods: el Raval, Gràcia, Poble Nou and Gothic Quarter.

Graffiti Tours

Graffiti Tours in Barcelona are now more popular within locals and tourists. The main objective is to promote urban art and provide their knowledge on this trendy topic. The good thing about Graffiti paintings is that you’ll always have something new to look at as it’s constantly changing!

Who is Barcelona Explorers?

Barcelona Explorers is the ultimate guide to the city with a local touch that everyone should know about! This up-to-date Barcelona Blog has travel tips, curiosities, attractions, off-the-beaten-paths, events, traditions and many more for you to explore.

Are you ready to explore?

The post The Best Outdoor Art Galleries in Spain, Discover the Incredible Street Art and Graffiti of Barcelona first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Mistakes NOT to Make in Barcelona

1. #1 Don't Dine along La Rambla
2. #2 Don't Forget to make Bookings in Advance
3. #3 Don't Pay to See the Monument Zone inside Park Güell
4. #4 Don't Forget to Be Aware of Pickpockets
5. #5 Don't ONLY Drink Sangria
6. #6 Don't Visit Girona on a Bus Tour
7. #7 Don't Spend a Beach Day on La Barceloneta
8. #8 Don't take a Hop-on, Hop-off Bus
9. #9 Don't Stick to Visiting only Gaudí Designs
10. #10 Don't Stop for the Street Artists along La Rambla

#1 Don’t Dine along La Rambla

La Rambla is one of the busiest streets in Barcelona and is notorious for being full of tourist traps. Mainly regarding restaurants. So many establishments along this wealthy avenue charge insanely high prices. And you are getting less than mediocre food, most of which aren’t even cooked authentically. Their paellas are reheated and the “fresh” fish is often from frozen. Skip eating at any place with an English menu out front or even worse…a talking head inside a paella.

Instead, Head down to La Boqueria Market

La Boqueria Market is an excellent alternative to the restaurants on La Rambla. Wander the market and explore the different small kiosks. Pick and choose the perfect mixture of snacks and ingredients for a little picnic. Prices are reasonable, and the food is as fresh as can be! You can take your goodies over to the scenic Plaça Reial, just six minutes down the road. This gorgeous square is the best place to sit and enjoy your food with a view.

#2 Don’t Forget to make Bookings in Advance

Barcelona, especially during the busy season, is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. And for a good reason! There are so many amazing architectural buildings to visit, great food to eat and incredible culture to experience. But you’ll want to book the reservations in advance to see some of these places or eat at a famed restaurant. Places like the Sagrada Família have really long lineups. Sometimes, it takes over an hour to get inside. Other tours, like the Palau de Musica, sometimes get totally booked up. Without booking far in advance, you might miss your chance to see these places at all.

Instead, Plan Out your Must-Sees

I would advise booking your reservations as soon as you book your flights. But be sure not to overschedule your vacation. Secure those all-important must-see attractions, but leave the rest of your day open around that one booking. That way, you will see what you’ve dreamed of but can still come across new discoveries you didn’t plan on.

#3 Don’t Pay to See the Monument Zone inside Park Güell

Now, before you get up in arms, don’t worry! I’m not telling you to skip one of the most amazing parts of Barcelona! Park Güell was created by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. The park is one of the most imaginative and symbolic works of art of the Catalan’ modernism‘ movement. Tickets to enter the monument zone, which contains the most stunning pieces of Gaudi’s architecture, cost 10 euros. And while that’s not a lot, the lineup to get inside can be staggering long! Even with a timed ticket to enter, you’ll need to arrive much earlier to wait in line during busy times of the year. So, if you’re pressed for time and money, you can skip the paid entry to the monument zone.

Instead, Visit the Forested Area for FREE

Park Güell is divided into two zones; the Monumental Zone (paid entry) and the Forest Zone. The forest area is adjacent to the monumental zone and occupies 8 more hectares. This area actually accounts for 90% of the park’s woodland. Although you might not be able to see Gaudi’s ceramic creations, there are plenty of FREE opportunities to see Gaudi’s architecture around the city. 

Instead, spend the morning wandering around exploring the masterful landscaping, gorgeous walking trails and lush gardens. You’ll be able to find vibrant exotic flora, local fauna and some unimaginable views. If you get here as the sun rises, you’re in for a real treat! Since Park Guell is located high up and north of the city, youy get the most beautiful picturesque view across Barcelon from this vantage pointa.

#4 Don’t Forget to Be Aware of Pickpockets

Barcelona has a huge petty crime problem. Pickpocketing is very common. There are so many stories of people putting their bags down for a second, and when they look back, it’s gone. Since pickpocketing is usually “theft under a thousand,” often the criminals will only have to pay a small fine. And that’s if they even get caught at all. But this shouldn’t prevent you from having a great time in this city.

