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Sagrada Familia
The famed Sagrada Familia church, the work of the genius Antonio Gaudi is perhaps the symbol of Barcelona. The construction began in 1882 and was still unfinished 44 years later when Gaudi died in a fatal accident. At that time, the church was already a masterpiece of architecture, its trademark being the six extraordinarily ornamented spires. Ever since Gaudi's death, the church, or rather its further construction, has been ridden with controversy. The construction has been progressing, but that fundamental question always lurks somewhere in the background: would Gaudi do it that way? Other Gaudi's ideas - for they are ideas, not just buildings, are scattered elsewhere in the city. They are hard to miss for his style is unmistakable. To see but two of Gaudi's other wonders, visit Casa Battlo and that absolute must for lovers of modernist architecture, La Pedrera. In the latter, you can climb onto its roof as well as visit the museum devoted to the architect.
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Parc Guell
Finally, another Gaudi's work, but this time of quite a different character. It is the Parc Guell, where Gaudi used his unrestrained imagination to create a public sphere with a difference. So it is not just a park but more of a fantasy land with ceramic benches and mosaics, sculptures of lizards, and beautifully distorted buildings. All of this without the slightest note of kitsch, which the short description above might have contained. When it comes to Gaudi's works, they must be seen, though, not described.
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Las Ramblas
The spires of Sagrada Familia can be seen as you walk along Las Ramblas, Barcelona's main boulevard. It also is one Europe's most famous streets. It is actually composed of five different streets one blending into another. Las Ramblas is the area for buskers and, first of all, small traders and bazaars. Its atmosphere changes with every step you take, as you pass along the bird market, the opera house call le Gran Teatre del Liceu, then through the red light district to finish at somewhat overdone monument to commemorate Christopher Columbus.
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Barri Gotic
On the way to the Columbus monument, it is decidedly worth taking a turn to the left to see Barri Gotic. This small area is one of most excellent Gothic areas in Europe and a remainder of Barcelona's might in the Middle Ages. Its streets are narrow and dark, hosting countless bars and cafés. Of the numerous examples of top-class Gothic architecture dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the Barri Gotic cathedral does stand out.
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Eixample
To experience a different sort of architectural sensations, the district of Eixample is a good choice. It was created by the 19th century city planners when the city could not be confined in its limits any more. In a truly modernist spirit, alongside the perpendicular streets, several buildings of note were constructed, including the mentioned Casa Battlo and La Pedrera from Gaudi. Two particular streets to be seen in the Eixample: Passeig de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya.
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Camp Nou
Again, Barcelona is the city that is as much known for its architecture, possibilities for leisure and entertainment, as it is for its football team. Barcelona FC is the manifestation of the Catalan national identity on the pitch and on the spectators' stands on its famous stadium Camp Nou. The team colours are literally sacred: there are no advertisements on them - a freakish thing in the utterly commercialised sporting world of today, but perfectly justified in the eyes of the fans.
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