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Districts

Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are:

• Ciutat Vella - Barcelona's old town, including the medieval Barri Gotic.

• Eixample - modernist quarter, noted for its art nouveau buildings

• Gràcia - historically a working class neighborhood, now rather gentrified, and very lively

• Barceloneta - historically a fisherman's quarter

Barcelona/Ciutat Vella

Ciutat Vella (Catalan for "Old city") is, as it's name suggests, the oldest part of Barcelona . It includes buildings and attractions from all the city history and has the most important monuments (except the most famous modernist ones).

The district is divided in four quarters, Barceloneta, Casc Antic , Barri Gòtic and Raval .

Get in

Since Ciutat Vella is the also the city center, nearly all public transportation leads you there. The transportation center is Plaça Catalunya, and is possible to arrive by train, subway (L1, L3, L6, L7) and bus (many regular ones during day, all the night lines and Aerobus to the Airport)

There are also two other places very close to Plaça Catalunya where the subway and the buses stop, Plaça Universitat, with L1 and L2 lines and Plaça Urquinaona, with L4 and L2 lines.

To reach the other parts of the district, the maximum time to get to the furthest part of the city is twenty minutes.

See

Casc Antic

• Palau de la Música , C/Sant Pere més Alt 13. This Modernist auditorium designed by Ramon Muntaner is the most important modernist example in Ciutat Vella. It was made to be the headquarters of the Orfeó Català , the oldest Catalan Choir. The most beautiful part is the stalls, although all the building is impressive. There are plenty of allegories about music and Catalonia, since the Orfeó Català is strongly bounded with the Catalan Renaixença , the romantic movement that tried to recuperate the Catalan history, language and traditions. It isalso the best place in Barcelona to listen to symphonic music.

• Santa Maria del Mar Plaça de Santa Maria. One of the most representative examples of Catalan gothic architecture, it features a sombre but beautiful interior. The upsweeping verticality and lightness of the interior are especially surprising considering the blocky exterior surfaces. Built between 1329 and 1383, it was once was home to a Christian cult in the late 3rd century.

• Calle Montcada , near C/Princesa, in the Born quarter. This street has the biggest collection of Gothic houses in Barcelona. In amongst these houses is the Picasso Museum, which is definitely worth a visit. Curb your hunger at one of the many tapas restaurants here that serve delicious, although a tad expensive, bite sized delights.

• Passeig del Born This avenue goes from the Santa Maria del Mar church to the Born marketand is where the legendary jousting matches of the Middle Ages took place, as well as numerous fairs and marches. This is also where men were knighted. It's a really old street, very wide for the time. Don Quijote de la Mancha , the famous Cervantes character, had a contest in this place.

• Mercat del Born This market was the central market for Barcelona until the 1973 and its closing marked the beginning of the neighborhood's decline before its current resurgence. While undergoing renvoations, whole streets and homes from Phillipe V's orders were discovered and archaeologists are now still studying the area.

• Parc de la Ciutadella , at the end of C/Princesa. This park is Barcelona's most central park, and includes a zoo, a lake and several museums. In fact, the park is so large, 74 acres, that the Catalan Parliament can be found in the center of the park. It's a great place to enjoy games, sports or to spend a leisurely afternoon.

Barri Gòtic

• Plaça Sant Jaume . This square has been the political hub since the Roman era. At one end there is the Palace of the Generalitat (the government of the Autonomous Community of Catalunya) and on the other stands the City Hall. This square has been witness to some of the most important events in recent Catalan history, such as the proclamation of the Catalan State in 1931. • Plaça Reial . This square, next to La Rambla , is famous for the nightlife and the uniform architecture. It was build during the XIX century in the place of a monastery, after the Mendizábal law expelled the monks. A new square was built, making all the buildings look the same, with fountains and palm trees. After some years, Antoni Gaudí , the famous architect, designed the lights. It is a good place to go for a drink or a dance.