Instead, Keep your wits about you and keep everything Secure

Being aware is the key! If you prepare for it accordingly, you can go smoothly about your travels without worry. I had a tiny little lock on my knapsack I used to secure the closure. This way, I knew even when I didn’t pay too much attention to who was behind me, there was no way of slipping a hand inside. This meant I didn’t even worry about the subways or busy streets. Most pickpockets are just looking for a quick and easy theft. They don’t want to go to the trouble of tearing your bag off you. So, keeping things locked up is the best way to keep yourself safe. Knapsacks can also be worn in front to keep an eye on them.

Make sure your passports are locked up in your hotels. While I don’t love the look of a money belt, I do often use those money necklaces to keep small bills and loose change close at hand. But out of the public eye.

#5 Don’t ONLY Drink Sangria

While I would never say you should avoid Sangri altogether, there are way better things to drink here. Some Catalans might turn their nose up at the thought of drinking Sangria in Barcelona. This is because it’s not traditionally a Catalan beverage. But for those travellers who might not be visiting any other part of Spain, this might be their only chance to sample real Sangria. So drink it if you must. But know that it will usually be subpar wine and soda, and there are much better local drinks to try.

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Instead, Try out the Catalan specialty, Cava!

Cava is Catalonian sparkling wine. It’s sweet, tart and refreshing! There are so many different regions of the Catalonian cava to explore, each with its own distinct flavour profile. Ask your server for their recommendations I loved seeing the response this gets since locals are very passionate about their Cava and adore seeing tourists asking for something other than Sangria.

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#6 Don’t Visit Girona on a Bus Tour

Girona is one of the most magical historical towns to see and the best day trips from Barcelona. Girona is best known for its medieval architecture, walled Old Quarter and the Roman fortress. Many people will visit Girona on a bus tour, which usually also stops at a few other places along the way. This means you’ll be rushed through the city and won’t have the time to explore at your own pace and focus on the things that matter to you.

Instead, Go by Public Transit

Many people don’t know just how easy it is to visit Girona by public transport. The AVE high-speed trains run from Barcelona to Girona in under 40 minutes and for less than 10 euros! Trains run multiple times throughout the day, making it easy for you to escape the city and head out into the medieval countryside in under an hour. This way, you can stop into shops, wander the alleys, explore the tiny yet sentimental museums, sit by the riverside and just relax.

#7 Don’t Spend a Beach Day on La Barceloneta

La Barceloneta is Barcelona’s most famous sandy beach. And while its close proximity might make a beach day a tempting proposal for many travellers, the reality of this spot is less than appealing. La Barceloneta is full of tourists, teaming with pickpockets, tourist traps and overpriced food and beverage. Overall, it’s a waste of time to make your way down here and then have a stressful time while trying to relax.

Instead, Head to Costa Brava

Catalonia itself has some fantastic beaches just a few hours away from Barcelona. If you take the train to the beach village of Costa Brava, you’ll have the chance to visit this quaint seaside village but also dive into one of the most stunning beaches with beautiful vistas in all of Catalonia. There are some incredible small bays to explore and discover, and the crystal blue waters are some of the most impressive anywhere around the world. Costa Brava can be reached by train in under two and a half hours, or if you can have a car, you’re in for a fantastic journey on the road to the beach with so many different places on the way to stop and enjoy the scenery.

If you’re not looking to travel that far away, consider heading to the Playa de Bogatell. Playa de Bogatell, also known as Bogatell Beach, is one of Barcelona’s popular urban beaches, situated in the city’s Poblenou neighbourhood near the Port Olímpic area. The water is crystal clear, and the fact that it isn’t right in the center of the tourist quarter means you’ll find prices at the beach bars aren’t quite as high as in the Barceloneta.

#8 Don’t take a Hop-on, Hop-off Bus

Although a bus tour may be a good way to get an overview of the city, there is a lot you miss out on. Your guide is a pair of headphones that can’t answer questions or point out any of the good bars or restaurants you should visit. Nor can the bus take you through the back streets of the city, where you find Barcelona’s hidden gems and real history. On the bus, you see, rather than feel the city, you become acquainted with it, rather than friends.

Instead, Take A Buena Vista Bike Tour

On a Buena Vista Bike Tour, the guide is a local who knows the city backwards and can not only tell you all about Barcelona and its history but can answer all the oddball questions you may have, like what time people go to bed in Barcelona? It’s like having a friend show you around the city. The Buena Vista Tours are all made up of small groups, so it’s a friendly, laid-back experience where everybody gets to know each other – some tours even include a picnic on the beach. What’s more, this is pedal power – no emissions. Buena Vista also specializes in private tours, so if you are a small group or a family, they can customize a tour to suit you.

#9 Don’t Stick to Visiting only Gaudí Designs

While I will admit that Gaudí’s influence over the design and atmosphere of the city is undebatable, he was not the ONLY architect who helped shape the artistic and creative nature of Barcelona. In creating the ‘Modernisme,’ Gaudi, along with several other influential artists, worked together to create this unique cultural movement which makes Barcelona the artistic landmark city it is today.

