subject: Things to see in Barcelona [print this page] The first thing to remember when you travel to Barcelona, Spain is your camera. This beautiful city is full of photo opportunities and you can put together wonderful albums to share with friends and relatives, as well as make a wonderful keepsake for yourself. If you are the artsy type, you can make beautiful photo compositions of the sites of Barcelona.
La Sagrada Familia - This is a must see attraction for the cultural fanatic and is the biggest Gaudi attraction in the city. La Sagrada Familia was one of Gaudi's last projects and is a symbol of Barcelona's unique culture and architectural styles. The cathedral has eighteen bell towers, three facades and several carved columns and are sure to be of interest to history enthusiasts as well. Construction on the cathedral first began in 1883 and went on till 1926, the year of Gaudi's death. However, the project was never completed and the cathedral still stands as a testament to this, featuring as one of the city's top tourist attractions and offering visitor's great views of the city.
You can pay to go up inside one of the towers, of which there are now eight, each one over one hundred meters high. The initial design was meant to incorporate eighteen towers, one for each of the twelve apostles, four for the Evangelists, and one each for Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Other piece of Gaudi's work can be seen all over the city. You will want to pull the Park Guell, La Pedrera and the Mila house into your itinerary if you possibly can.
Picasso Museum - The artists Pablo Picasso is also a big part of the Barcelona's culture and anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the region's culture must visit the Picasso Museum. This museum houses many of the artist's works covering his whole career and life. This museum is one of the most visited museums in Barcelona and is housed in five palaces that adjoin one another in the La Ribera area.
Visit the Poble Espanyol, or Spanish Village, and see all of Spain's architectural styles in a single afternoon, or stay a few days to explore it more deeply. The village dates from the 1920's, with buildings that sample the regional structures found throughout the country. The Poble Espanyol is alive with great dining, a full concert schedule, and some outstanding theatre. Each Barcelona hotel in the village provides provincial, modern accommodation for those who want to make a night of it.