• Plaça Sant Felip Neri . One of the most romantic squares in Barelona, hides a dark history in that it was built over the city's old cemetery. Barcelona's most famous architect, Antonio Gaudi, was on his way to visit the church there when he was run over and killed in 1928.

• Plaça del Pi This square next to Les Rambles is one of the prettiest parts of the quarter. It has a pine tree in the middle ( Pi mines pine tree), the church of Santa Maria del Pi , which is a very pretty Gothic church with a huge rose window. Many concerts are done here. The Pi square and it's twin square , called Sant Josep Oriol , have several bars and artisans, painters, musicians are there to sell their products.

Raval

• La Rambla La Rambla is often the first landmark that people identify with the city. It is the central boulevard which cuts through the heart of the city centre and is a vibrant and lively promenade filled with Barcelona action at its best and worst.

• Hospital de la Santa Creu C/Hospital 56. (going down Les Rambles , turn right at the Miró painting). This Gothic building was the old city hospital, before the modernist Hospital de Sant Pau was build in l' Eixample . Now, the Hospital has the national Library inside, and is a greatexample of civilian Gothic archictecture.

• Sant Pau del Camp C/Sant Pau 101 (Going down Les Rambles, following C/Sant Pau, which starts at the Miró painting). A rare example of Romanesque archictecture in the city. Its name reflects the fact that the church was once surrounded by green fields outside the city walls.

Harbor Although it's not a quarter, it is another area that tourists like to visit. To find it, just walk down La Rambla until the monument to Columbus. The sea is just after it. The harbor you can see is completely new, since until the 80's it was closed to the public. Some old buildings related to the harbor still exist, such as the Tinglado near the Barceloneta quarter that is now a History museum.

Buy

Food

• La Boqueria market ( going down Les Rambles, is at your right hand ). Tempt your tastebuds at this delightful food market where the food is plentiful, fresh and often cooked to order. To avoid heavy crowds, or to buy the freshest perishables (e.g., seafood), go well before noon. At least in late Fall, Winter and early Spring months, La Boqueria is closed on Sundays. 

Clothes and shoes

• Comite , Notariat, 8 (Raval), ? +34(93)317-6883, [1] . Mon-Sat 12pm-8:30pm. A group of 7 designers sharing a space where they create and sell their collections. Designers include Cecilia Sorensen, Julia Pelletier, Pia Kahila and Potipoti. Men: Jan iú Més, Bingo and potipoti. 

• La Gauche Divine , Passage de la Pau, 7bis. Mon-Sat 11am-2pm, 4pm-9pm. An incredible multiconcept store near Las Ramblas. An example of the Catalan design is the decoration of the shop with an exclusive combination of furniture from the sixties and paintings and sculptures all around.

Eat This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one , including soft drink: Budget Up to €10 Mid-range €10 - €25 Splurge €25 and up

Budget

• La Boqueria [2] : Located on the Rambla, and offering a wide variety of fresh, mainly raw foods. When buying anything here head to the cheaper stalls at the back - you can save a fair bit.

• Cafe Viena . A sandwich bar on Las Ramblas. Truly some of the most delicious sandwiches anywhere. The bread is fresh and crispy, and you'll leave satisfied.

• Delfin , on the Born: A good set lunch for €9, with typical Catalan specialties such as salmonetes (little fish eaten whole).

• Pollo Rico . C/Sant Pau 31. A fantastic and cheap grilled chicken place buried in the side streets east of La Rambla.

• Travel Bar (see details in Drink section) C/Boqueria 27 (near the L3 metro Liceu) [3] For the budget conscious, the bar offers meals for €1. They also serve a full English breakfast and 8oz Irish rump steaks all day long with ingredients imported from the UK.

Mid-range

• Cal Pep , Placa de less olles, 8, ? 93 310 79 61 ( calpep@calpep.com ), [4] . Mon: dinner time only; Tue-Sat lunch and dinner time ( closed in Aug ). Legendary fish restaurant. With limited seating, the only seats readily available are at the bar if you arrive without a reservation. No menu available, just ask what they have today. Dinner with wine: €30-40.  