Instead, Learn about other Modernisme Artists

Domènech I Montaner is another artist who really helped shape the direction of modernism, and his work best works to check out in Barcelona are the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Palau de la Música Catalana. Casa Amatller, located right beside Gaudi’s Casa Batllo, is often mistaken for being by Gaudi, but it was designed by Puig I Cadafalch, another influential architect. 

If you’re interested in learning more about Modernism’s art, design, and architecture, I can’t recommend the Museu del Modernisme Català more! Here, you can peruse some incredible pieces from the Modernisme era, and although it’s a smaller collection, it feels like it perfectly sums up what Modernism is all about, and you really get a great sense of what they were trying to achieve in Catalonia through this artistic endeavour.

#10 Don’t Stop for the Street Artists along La Rambla

Although La Rambla is one of the most famous streets in the world, and there are some gems to be found along the way, there is also a lot of cheesy, touristy tat that comes along with popularity. One of which is the street performers who cruise this strip. No matter the time of day, it seems as if this classical street is littered from end to end with Spidermen slinging fake webs for crowds or shoddily painted gold “mannequins” trying to attract attention.

Some tourists take a picture with them just for fun, and they are often forced quite aggressively into paying for the “privilege.” Most of the time, I think these are easily avoided by not engaging at all, but it’s frustrating to see them take up so much attention away from the beautiful architecture around them.

Instead, Go on a Street Art Tour

Instead of paying attention to these tacky “street artists,” pay attention to the street ART! Barcelona has always been a haven for creatives, which is still true today. The Bohemians have taken to the streets in Barcelona, and there is so much incredible art to be found on doorways and in alleys, hidden just steps away from huge tourist attractions.

One of the best ways to see these works of art and get the story behind them is on a guided tour from a company like Barcelona Street Style. It’s one of the most unique tour options in the city, and the people guiding the tour are so passionate about the art that it makes a difference in how you approach the designs.

Hopefully, with these tips, your travels around Barcelona will go off without a hitch!

Happy Travel Adventurer!

The post 10 Tourist Mistakes NOT To Make in Barcelona first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. Catalan 'Modernism'
2. Access
3. Concert Tickets or Guided Tour
4. The Facade
5. Palau Square
6. Lluís Millet Grand Staircase
7. Lluís Millet Hall
8. Lluís Millet Balcony
9. Concert Hall
10. Stained-Glass Ceiling
11. The Stage Muses
12. The Doric Column Scenes
13. The Pegasus’
14. Route of the Flowers
15. The Grand Organ

Catalan ‘Modernism‘

Catalan’ modernism‘ was a movement in art and literature that began at the turn of the 20th century. It was a movement that focused on Catalonia separating itself from the rest of Spain. This separation began with art and literature. Although Catalonia is part of the Spanish nation, they have customs and languages that are entirely unique to Spain. Modernism rejected bourgeois values and adopted a bohemian attitude. Many people named the Café Castell dels tres Dragons by Lluís Domènech i Montaner as the first piece design in the modernism style. In other parts of Europe, Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement were also on the rise, which shares similar characteristics with modernism.

They all have historically-derived elements, and all passionately use organic themes, lavish decorations, and a strong sense of asymmetry and unbalance. Their shapes are freer, less restrained and the idea of exploration and imagination are of the utmost importance. This was like Catalan’s Renaissance, which they coined the ‘Renaixença‘ or ‘rebirth.’

Access

To make your way to Palau, take the Metro on the Yellow Line (L4) to Urquinaona station. It’s located near the Gothic Quarter, so it is easily combined with the Gothic Quarter Walking Tour. Unlike many of Gaudi’s designs, Palau is tucked away and not on display. You need to discover it yourself by making your way down these narrow alleyways, away from the main streets.

Concert Tickets or Guided Tour

There are two ways to visit the Palau de la Musica. One of the best ways to see the concert hall as it was meant to be enjoyed is to attend a show or production. Every year the building hosts half a million audience members who’ll come to see over 300 different performances. Seeing a concert here is a unique and powerful experience. But understandably, the cost might be prohibitive for some travellers, or you just might not be interested in any of the types of performances. The other way to see the concert hall is by booking a guided tour. 

Guided Tours

This guided tour will give you the chance to learn all about the architecture, the artists and the history of the building. The guided tour also gives you access to some parts of the buildings which aren’t accessible during the regular performances. It is advisable to buy tickets for these guided tours in advance since often, during peak tourist months, they are difficult to come by. You want to ensure you can book a tour in your preferred language.

