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Two days of Musica
Palau de la Musica Catalana, the Liceu, and street performers
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Barcelona's sights and sounds can be planned or spontaneous. Find out what formal performances you can see at the Palau de la Musica Catalana or the Liceu opera house, or simply visit these venues to experience their grandeur. Stroll through the Ciutat Vella to find street performers who take over spaces which often have great acoustics filling the afternoons and evenings with fantastic entertainment.
 Day Note
The modernist building of the Palau de la Musica Catalana is impressive whether you listen to a concert or tour the interior. Scheduled visitor's tickets and tickets for performances are sold at the box office. Amble around the La Ribera and the Gothic quarters to find the many street performers during warm weather. They emerge in the afternoons and weekends all over, but especially near the Placa del Rei and surrounding the Cahtedral Seu.
In the 10th century, the Islamic population of Barcelona was banished from the city and sent outside the city walls, to where Carrer Argenteria now lies. With time, the population of this quarter became more diversified and it expanded notably. This is the area that became the Ribera quarter. The neighborhood was full of economic activity, and in it lived merchants, aristocrats, sailors and Jewish money-lenders. The most important commercial street was Montcada and the old boat factory was also here, before moving beside Las Ramblas.
Barcelona's oldest residential district is these days a cosmopolitan and hip spot that is worth exploring. A magnet for artistes and students, over the last few years, quite a few young designers have moved in and opened up trendy fashion outlets. Barri Gòtic is also the place for antiques, crafts and souvenirs. The Carrer de Banys Nous and the narrow streets around it are full of small, cave-like antique shops that hide all kinds of jewels. There are also some eye-catching stores selling ceramics, pottery and crafts from Latin America and Africa. Markets enthusiasts won't be disappointed either: Plaça Nova houses an antiques market on Thursdays, while Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol fills with stalls selling crafts on Thursdays and Fridays. Don't leave the area without sampling a delicious hot chocolate in one of the atmospheric "Chocolaterías".
This one—room museum is located in the old cathedral school next to the cathedral cloisters and displays an exhibition of sacred paintings and sculptures, liturgical ornaments and priestly habits. The most outstanding pieces are Bartolomé Bermejo's magnificent Piedad, Martín I of Aragón's silver seat of honor and two 15th century masterpieces: the royal crown and a belt made from precious stones.
Began in the first century as a chapel, the construction of the present Gothic temple was initiated in 1928. The crucifix of the Christ of Lepanto (16th century), the crypt of Santa Eulàlia—the patron saint of Barcelona, and the neighborhood Claustro (cloister) are all pieces of art. Mass is conducted in Spanish and Catalan.
This was once the Counts of Aragón's Barcelona residence. In the Roman period, it was the residence of the local governor, and later belonged to the Visigoth Ataulfo. Its Roman origins can be seen clearly in the façade. Now, after a series of renovations and expansions and a whole slew of Barcelonan counts, we're left with a Gothic building with one tower, called King Martin's Tower, which was used as a viewpoint and observatory.
This square "of the King" is located at the very end of Carrer Baixada de Santa Clara and boasts of an impressive collection of architectural marvels. It used to just be farmyards, but as time went on it became an important business area and eventually grew into the architecturally beautiful centre it is today. In this small space you will find Palau del Lloctinent (Lieutenant's Palace), the Main Royal Palace, the Chapel of Santa Àgata, and Casa Clariana-Padellàs (the city museum). Just next to the museum is the most recent addition to the square, a sculpture by Eduardo Chillida.
Recently renovated as a part of the city's historical heritage, Raco Del Pi sits in the Gothic Quarter among hip coffee shops, ancient cathedrals and a maze of winding cobblestone roads. Beautifully designed tile bathroom walls, wood floors, and comfortable furniture provide a clean, relaxing atmosphere. With the subway a few blocks away, and the airport just a twenty-minute ride, it is easy to maneuver around the city. Between the elegant restaurant, bar, and lounges, which are equipped with computers and telephones, all of the necessary services are provided.
Comerç 24
Cuisine: Italian, Spanish, American, Asian
This pride of the Born District is the business venture of Carles Abellan. A restaurant-cum-tapas bar, the venue also serves certain Asian, American and Italian specialties. There are three distinct seating areas, but the tall pillars, high ceiling, spotlights and yellow tone run through the whole interior. Besides delectable drinks, the bar with its individual table-space also features cold dishes prepared right in front of you. The dining section accommodates around 40 people and can be rented for private events. A visit here is a must; make sure to reserve a table in advance.
This restaurant is large with hard-to-define decor. It is an ideal place to recharge your batteries after wandering through the Old Town and visiting the cathedral. The restaurant attracts a lot of tourists due to its location. They serve market cuisine, with lots of light, well-prepared dishes including salads, vegetable cakes, fish, fricassee and delicious desserts, such as tiramisu, yogurt, and fruit and ice-cream combos.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, this concert hall welcomes an estimated 500,000 people a year to over 300 musical performances of various types: symphony, chamber, choral, instrumental, jazz and flamenco. It's also used for social functions and conferences. Leaders of the Orfeó Català choral society commissioned modernist architect Lluís Domenec i Muntaner to design the building in 1891. He gave free rein to his creative imagination, and the result is a masterpiece. The concert hall seats 1,970 people, it's perfectly proportioned and the acoustics are exceptionally good. The stunning interior decor changes continually according to the amount of light that streams through the huge skylight and the stained-glass windows.
