Barcelona or Barcino, as popularly known back in the Roman Empire, has a history that dates back to not less than two millenniums! The beautiful capital of Catalonia comprises of six districts and holds a population of 1.6 million as of 2012. It is regarded as one of the largest cities in Spain ranking second only to Madrid, the Spanish capital.
Entailing rich contrasts of Catalonic traditions with the modern lifestyles of the Spanish people, the city is proudly pronounced as a traveler’s heaven. Since the 1992 Olympics, it has become a sensual mix of contemporary and ancient art with the newer elements complimenting, as well as, preserving the primordial ones.
If you are planning a visit this year, I would suggest going at the quieter times – this could be anytime in the month of August as most of the Spaniards take vacations in August and the contiguous months leaving behind a much emptier city. Since the streets are slightly less crowded that usual, you can easily find good hotels and restaurants at comparatively cheaper rates. Add to that, the fact of having a great mild weather in the middle of the year; you would not want to miss even a single sunset! I personally consider it a city with all the cards in the deck; decent enough beaches, artistic sidewalks, poetic cafés, breathtaking architectural sights and what not. For the creative or romantic mind Barcelona would be the ultimate destination!
Once you are there, one of the essential doable things is to spend a sunset at the beachfront boardwalk starting from Barceloneta –a beach that identifies the city. Though it might get crowded on most of the days and times, but if you plan your trip wisely and go at the right time you might just be able to prize yourself with one of the most sensually heightened evenings.
To be realistic, one would need a long spanned vacation in order to cover up all the sights, but a few that are simply not ignorable would surely include Las Ramblas a pedestrian walkway lined with trees that smell of romance, or La Sagrada Familia –an incomplete church that has proven to be the city’s landmark with its magnificence of height and intricacy. Last but definitely not the least, drive an hour and a half outside the city, and you’ll find the scenic Montserrat mountain range. Topped with a little bit of green but mostly rocky, the mountain gives you a challenging hiking experience while looking over the Barcelona city at the same time.
Food starts at cheap prices; you can get a decent meal at a respectable restaurant for a mere 10 Euros. Some of the advisable areas would be the Barceloneta or the Eixample Esquerra with the former being famed for seafood. If you are in the mood to go big and socialize you may want a splurge, spending between 30 to 60 dollars for a dinner at a local family’s home with other international guests –a healthy way to get to know others!
With three star hotels starting from as low as USD 35 and four or five stars going up to as much as USD 550, you can literally get anything you want, spend less and sleep cozy or get luxurious and try something like the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Arts Barcelona- the name says it all!
My advice; if you are in for a tour this season, do not skip a tour to Catalonia for anything. The seductive seaside capital is simply worth every penny!
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