A regular guided tour ticket costs €20. A ticket that includes a piano recital costs €25 (if you have the option, this is the one I’d recommend). If you want to save some money, you can purchase a ‘Self Guided Tour Ticket‘ for €15, a new option as of 2019. If you choose this option, you can use this blog as your little helper to understand all the different aspects of this incredible work of art. The guided or self-guided tour option lasts just under an hour.

The Facade

The Palau de la Música is located along a narrow street in the Gothic Quarter. The location of the building is almost claustrophobic, so tightly packed in between the others on the street. But the ingenious designs which Montaner came up with seem to battle this claustrophobic feeling with colour and fun. The exposed red brick exterior is opened up with dozens of arches and columns. Set along the facade, an element inspired by Arabic architecture. The columns are decored in intricate mosaics, which draw your eye up to the roofline. Stained glass windows are used to bring in the natural light from all corners of the building. Ensuring that all throughout the day, there always natural light flowing inside. All of this gives the building a breathy and light quality.

Lluís Bru

On the south side of the building, at the top of the facade, is an opulent mosaic made by artist Lluís Bru. It represents the members of the Orfeó Català dressed in a symbolic scene. The piece is hard to see from the street, and for some reason, that makes it all the more special. It feels like something which was meant more for the creator than for the viewer. And discovering it is like finding a secret just aching to be found out.

La cançó popular Catalana

On the southeast corner of the Palau de la Música, you’ll find an awe-inspiring sculpture that seems to soar off the side of the building. This creation was made by sculptor Miquel Blay, named ‘La cançó popular Catalana’ (the favourite Catalan song). The sculpture takes on a similar shape as the carved figureheads on the bow of a ship. A beautiful woman is the central figure of the sculpture which the other characters surround. The woman, who represents songs, is accompanied by men and women representing Catalan music and art. Atop all the figures is Saint George, the Patron Saint of Catalonia, to protect them all. Symbols of Saint George can be found throughout the building, like hidden Easter eggs around every corner.

Musician Busts

Above various columns on the side of the building are busts of prominent figures from the history of music. You can see the heads of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner all peaking out across the facade.

Taking your eyes from up high, back down to street level, try to see if you can spot the old ticket box. It stands along with one of the pillars near the entrance. The old ticket box is surrounded by lovely floral mosaics blooming all around.

Palau Square

The new entrance to the Palau de la Música is through Palau Square. This square is an outdoor space that faces the new glass-walled exterior. The glass wall, which makes the entirety of the interior visible to the public on the other side, was made by architect Òscar Tusquets. The original architect’s vision for this building was glass and light. And it seems fitting that Tusquets’s renovations continued this theme. These days, the square offers locals a place to relax on the staggered steps and where Palau’s cafe and bar spill out on sunny days. In the summer, some grandstands are brought out to accommodate musical performances and festivals. This makes the Palau feel like more than just a place to see the ticketed event. But as a place for the community to meet.

Cafe Foyer

Upon entering the building, you’ll step right into the Cafe Foyer. If you’re on a super-tight budget and can’t afford to attend a performance or guided tour, you can visit the foyer for free. Inside the Cafe Foyer, you’ll be able to see a surprising amount of imaginative architecture. And stunning ornamentation, which continues throughout the rest of the space. The foyer feels so warm and inviting. The wide arches are complete with beautiful red bricks and emerald-green tiles. They curve towards the rose-decorated ceiling.

At the cafe, you can enjoy Basque-style tapas and Catalan drinks at reasonable prices. Take a seat inside and soak in the ambience if you don’t have a chance to tour the rest of the interior. The bar itself is a work of art. Brilliant stain glass panels in the shape of blooming flowers are suspended between the large brick column with their own budding roses.

Interior Stained Glass

Take a walk around the foyer. Darling geometric pieces of stained glasses surround ornate columns and powerfully carved archways. Each one with a strong focus on the natural environment. Modernism was all about bringing the outside into the interior, making you feel as though you are always surrounded by mother nature.

Lluís Millet Grand Staircase

To being your guide, you’ll be ushed into the Lluís Millet Grand Staircase. If you’re here during a concert, don’t rush up to your seats and instead take a moment to study this entryway. As you walk up the stairs, look up the dazzling ceramic glazed ceiling. The tiles are so shiny they appear to shine like the stars.

The staircase is made of exquisitely carved marble, which also shimmers in the light of day. Huge street lamps are affixed on either side of the stairs. On the ceiling above the stairs, you can study the pale blue painted roof, which is adorned with golden ceramic roses, shaped into the pattern of a giant star.

Lluís Millet Hall

At the top of the stairs, you’ll enter the Lluís Millet Hall. You might be wondering, who is this Lluís Millet that all these rooms are being named after. Lluís Millet was a famous Catalan composer who helped found the Orfeó Català. This hallway is also called the intermission hall since guests will retire during breaks in the performances. The most impressive part of this room is the huge spread of stained glass windows that face ours onto the balcony.

The flowers that bloom at the bottom of the panels open up into clear glass panes to see the incredible musicians’ columns along with the balcony and allow for more light to pour into this room. Throughout the room, there are also various bronze busts of important contributors to Palau. While you might not recognize their names, it’s so lovely to see their faces still looking out at the incredible work of art they helped contribute to.

Lluís Millet Balcony

Standing out on the Lluís Millet Balcony is one of the best parts of the tour. The balcony feels like stepping out into a rainbow garden. The colonnades here are each covered entirely with multicoloured glazed tiles in a variety of floral designs. At the top of the columns are some incredible blooming flowers exploding out of the carved granite. Getting up close and personal to the mosaics, you can really appreciate the artistry the craftsmen put into the colouring of these tiles. They are so vibrant despite their location outdoors for over a hundred years.

Concert Hall

The concert hall is the piece-de-resistance of the entire Palau de la Música Catalana. As soon as you walk in, your eye will be drawn in a thousand different directions. While the dazzling stained glass skylight might be the brightest thing in the entire room, try to take in the whole room as one piece at first. You’ll notice that the entire place looks like it was hewn out of a rocky mountain and not built in the centre of a city from afar. The organic impression of the room helps continue to impress the viewer. With the theme of naturalism which is so important to Catalan Modernism.

While the hall might feel entirely natural and almost like it was created at random, many aspects of the theatre were actually thoughtfully designed to ensure the music sounded as pure and full as possible inside the concert hall. The concert hall features about 2,200 seats, spread out over 3 floors. But despite the large size, the room still manages to feel warm and cozy due to all the natural light which flows in from all sides.

Vaults

This is the only auditorium in Europe to be illuminated entirely in natural light during the daytime! Artificial light, while necessary during the evening, does affect how the room feels. On either side, the walls of the concert hall consist entirely of stained glass panels set beneath fantastic arches. The vaults between the arches and pillars are covered in stunning tile work. In the centre of each vault are many laurel wreaths with the names of famous musicians set inside, essentially crowning them with this distinguished honour.

While natural lighting might have been Domènech I Montaner’s preferred means of illuminating space when creating artificial light, he took the job very seriously. The chandeliers are made of many different shaped bulbs in a variety of different colours. They look like stars or constellations spread out across the starry night.

Along with the right upper balcony, you can make out the flag of Saint George embedded on into the stained glass. Another one of those little details is worth noting.

Stained-Glass Ceiling

The centrepiece of this room is an incredible stained glass ceiling. It is completely breathtaking. Unlike some skylights, this one is an inverted dome, so it feels as though the ceiling is curling in towards the audience below. It was designed by Antoni Rigalt, whose mastery of stained glass is unmatched. The centre of the dome is a luminous geometric sun in a variety of warm hues. Surrounding the sun is a chorus of angels set against a tightly patterned sky.

Depending on the time or weather during your visit, the light which pours in through the skylight is changeable. Sometimes it appears more green, and sometimes it seems bluer. Much like the real sky, which is never merely one distinct colour, this shifting quality of these windows is almost magical.

The Stage Muses

18 depictions of women clad in gorgeous textiles are spread out across the stage wall. While their bodies are designed within the mosaic, their faces jut out from the wall into three-dimensional sculptures. Each of the women carries in their hand an instrument of folk music. These are traditional instruments such as harps and castanets. The women are also representatives of the nine Greek muses of the arts. The lower portion of the bodies made of mosaics was created by Lluís Bru, while the upper sculptural part was made by Eusebi Arnau. In the centre of the stage is a large mosaic featuring the coat of arms of Catalonia.

The Doric Column Scenes

Flanking either side of the stage and creeping up the three-storey-tall Doric columns are another set of astonishing sculptures. On the left side, we see a group of women clustered together; these women are in the middle of singing the famous Catalan song Les Flores de Maig (The Flowers of May). Above the women is a bust of Catalan composer Josep Anselm Clavé. Clavé was instrumental (pardon the pun) in reviving Catalan folk songs. Clavé is nestled under the shade of a large stone tree whose leaves seem eternally just about to fall to the ground. Looking up from this angle also gives you a view of the remarkable ceramic roses that are littered across the ceiling and floral mosaics, which are also found on the underside of the balconies. These little details are some of the things which make this building so incredible.

On the right side of the columns, we see the illustrious composer and musician’s stern face and unruly hair, Beethoven. Atop Beethoven himself are a fury of horses running along with the ceiling in a mighty stampede. They are charging so fast, in fact, that they have created this voluminous gust of wind around them. Riding atop these horses are a set of attractive Valkeries. The Valkyries are from Wagner’s opera ‘Die Walküre,’ one of the most influential and powerful operatic songs in music history.

The Pegasus’

In addition to the horses ridden by the Valkeries are the flying Pegasus’ who leap downwards towards the audience. These can be found on the upper balconies, and if you have seats up here, you can actually get quite close to these sculptures and study every detail of their surging forms.