• Drassanes cafe ( Museu Marítim cafeteria/restaurant ), Av. de les Drassanes s/n, ? +34 (93) 317 52 56, [5] . Mon-Sat daytime, Thu-Sat nighttime. Quiet location just next to Las Ramblas and Columbus monument. Even if you fail to catch the cafeteria open, a bar with a small open-air terrace (Garden of the King) is great place for having a break with coffee and a snack from a bar. 

Traditional Spanish food • Arrel , Fusina 5, ? +34 93 319 9299 ( info@arreldelborn.com ), [6] . Locals view it as a must see in El Born area of town. Catalan cuisine. Mains €12-16.5. • Can Culleretes C/Quintana 5 (From Les Rambles, go to C/Ferran, and it's the first street at your left). Founded in 1786, it is the second oldest restaurant in Spain (after Casa Botín in Madrid ). The prices are mid range and the quality is quite good for the price. They serve traditional Catalan food.

• Meson David A great place serving excellent hearty Galician fare. Try the Lacon pork joint, its amazing. The decor is basic but the atmosphere is great. Expect queues at peak times. You'll eat and drink loads of Sangria for €15. Calle carretes 63 in the Raval area. Near St Antoni Metro.

• Les Quinze Nits , Plaça Reial 6. Metro Liceu. Phone: 93 317 30 75. [7] . Open 1-3.45pm, 8.30-11.30pm daily. A place to get cheap, huge and delicious paella. The Gazpacho served here is also one of the finest in the world. Overall, good value for money. There's no reservation, so arrive early: the queue starts at 8pm.

• El Salero , C/del Rec 60 ( in El Born ), ? +34 933 198 022. Mon-Fri 1:30pm-4pm, 9pm-12am; Sat 9pm-12am. A very mellow place to eat and see Barcelona's beautiful people. International cuisine with a nod to Japanese food.

Modern creative cuisine

• Carmelitas , C/Doctor Dou, 1 ( between MACBA and Bouqueria ), ? 93 412-4684 ( info@carmelitas.biz ), [8] . Daily 1:30pm-4pm; Sun-Wed 9pm-12am, Thu-Sat 9pm-1am. Large windows; Cuisine focused on market-fresh ingredients brought from Bouqueria. Simple Catalan dishes in a modern setting. Place is very popular during lunchtime in weekdays.

• Mediodia , Carrer del Carme, 40 ( between MACBA and Bouqueria ). Arguably a nearest competitor to Carmelitas which is just across the road. No-frills but trendy interior, full of light: light walls, large windows. Pleasant terrace in summer.

Non-Spanish cuisine

• Al Passatore , two locations near Pla del Palau ( M. Barceloneta ). Pasta, pizza and risotto in very generous portions for moderate prices. No-frills dishes, but wide choice. Simple interior. For dinner, reservation essential.

• Betawi a really tasty Indonesian restaurant. Portions aren't huge (average) but they know how to cook meat and fish to perfection. C/Montsio 6. In the Barrio Gotic. 93 412 62 64

• Born Cooking , Calle Corretger, 9 ( Born ), ? 93 310 5999 (fax: 93 319 9905), [9] . Mon to Fri 12AM to 9:30PM, Tue closed, Sat and Sun 11AM to 9:30PM. The local Born bakery with all sorts of North American offerings with chocolate chip cookies, pulled pork and cheesecake on the menu. They offer eat-in service, take-away and catering.

Meat main courses: €6(sirloin)-9(entrecot); pasta: €6.5-10; pizza: €6-10; fish main courses: €7.5-9.5. Menu del dia: ? (Mon-Fri).. Menu del dia €9.5 (starter, main course, desert; water / glass of wine or soft drink / bottle of Morritz). Menu del dia: €8.90 (choice of 3 soups, 3 mains, 3 desserts). Soup €4.90 (all you can eat); mains €7.8-16.8; salads €4.30-7.90 ( terrace surcharge: +10%; VAT not included ). Main courses generally €10-17.

• Egipte , 79 Las Ramblas ( near Bouqueria ). Recommended both for a la carte and tapas. Good fixed-price lunch and dinner menu.

• La Locanda in C/Joaquim Pou 4, between Via Laietana and the Cathedral, is a good choice for Italian food lovers. Between Urquinaona and Sant Jaume metro stations.

• Rosa del Raval , C/dels Àngels, 6 ( next to Silenius ), ? 93-304-26-81, [10] . No-frills Mexican eatery, with Europeans-friendly cuisine.

• Shunka in C/ Sagristans 5, next to the Cathedral, is one of the most appreciated Japanese restaurants in town. Prior reservation is strongly advised. Between Urquinaona and Sant Jaume metro stations.

Breakfast • Cafe de L'Opera , La Rambla 74, is a marvelous place to have a breakfast with fine strong coffee. The inside features 1920's decor. • Pasteleria Escriba , La Rambla 83, a cute little place with great pastries and good coffee. Try the chocolate croissant. Out of this world.

Drink

Cafes

• L'Antic Teatre , [11] Screens special artistic productions. There is also a small café inside and outside operated by the association which makes for a great break from the noisy Barcelona downtown. It's only a few steps away from the Palau de la Música Catalana .

Mid-range

• Otman , C/Cirera 4 ( between C/Flassaders and C/Montcada ). In the Born , very close to the Picasso museum, this Moroccan designer has a clothes shop where you can have a tea in a`relaxing ambient atmosphere.

Bars

• El Bosc de les Fades , off LaRambla. Dubbed the "Tree Bar" by many English speaking tourists. This wax-museum bar features expert-crafted ambiance to look like a forest.

• Dusk , carrer Merce 23. Sexy bar and bistro inside centuries-old stone walls in Ciutat Vella/Barri Gotic. One block in from the Correos (Big Post Office at the end of Via Laietana), "Dusk" offers an upbeat bar and a more relaxed lounge in the back. It's a perfect place to get a delicious bite to eat to start the night off, or to finish the night with funky music and a Bailey's Martini. Overall, a perfect place to get a taste of both the old Gothic Quarter and the new, hip, contemporary Barcelona.

• RiBborn , C/Antic de Sant Joan 3, Tel.(+34) 93 310 71 48, [12] . A hip bar in the heart of the Casc Antic , a vibrant section of the Ciutat Vella with a variety of bars and restaurants. RiBborn offers "Funk you till you drop" hiphop jazz reggae and soul with dj Chocolito + guests, Tuesday-Sunday 10PM-3AM. Live music until 1am on most Sundays and the odd weeknight.

• Travel Bar , C/Boqueria 27 ( Going down Les Rambles, the street at the left from the Miró's painting on the floor ), [13] . Travel's ambient, Internet connection, a good place to ask and talk with other people visiting Barcelona. Has a quiet terrace. Very much a backpackers bar, this is a staple hang-out for many travellers. The Travel Bar has a barcrawl every evening (although it is poorly advertised in the bar - staff 'invite' people they would like to join, otherwise you have to ask), as well as a mean Catalan cooking course. This is a good place to hang out and meet other English speaking people. It does have some decent perks - notably, the one Euro meals (again, you have to be in with the bar staff to get this) and the free Wi-fi • Harlem , C/Comptessa de Sobradiel (Behind the City Hall, ask there). Live music every night. You must buy at least one drink, but the entrance is usually free.

• Jazz sí C/Requesens 2 ( Near Ronda St. Antoni ). Live music every day by the teachers and pupils of the music school next to it. Pop/Rock, Flamenco, Jazz, Latin music etc depending on the day. The entrance with a drink for about 3 euros.

• La Fianna , Banys Vells, 15 ( Born ), ? +34 93 315 1810 ( lafianna@yahoo.es ), [14] . 6PM to 1:30AM Sun to Wed, 6PM to 2:30AM Thurs to Sat. One of the busiest bars in the neighborhood with a funky decor and a large selection of spirits. They also have a great dinner menu with an international selection. 

• Sidecar Factory Club , Plaça Reial 7 / C/Heures 4, (+34) 93 302 15 86, (+34) 933 177 666, [15] . One of the best choices for drinks and music in Casc Antic. Offers live music (4 or 5 nights a week, 10pm-12:30am). Hosts DJ sessions every night (Mon-Sun 12.30am-4.30/5.00am) with DJs of many different styles and from the most important clubs making people dance until the wee hours. Always a good atmosphere.

• L'Ovella Negra , or the "Black Sheep" is a large dark tavern-like bar. Located in calle Sitges just off Las Ramblas. You can get cheap and delicious Sangria 10 euros before 23:00 and 13 euros after. Kind of shady atmosphere but a great time is almost guaranteed to be had whether you are just sitting around talking with some friends or partaking in a game of futbolina (foosball). Great choice for a place to start the night off.

This page was last edited at 10:49, on 22 April 2008 by Wikitravel user MarinaK. Based on work by Denis Yurkin, Peter Fitzgerald, oriol badia and David, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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Barcelona/Eixample

The Eixample is the quarter designed during the middle of the 19th century by Ildefons Cerdà, expanding the medieval city of Barcelona into space left empty for defense outside the citywalls. It's an enormous field of rectangular blocks in an continuously repeating layout, with the constant thread of getting lost (at least for those used to european cities. Eixample contains most of the modernist buildings, including La Pedrera , Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Família . A very interesting example for planned urban development and subsequent re-planing and restucturing. See • Sagrada Família Designed by renowned architect Antonio Gaudi, this remarkable landmark remains Barcelona's most famous unfinished church, having been started in 1882. It is one of Gaudi's most impressive works and can be described as warped Gothic. The rippling contours of the stone facade make it look as though Sagrada Familia is melting in the sun, while the towers are topped with brightly-colored mosaics which look like bowls of fruit. Definitely worth a visit.

• La Pedrera Another one of Gaudi's masterpieces, there is not one straight edge on the exterior and the structure is one of Gaudi's most eccentric and enticing architectural creations. Tours of the interior and the incredible roof structures are available.

Eat

Budget

• Madrid-Barcelona , C/Aragó 282 ( 50m from Passeig de Gràcia ), ? 93 215 70 27. Centrally located to La Pedrera and the other monuments in Passeig de Gràcia , it serves good and typical food in a place steeped with history.

• Lactuca , C/Provenza 427 ( right next to Sagrada Familia ), [1] . All-you-can eat self-service restaurant offering a great salad bar, daily soups, mediocre pastas and pizzas, dessert and coffee for a flat price. You can also do take-away for a few euros per box. Weekday lunch €8.50, dinner or weekend lunch €10.30.  

Mains generally €7-14; no menu del dia.  

• La Periñaca , C/ Diputació 131, ? 93-4513685. Local joint serving up basic but tasty Spanish grub in low-key surroundings. The daily menus have a choice of options and include a starter, a main, a dessert, bread and half a bottle of wine. Lunch/dinner €8/9.  

Mid-range • El Glop dela Rambla , Rambla de Catalunya, 65, [2] . Excellent Catalan meals at a price within most budgets. Allow about €20 per person, although you could get out of there for half of that if you let the price dictate your choice of dishes. See chain review in the Eat section of Barcelona .  • El Ùltimo Agave - Authentic Mexican restaurant. Aragó 193 • Gaya Cosmopolitan Lounge Restaurant C/Compte Borrell, 122 just above Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, [3] . Original and decor. Excellent food at a very reasonable price. Fridays and Saturdays they have chillout sessions with live DJ.

Splurge

• COCOON Lounge Restaurant - C/Londres, 87 The best place to eat in the area is COCOON Lounge Restaurant, between Muntaner and Casanovas. This is an amazingly cozy restaurant, very inexpensive for the extremely high quality of the food and products used. The cuisine is very unique and the presentation of the plates quite unique. The restaurant is modern in design, very comfortable with awesome service.

• Drolma at Hotel Majestic is one of the best places to eat, but is very expensive.

Drink

Eixample is the zone with the most night bars and clubs. The famous zone Gayxample , around C/Balmes and C/Diputació has many gay bars and funky boutiques.

• Arena Choose from three floors of dancing and don't stop dancing until the lights come on.

• Smooth , Carrer Enrique Granados 73, [4] . Upscale lounge style winebar located in central Eixample, offering a refreshing alternative to the usual wooden tables and dingy atmosphere. The focus is definitely on wine with a full and interesting range both from Spain and abroad, but also a light modern menu of small plates help you through the second bottle as you sit listening to laid back lounge tunes. Four table terrace on the traffic restricted street closes at midnight, but the bar is open to 1:30am (2:30am on Sat). Innovative in its day, the decor is getting slightly shabby but the central concept remains sound. Service can be the first to go if busy so grab a sandwich before if you're going on a Friday!

• Sweet Cafe , Carrer Casanova 75, [5] . The trendiest bar of the Gaixample, the gay area, its red decor and lights and electropop music makes it unmissable. Mostly gay, but everybody is welcome. On Thursdays, pop sessions with guest DJs. (Tuesday-Saturday 10:30PM-3AM). Monthly Bollywood parties on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

This page was last edited at 11:18, on 22 April 2008 by Wikitravel user MarinaK. Based on work by Denis Yurkin, oriol badia, Jani Patokallio, Stacy Hall and Evan Prodromou, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Travelbubble, Nagchampa and Ailuro, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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Barcelona/Gràcia

Gràcia , about 1 km north of the center of Barcelona at the north end of the Passeig de Gràcia, is the most distinctively Catalan neighborhood to be found in easy walking distance of the center. A prosperous neighborhood, Gràcia nonetheless has more a local than a cosmopolitan feel to it, with much of life lived on the many public squares. It's also a very good place to start (or finish) a walk through the most important modernist buildings. A good place to stay in an hotel. Get in Both the Fontana and the Lesseps Metro stations (on line L3) are located in or near the Gracia district. From the stations, the heart of Gracia will be to the NNE (this may appear as East or "to the right" on most, if not all, maps of barcelona).

See

Check out any plaza and it will most likely be humming with life and vibrancy.

Do

One of Barcelona's most lively festivals, the Festa Major de Gracia, is a week long festival that displays the best of Catalan with a mass celebration in the streets. One of the most populare events is the 'Best decorated street', where residents from 23 neighboring streets use anything and everything to decorate their street in a theme and vie for the prize.

Eat

• Eldorad2 [1] , in the street Ramis, 2-4 (between Milà i Fontanals and Quevedo, 2 streets below Travessera de Gràcia, next to the Plaça John Lennon). A recently opened subsidiary of El Dorado Bar that shares the principles of quality and service of the main house.

Budget

• Breton Located just across the street down an "alley" from the Fontana metro station, this place is simple, yet thorough, with a menu del dia and a great menu to select from. An assortment of pictures out front of the restaurant give diners an idea of the plates as well as a tacky feel, but inside is clean and spartan. Good service and decent food make this a place to possibly frequent because you know what to expect. "Normal" to Moderate prices. Menu del dia ~10€, Bocadillos ~€4, salads/"entrees" ~3€.

• Restaurant Petra Carrer D'Asturies. Authentic Lebanese cuisine in the heart of Gracia. This great pedestrian street has several restaurants and many shops, but Petra offers traditional Mediterranean dishes. Shwarma, falafel, hummus, traditional pita and much more. Takeout available. Combination Plates ~10€

Mid-range • Flah-Flash C/Granada del Penedès, 25. Not really in Gràcia, but next to it, it's one of the rests of the Tuset street years, when the Gauche Divine was the most cool group in the city. This restaurant was made as a cool bar during the late 60's and it remains unchanged. The food's good (omelettes is the speciality and the cheapest option). About 15€. • La Porteria La Forja, 11. This quiet street holds a few bars and restaurants to choose from. La Porteria is nothing fancy, but seems to keep a steady local crowd. They have a menu del noche (like the menu del dia ), which provides a good value and (what I assume was) the proprietor served his own wine from the "Ribera" (del duero) region of Spain. The selection of 3 olive oils with bread before the meal was a pleasant bonus. Menu del noche - ~22€ • La Taberna del Cura ( The tavern of the priest ), Carrer Gran de Gracia, 83. Known by locals as one of the better restaurants in town. The menu is mostly meat selections, but seafood can be ordered from it's sister restaurant Botafumeiro next door. La Taberna is on the expensive side, particularly if you're coming from a currency with a poor conversion. Food is excellent. 1st courses €4-12, main courses €12-20. (salad, filet, small bottle wine, water, dessert, coffee - 50€).

Non-Spanish cuisine

• La Rosa del Desierto Plaça Narcís Oller, 7. The first Moroccan food restaurant in Barcelona. The quality is excellent and they serve generuous portions. About 18€ each person.

Splurge

• Botafumeiro Carrer Gran de Gracia, 83. The sister restaurant (and next door) to La Taberna Del Cura, Botafumeiro specializes in seafood, while La Taberna handles the meats. High quality food with a price tag to match.

Drink

Gracia is popular among students, and offers a lot of nice restaurants and bars for the student budget. The plazas in the area, as Plaça de Sol for instance, are filled with nightlife.

• El Dorado [2] Plaça del Sol, 4. With an ample dance floor, it also has a pool table, 'futbolín' and arcade games. The giant video screens and the monitors over the bar are other icons of this Music Bar. Drinks are catered for by staff that are professional, likeable and friendly.

• Bar Bambo LaForja, just off via Augusta. Small local bar with a clean, cozy atmosphere and a single dart board. Turntables behind the bar control the mix of music which is a variety of American and Spanish upbeat hits. Estrellas - 2€.

This page was last edited at 11:34, on 22 April 2008 by Wikitravel user MarinaK. Based on work by Denis Yurkin, Blake, Josep, Tom Holland and Kasper Souren, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Nzpcmad, Pstng, Vikingstad, Huttite and Jmabel and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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Barcelona/Barceloneta

Barceloneta or Little Barcelona was built after the king Felipe V ordered the construction of a new fortress (La Ciutadella, nowadays a park) in order to control and punish the city of Barcelona, that fought against him during the War of Spanish Succession. The fortress was planned very close to the city so that a tenth of it was demolished, and the people who lived in this part had no compensation and as a bigger punishment were obliged to demolish their own houses. The people from the demolished part of Barcelona had to move, so a new quarter was planned by the French military (Philip V was from France). Therefore, the streets are straight and with a square shape. There are still some houses from this period, easy to recognize because they are much lower than the others and have a simple neoclassical decoration.

Get In

You can arrive either walking from the city center (15 minutes in a nice walk around the harbour from Les Rambles) or by subway (L4 yellow line stopping at Barceloneta).

Get around

It's fun to bike along the Barcelona beaches. Or just make the complete tour around the most meaningful places in the city. There is some places where you can rent a bicycle in La Barceloneta, as for example:

• Barceloneta Bikes , carrer Mestrança 49, very close to the beach, [1] . It has probably the best (cheap) prices in the whole Barcelona for city, road and mountain bikes.

See

• Harbour cable car The 1450 metre long harbour aerial tramway of Barcelona is a very interesting aerial tramway. It starts on the top of 78 metre tall Torre San Sebastian, which has also a restaurant on its top, which is accessible by an elevator. Harbour aerial tramway Barcelona runs over 107 metre tall Torre Jaume I, the second tallest aerial tramway support tower in the world. Torre Jaume I has an intermediate stop, which can be reached by elevator from ground. The other terminal of harbour aerial tramway Barcelona is Montjuic. One-way 9.50eur, round trip 12.50eur. In June-Sept open 11am-8pm. (93)430-47-16.

