Barcelona

Barcelona is a celebration of colour and the unconventional. Barcelona's most famous architect, Antonio Gaudí, has left his mark on the Catalan capital with his bizarre imagination and buildings which look like giant cakes draped in colourful icing. Modernism is Gaudí's creative interpretation of Art Nouveau which is most evident in Parc Guell and his biggest project, Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. This totally unique cathedral which consumed much of Gaudi's life was unfinished at the time of his death and even today it is yet to be completed. While Antonio Gaudí left an indelible mark on this great city, creating a booming industry in brightly coloured ceramic tiles and inspiring a host of other architects to visit Barcelona. However, he was not the city's only great architect, some of the city's other surrealist architects and designers of the period include Puig i Cadafalch and Domènech i Muntaner. Barcelona's other great attractions are far removed from the Modernist creations for which the city is famous for. The Barri Gótic is full of narrow streets where almost all the buildings date from the 13th to 16th centuries and the seaside areas which include Port Vell (the old port) and an entirely new beach front.

Barcelona has been experiencing a revival over the past ten years, with a host of ambitious projects continually transforming the city. Besides the regeneration of seaside areas around Port Vell, there are now over 100 new squares and lots of new public art. However with all this development, the city hasn't lost its soul, in fact Barcelona's atmosphere pulsates throughout the day and night and the Mediterranean lust for life is evident throughout the city, especially in the many squares and along Las Ramblas, which is everyone's favourite European street, running from the port to Plaça de Catalunya. This is a great place to hang out and breathe in the atmosphere. In fact Las Ramblas is more than just an avenue, it is the heart and soul of Barcelona, this mile long pedestrian zone encompasses the full spectrum of Barcelona's life; here you will find sidewalk cafes, buskers, artists, flower and bird vendors, plus the usual mix of locals and tourists.