Route of the Flowers

You may have noticed the repetition of roses throughout the tour, either in the textiles, stone, ceramics, or embedded in stained glass windows. The Palau de la Música Catalana has more than 2,000 roses spread across the building. The rose is the symbol of Saint George, who is the patron saint of Catalonia. As such, the symbol of the rose is of great importance to the nation and in this building which served as a symbol of national pride.

The Grand Organ

If you’re here on tour, you’ll be treated to a performance by a local musician who’ll come in to play the magnificent organ. This is your chance to hear just how intense the sound from this amazing instrument really is. The organ was built custom for space in 1906 by the prestigious German firm Walcker in Ludwigsburg. In 1973 parts of the organ were replaced as the instrument was electrified. But the organ shop ensured the sound remained as full as the previous version.

Getting to hear some Catalan songs being played through this magnificent instrument was definitely a moment I’ll never forget, and some of the songs brought a tear to my eye. It somehow made the entire place come alive, and for a moment, I thought I could see those Valkeries singing along as they flew across the ceiling.

This building is truly one of the most spectacular visions of Catalan Modernism, and if you have the chance to visit it in person, don’t hesitate to make the journey to find this breathtaking vision of mother nature come to life through tiles stone and glass.

Happy Travel Adventurers

The post The Ultimate Guide to Palau de la Música Catalana, the Most Beautiful Concert Hall in the World first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

Table Of Contents

1. BREAKFAST
   • Xuixo
2. Coffee
3. Hot Chocolate and Melindros
4. Spanish Omelet
5. LUNCH
   • Paella
   • Bombas
   • Calçots
6. TAPAS
   • Caracols a la llauna
   • Navajas
   • Patatas Bravas
   • Pimientos de Padrón
   • Jamón Ibérico
   • Manchego Cheese
   • Escalivada
   • Pan con Tomate
   • Chipirones
7. PINCHOS
8. Dessert
   • Churros
   • Crema Catalana
9. Drinks
   • Cava
   • *A Word About Sangria
   • Happy Travels Adventurers!

BREAKFAST

Xuixo

Many travellers visiting Barcelona, especially those from North America, will head out early in the morning expecting some gourmet breakfast options and might be surprised that many restaurants don’t open any earlier than 10am. Going out for breakfast just isn’t popular in Catalonia. Breakfast time is most often held in the home, so if you get a chance to visit a bakery and bring something back to your accommodation, this is the best way to spend a morning in Barcelona.

Xuixo’s is one of the best options to sample, as the sweet pastry comes from the city of Girona, just a few hours away from Barcelona. These are very similar to doughnuts; they are deep-fried pastries coated with sugar and thick custard. You can find these in almost any bakery around the city, so feel free to try out that shop down the street to give back to your community.

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Coffee

Coffee culture in Barcelona has seen a big boom in the last few years. However, coffee shops follow the same trend as those breakfast joints and still don’t open too early in the morning. Instead, most locals get their morning coffee from small bakeries or corner stores. Usually, they drink an uncomplicated espresso shot while standing, chatting about the morning news to the owners and other morning patrons. If you’re looking for something other than espresso, order a “cortado.” This is a trendy option in Catalonia and is made with a shot of espresso with a splash of steamed milk. Cortado means “cut” because adding milk to the espresso essentially “cuts” the bitterness of the coffee.

Hot Chocolate and Melindros

On the weekends, you’ll see families out for a special treat; a cup of hot chocolate served alongside ‘melindros‘ (Catalan sponge fingers). The hot chocolate is nothing like the powdered version you get in North America; this hot chocolate is thick, almost like a cream. After sipping a bit of the hot cocoa, you dip the cookies into the drink, coating the cookies in the thick chocolate. Best served with a giant helping of whipped cream on top!

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Spanish Omelet

Around 11 am, you’ll hear the clatter of cafes opening their doors, and people start to head inside for a hearty breakfast since lunchtime won’t arrive till 2 or 3 pm. The best thing to try in Barcelona is a Spanish Omelet, a ‘tortilla.’ But don’t come in expecting that same watery, eggy mess you might get a diner back home; a true Spanish Omelet is made with huge chunks of potatoes and onions. These two ingredients are simmered in fatty olive oil and, once fully cooked, covered in eggs to bind the entire dish together. It’s served in triangular slices, and despite the recipe’s simplicity, the dish is extraordinary. The caramelized onions add that incredible umami flavour that is unbeatable.

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LUNCH

Lunch is considered the main meal of the day in Barcelona. Unlike elsewhere, lunch is held anytime after 1 pm, but people usually start eating around 2:30 pm. Lunch tends to be a three-course affair with a starter, entree and dessert. You can see why they need a siesta after such a big meal!

