Monday, September 19, 2011

Barcelona - A Quick Guide On What To See And Do

By Mark Walters


Spain is a land of exquisite beauty and a storied past. The country calls the Iberian Peninsula home and maintains borders on the sparkling waters of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Along the shores of the Mediterranean is one of seventeen autonomous communities located in Spain, a place known as Catalonia. Barcelona is Catalonia's capital city as well as its most populous. Barcelona was chosen as the site of the 1992 Summer Olympics, and there are more than a few sights and experiences to be had there. It is a city steeped in history and tourism, and it contains many things to see and do whilst visiting Barcelona.

Art lovers from all over the world travel to Barcelona to visit the city's lovely museums. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia is home to a wonderful collection of Romanesque art, and for enthusiasts of more modern pieces, there is the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Also popular are the City History Museum and Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, both of which emphasize the history and culture of Barcelona and the surrounding areas.

Barcelona is also home to many beautiful parks. Montjuic is the largest of the parks and rests on the picturesque mountain with which it shares a name. The Parliament building is located in another park, the Parc de la Ciutadella. Also found in this park is the must-see Barcelona Zoo, which gained fame as the home of Snowflake, the world's only albino gorilla. Also noteworthy is the Labyrinth Park, so named for its winding, fragrant, and gorgeous garden maze.

No city that rests on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea can be visited without heading to the beach. Beach in Barcelona has been designated as the finest urban beach in the world by National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Barceloneta is one of the largest and most visited beaches in Barcelona. It is over 3, 600 feet in length, providing ample room to find a spot on the sand to soak up the rays after a swim in the sea.

For music and theater lovers, there is the world famous Gran Teatre del Liceu opera theatre. In Barcelona, guests will also enjoy the Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphonic Orchestra, the largest of its kind in Catalonia. Pop music fans enjoy the annual Sonar Festival as well as the Primavera Sound Festival. With so many sights and activities to be found in the city, there is bound to be something to see and do whilst visiting Barcelona. It is no wonder why it is one of the most popular tourism hotspots in all of Spain.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment