The following is a guest post from my good friend Olga Garcia, a seasoned round-the-world backpacker. Be sure to check out her other guest posts on Maiden Voyage: The Land of Smiles, Golden Rules for Safe Travel, and Guilty Spending Abroad.
Imagine opening your architecture history book to a city that combines the wonders of the old world with the vibrancy of the new world. Barcelona has all the qualities of a charming city from world-renowned food to fashion to a culture of cool. The piece of charm that brings it all together is its architecture. The impressiveness of the city is its ability to blend Renaissance, medieval and modernist architecture. Being in Barcelona and experiencing its architecture and history is one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had.
I was exchanging stories once with a travel friend of mine, and she captured the essence of Barcelona so well. She lived there for half a year next to Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia (pictured right). The Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic church, has been under construction since 1882 and is planned for completion in 2026. What impressed her the most was waking up next to the most memorable piece by Gaudi and then walking across the street to take a metro. Can you imagine being next to a 100-year-old church that is still under construction and still having the luxuries of modern day technology? That is Barcelona’s charm.
The city boasts with eight World Heritage Sites and is home of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. In 1999, Barcelona won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture. To this day, Barcelona is the only city and not individual to win such a prestigious award. Gaudi’s style is admired all over the world, and its uniqueness is his attention to detail, colorful tiles and dozens of mosaics.
When I was in Barcelona, it was like walking around the city with my jaw open all the time. Whether it’s walking around Las Ramblas (pictured left), to exploring the Gothic Quarters, to hiking up to the Park Güell, to visiting the Porta Fira Hotel, to shopping in El Corte Ingles department store, your senses are constantly being opened up to the old world meeting the new world. Each building shares a different story with its onlooker. It’s up to you to take in all the details and experience its history.
Aside from majestic buildings, Barcelona and its prized architecture has withstood the test of time. It was founded by the Romans in about 15 BC, and architectural pieces from that time period are still intermingled in the city. The Basilica La Seu, located in the Gothic Quarter, is said to have been founded in 343. According to some people, the city liberated itself from the dull Franco era architecture after the Olympics in 1992.
The charm of Barcelona and what makes it one of the most traveled-to cities in the world lies in its historic buildings. It’s a story of a people that have endured wars, plagues, conquests, and cultural revolutions. Most importantly, it is a city that embraces the essence of the Renaissance and finds its rebirth in its architecture. Barcelona is truly one of the most charming cities in the world.
Photo credit: thecrypt and Martin & Kathy Dady
A message from our partners: Visiting Barcelona as a family can be very exhausting. Finding a good restaurant may be difficult if you go with children, as can be following hotel schedules or being all together in one hotel room. Renting a self-catering apartment from Oh-Barcelona, however, gives you the freedom and privacy that you need if you go with kids. Everyone can have their own bedroom, you can arrive whenever you want and you can cook for yourself, your partner and your children.