Paella

One of the most popular menu items to choose from in Barcelona is paella. Paella is much too heavy for dinner, and locals like to go out with their co-workers to share this traditional family-sized meal. Paella is a bit contentious in Barcelona since it’s originally a Spanish invention. But the Catalans have, of course, added their own local spin on it. To spot an authentically Catalan paella, be sure you’re not eating it in Las Ramblas or any place that has pictures in English outside on the street. This is a clear sign of a cheap tourist trap where you’ll never receive the kind of paella locals would ever eat.

Catalan paella is generally made with many of the same ingredients as Spanish Paella. But in Barcelona, the difference is in the method of cooking. In Catalan paellas, the rice is added first, and the other ingredients are added to cook atop the rice. The rice isn’t stirred at all once the other elements are added to the seafood flavours of the rice as it boils. Paella takes a long time to cook, so don’t expect it to be ready in under an hour. If you see a place offering it up fast, don’t expect good quality.

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Bombas

If you’re still adjusting to the Catalan way of eating and need a quick yet authentic snack, you must try a bomba! Bombas are not only a delicious snack, but they are also reflective of a big part of Barcelona’s history. During the Spanish Civil War, revolutionaries roamed the street throwing homemade grenades against the fascists. A chef in the town created this recipe in honour of those fighters and named it “la bomba” (the bomb). A bomba is similar to a croquette made from ground meats and potatoes, rolled into a ball, covered in breadcrumbs, and fried. Bombas are usually served alongside some sauce which often varies from place to place.

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Calçots

If you can visit Barcelona in the winter, don’t miss out on this excellent side dish. Calçots are a Spanish vegetable cross between a leek and a green onion. They are only available during the winter months. They are cooked over an open flame to give them that iconic charred flavour. Served alongside a thick sauce called romesco made from roasted tomatoes, nuts and garlic, the taste is something unlike anything I’ve had before but oddly addictive.

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TAPAS

Tapas was first invented in the country’s north by the King of Spain. The King suffered from a severe illness restricting him from eating large meals. To help him cope with the disease, his chefs prepared multiple small meals throughout the day for him to enjoy. The King would use these small dishes to cover his glasses of wine as he ate them to keep the flies out of the wine, and that’s where the name came from. The word “tapas” is derived from the Spanish verb ‘tapar’ which means “to cover.” Tapas dishes are served inside small bowls, and these tiny portions allow you to try all different flavour combinations.

Caracols a la llauna

Catalans seem to have a festival for everything; they like to party. And every party revolves around food. In late May, the festival of L’Aplec del Caragol (snail meat) is celebrated in a small town in Spain where over twelve tonnes of snails are consumed! But you can sample these famed dishes pretty much any time of the year as a form of tapas.

The best way to eat them is ‘Caracoles a la llauna’, which are snails cooked in a roasted metal tray over a charcoal grill, seasoned with salt, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. They are then served with aioli or romesco sauce to dip the meat of the snails into. I find cooking them this way, compared to preparing them covered in sauce, to begin with, allows the flavour of the snails to come through more. Which I suppose is good or bad depending on how brave you want to be!

Navajas

‘Navajas,’ or razor clams, are deep-sea creatures caught off the shores of Spain. Their long, oblong shape makes for a unique eating experience. Before I came to Barcelona, I had never even heard of them! They are generally cooked in a butter and garlic sauce and served with a sprinkling of parsley. The meat tastes very similar to a regular clam, if not a bit chewier, so it might not be totally new in terms of taste. But the visual experience is worth the effort of seeking them out.

Patatas Bravas

If you find yourself a bit hungry between lunch and the very late dinner, which Barcelona is famous for, stop in to sample one of their best snacks, the Patatas Bravas. Patatas Bravas is a favourite tapas dish made from thick-cut potatoes, fried and served with a salsa made from tomatoes and cayenne and topped with Catalan aioli. These are best eaten outside with a cold glass of beer.

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Pimientos de Padrón

Found in the Spanish municipality of Padrón, these tiny green peppers are some of the most addictive tapas items on the bar. Cooked in nothing but olive oil and a dash of salt, these peppers are mouth-wateringly delicious. These taste like miniature versions of green pepper, but about one in ten is super hot! Eating them with friends becomes somewhat of a game of chance. I don’t find even the hottest ones bad, but I love spicy food. Just be sure you can have a glass of cava on hand if you land one of the hot ones.

Jamón Ibérico

Jamón Ibérico, or Iberian ham, is one of those dishes people come to Barcelona to sample. Even today, the memory of eating this ham for the first time makes my mouth water. Spain’s Iberian pigs are carefully bred to ensure their lineage never dips below 75% Ibérico. They are of the highest quality, and the farms which raise them are held to almost impossibly high standards to ensure the taste is of the most excellent, consistent quality.

One of the things which makes this ham taste so unique is that the pigs are fed a diet of olives, chestnuts and acorns to change the flavour of the meat. The fresh meat is heavily salted and left to dry for 2 weeks before it is rinsed and then left to dry for another four months, but it can be cured for as long as 48 months! I think the ham is best enjoyed all on its own since you get the deepest tasting of the flavours this way.