Barri de La Ribera
Day Note
Street performers on Las Ramblas don't cost anything unless you want to drop a coin or two into their hat. Anytime of the day you'll see the endless variety of shows and creativity. Get lunch at La Boqueria where the restaurants serve literally market fresh goods. If you don't have tickets for an evening show, you can visit the Liceu Opera house in the morning. Watch your wallet all day today.
Recently renovated as a part of the city's historical heritage, Raco Del Pi sits in the Gothic Quarter among hip coffee shops, ancient cathedrals and a maze of winding cobblestone roads. Beautifully designed tile bathroom walls, wood floors, and comfortable furniture provide a clean, relaxing atmosphere. With the subway a few blocks away, and the airport just a twenty-minute ride, it is easy to maneuver around the city. Between the elegant restaurant, bar, and lounges, which are equipped with computers and telephones, all of the necessary services are provided.
Located in the old town close to the renovated Opera House, this restaurant offers good food and fine ambiance. The menu features traditional Catalan favorites and the dishes are changed seasonally. Try its unique version of Tortel De Hojaldre Con Cabello De Angel (puff pastry with angel hair).
Smack bang in the middle of the bustling Boqueria market, lies this small tapas bar. A favorite among the locals, it is known for its fabulous Catalonian breakfast offerings. Mouth-watering fare like Tortillas, Sautéed Squid (with garlic, olive oil and eggs) and Lamb Strips (in dark beer) and lots more are available at reasonable prices. So grab one of the 18 seats available and enjoy your drink and Chef Quim Márquez Durán's delicious offerings.
This charming 19th-century square is just off the Ramblas and Carrer Ferran. It was the site of a Capuchin convent that was demolished in 1835 when Barcelona underwent a period of urban renewal. Architect Francesc Daniel Molina was put in charge of filling the vacant space. Plaça Reial has undergone a number of renovations since then. The street lamps in the shape of trees were designed by Antoni Gaudí. The Las Tres Gracias fountain in the center dates from the end of the 19th century. Now Plaça Reial is a meeting point for young people on their way to and from the nearby clubs and bars.
This second section of the Ramblas is also known as the Rambla of the Birds, where you will find kiosks selling small animals, mostly birds. There are also chickens, parrots, turtles, hamsters and fish for sale. You'll also see mimes, musicians, clowns and other street performers here. As far as architecture is concerned, there are two impressive baroque buildings: Betlem Church and Virreina Palace.
Barcelona's most important theatre was built in an eclectic style by J.O. Mestres and M. Garriga i Rocato to house the city's Operatic Society. Regular opera seasons began here in 1847 and the venue soon overshadowed its main rival, the Teatro Principal. It became a potent symbol of the power and wealth of Catalunya's 19th-century middle-classes, the same people who commissioned all the city's impressive modernist buildings towards the end of that century. There was a devastating fire in the theatre during 1861, an anarchist bomb-attack in 1893, and then it was completely burned down in 1994. The new building stages an exciting programme of operas, concerts and ballets by the world's best performing companies and houses its own symphony orchestra and choir that perform all year round.
This street stretches from Las Ramblas to Plaça de la Catedral. One of the gates to the city of Barcelona was built here. The street is a wonderful mélange of people buying, looking, walking, talking and generally, living life. It is one of the most popular streets for shopping. There are also a lot of cafés and milk bars, especially in the Petritxol Street beside Portaferrissa, where one can have a hot chocolate and rest a little bit after shopping. What a charming area!
Extending from the Liceu on the Ramblas to Plaça Sant Jaume, this is where Saint James' Church was constructed in the fourteenth century, on the site of an ancient synagogue. Today only the facade of this church remains, the rest of the building dates from the XVI and XVII centuries. The rest of the buildings on the street are from later periods. It has been changed to a walking street, making it much more pleasurable to stroll along. There are a lot of shops and cafés here as well - check out the grocers' shops that still have wonderful display windows like in past.
This is the first walkway you come to when strolling down the Ramblas. The kiosks sell newspapers from all over the world. You´ll find the Font de Canaletes (a small fountain) here, where Barça football fans (known as "culés") gather to celebrate their team's victories. According to legend, if you drink from this fountain you´ll return to Barcelona one day. You´re also likely to come across performers playing rock or Andean music surrounded by crowds of bystanders. It's a very cosmopolitan area.
Here, the Ramblas grows wider and carries on all the way down to the sea. At the very end, you will see the statue of Columbus atop his high pillar, pointing to the New World. The name of this section comes from an ancient convent that is used as the base of the Centre d´Art Santa Mónica, an exhibition centre. In this area, there are painters doing portraits and caricatures for tourists, as well as landscapes. There are also musicians, fortune tellers and tarot card readers. On weekends there is often a crafts market selling leather goods, jewelry, clothes.
This part of Las Ramblas, which goes from Carrer Carme to Carrer Hospital, is also known as La Rambla de les Flors (the Rambla of flowers) because of its profusion of floral kiosks. The tradition of these little stands harks back to the Middle Ages— where knights once fought each other (and were then regaled with flowers, of course). In the 19th century, this section of the Ramblas was a meeting point where women chatted and men read the newspaper. You'll also find the Boqueria Market here, where restaurateurs go daily to get fresh produce, as well as Virreina Palace, which is an information and exhibition center.
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