Manchego Cheese

In the Mancha region of Spain, you’ll find one of the best things to come out of the country: Manchego Cheese. I only recently discovered my love of Manchego. It’s a hard, aged cheese made from sheep’s milk with a salty and nutty taste. It’s just creamy enough to combat the salty taste, and I could honestly eat this by the wheel. You’ll find manchego cheese served atop many different recipes and sliced on its own for tapas.

Escalivada

A beautiful winter tapas is Escalivada, a dish of roasted eggplant, tomatoes and bell peppers covered in olive oil. The vegetables are baked until soft and then topped with salty anchovies and sardines. It’s then mixed together like a salad and served atop crusty bread.

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Pan con Tomate

One of the most popular tapas dishes in Barcelona is Pan con Tomate. ‘Pan’ is bread, so this dish simply translates into ‘Tomatoes on Bread.’ While the recipe might sound overly simplistic, it is the perfect way to start a meal. Unlike Italian bruschetta, pan con tomate is made by rubbing roasted tomatoes on top of thick, crusty bread and then drizzled with oil and salt. The roasting of the tomatoes before they go on the bread means they develop deeper flavours, making this item scrumptious.

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Chipirones

If you got a little squeamish around the snails, then you might wanna skip this one. One of the most popular seafood dishes from Barcelona is chipirones. Chipirones are baby squid best cooked by battering and deep frying them. They are about the size of a slice of lemon and served alongside just that. They are caught just off the coast and, as such, are one of the freshest seafood options for you to eat while in the city.

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PINCHOS

Pinchos is the Catalan version of Tapas originating in the Basque region of Spain. They are made of various ingredients and are always served on top of pieces of bread. Enough for one bit or sometimes, if they really piled on the ingredients, perhaps two. There are hundreds of different varieties of pinchos all over Barcelona, but below are some of my favourite combinations:

• Spicy chorizo with quail egg
• Giant prawns in butter and garlic
• Mushroom carpaccio
• Smoked salmon and ricotta
• Sardines and tomatoes

Dessert

Churros

One of the most famous dishes you no doubt have already heard of from Barcelona is Churros. Churros are long, thin fried pastries with a doughnut-like taste and texture. These are sometimes considered to be Mexican desserts. But the dish originated in Portugal (although the Portuguese explorers may have brought the dish back from China).

The Portuguese brought Churros to Spain, where they combined the recipe with their national treasure, chocolate. The place to get the best churros is in the Carrer Petrixol district, where Barcelona’s chocolatier’s guild was first located. Here you’ll find the tastiest chocolate sauce to dip your pastries inside. The churro dough is pretty interchangeable, but the chocolate sauce can make or break the dessert.

Crema Catalana

Crema Catalana is much like the more famous French dessert, crème brûlée. But in reality, Crema Catalana’s recipe pre-dates the French method but hundreds of years. Crema Catalana is made from milk and eggs mixed with cornstarch to thicken the mixture. Unlike crème brûlée, it is flavoured with lemon and cinnamon and topped with a thick layered of burnt sugar to give it that toffee-like topping.

Drinks

Cava

Before ordering a glass of Sangria in Barcelona, consider ordering the local drink of choice; cava. Cava is a sparkling white wine. France has Champagne, Italy has Prosecco, and in Spain you have cava. Cava is wonderfully refreshing and light and the perfect drink to enjoy on a late summer night. Sangria has a lot of sugar. Those prone to headaches from wine alone might find that cava is much more straightforward and doesn’t leave the hangover so often produced by red wine and too much sugar.

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*A Word About Sangria

Some writers would never dare utter the word sangria when writing about food and drink in Barcelona. It is commonly thought to be an overly “Spanish” beverage. The Catalans are passionate about being made separate from the rest of Spain. Take issue with sangria being served in Barcelona over their regional beverage, cava. Many restaurants will have sangria on the menu solely for tourists, and it’s made from cheap, unused red wine and subpar fruit. Instead of sugar, they’ll just add Sprite.

That being said, if you’re visiting Spain just once and you’ve really got your heart set on sampling sangria, some places in Barcelona serve fantastic jug of the stuff. Sangria is delicious, and as much as the Catalans might take issue with its popularity and the assumption it’s a Catalan specialty, they can’t escape the fact that it is indeed delicious. There are dozen wine bars across Barcelona serving up genuinely great sangria, so seek them out to get your fix. But just try the cava before you do. It’s truly wonderful.

Did I miss any of your favourite items from Barcelona on this list?! Tell me in the comments what your favourite thing to eat while visiting Barcelona is or what you’re most looking forward to trying!

Happy Travels Adventurers!

The post The BEST Foods you Must-Try in Barcelona first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.