Do • Beach , just 10-15 minutes from <M> Barceloneta, or a few minutes from <M> Vila Olimpica/Ciutadela. The beach stretches from the tip of Barceloneta in Port Vell and far away, passing Vila Olimpica and further. On warm summer days it will be crammed with people, and it might be a good idea to find a spot further away or go to a beach outside of Barcelona. Eat This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one , including soft drink: Budget Up to €10 Mid-range €10 - €25 Splurge €25 and up The Barceloneta is still the fishermen's quarter of Barcelona, because it's next to the port and the beach. It's the best place to go to eat seafood, such as paella or black rice , made only with fish and black-colored because of the squid-ink used to cook it.

Is also a very good place to eat tapas and take a walk during the summer nights.

• La Bombeta , Carrer de la Maquinista with Carrer del Mar. Good tapas and more substantial dishes. A great alternative to the tourist traps along the waterfront. No English menus, but very friendly.

• La Ría de Vigo , Carrer de Sevilla ( in front of the beach ). Paella & black rice.

Mid-range

• Agua , Olympic Port, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 30 ( M. Barceloneta ), ? 93 225-1272, [2] . Lunch 1:30-4pm (Sat-Sun -5pm); dinner 8:30pm-12am (Fri, Sat -1am). Creative cooking combining catalonian traditions with Italian cuisine; terrace and great views. average dinner €25.  

• El Rey de la Gamba , Paseo Joan De Borbó, 46 ( On the main drag in Barceloneta across from the sound ), ? +34 932 256 402 ( reservasBar1@elreydelagamba.com ), [3] . Offers excellent seafood at a moderate price. Great wine selection and paella. Large terrace. Set menus €21-34.  

Splurge

• Les Set Portes ( The Seven Doors ), Passeig Isabel II, 14 ( near the harbor; in the buildings between Born and Barceloneta ), ? 93 319 30 33 ( admon@setportes.com ), [4] . Mon-Sun 1pm-1am. This is one of the oldest restaurants in Barcelona. Offers the best Catalan dishes around, at a good price. It's especially famous for its Paella Parellada (rich man's paella, so called because they take the shells off)--really worth a try. The roast kid (goat) is also a great traditional Catalan dish. Above-average prices: $15 for the Paella; dinner with wine: €40-60.  

Stay safe Barceloneta has always been a poor quarter, with dark and narrow streets. It's slowly being gentrified after the 1992 Olympics. Most noticeably along the seafront. There are now delis serving upscale foodstuffs and high rise office buildings going up. Watch out for purse snatchers along the seafront, and never leave anything valuable unattended while going for a swim. On busy days there will usually be patrolling police along the beach.

This page was last edited at 11:29, on 16 March 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Denis Yurkin, oriol badia, David, Tim Sandell, Nick Roux and Colin Jensen, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Pstng, Huttite and Dhum Dhum, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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Sants Montjuic

Sants is a neighbourhood of Barcelona , in the southern zone of the city. It belongs to the district of Sants-Montjuïc , and is bordered by the districts of Eixample to the northeast, Les Corts to the northwest, and by the municipality of Hospitalet de Llobregat to the south.

Sants is a neighbourhood with a clear identity, a consequence of its historical origins: it was an independent village until 1897 , when it became part of Barcelona . By then, Sants had a census of 19,105 habitants, and the neighbourhood had a strong industrial character, hosting some of the most important textile factories of the Spanish state, as la España Industrial or el Vapor Vell .

Montjuïc is translated as Hill of the Jews in the medieval Catalan language , or perhaps as a corruption of Latin Mons Jovicus (that is, hill of Jupiter ). The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries : the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona have a Montjuïc, as does the island of Minorca . When written in a Spanish rather than Catalan context it is generally spelled Montjuich (in the old Catalan spelling before Pompeu Fabra 's orthography).

Description Barcelona's Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the harbour , to the southeast of the city centre. The eastern side of the hill is almost a sheer cliff, giving it a commanding view over the city's harbour immediately below. The top of the hill (a height of 173 metres) was the site of several fortifications , the latest of which (the Castell de Montjuïc) remains today.

The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th century additions. In 1842 the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city following disturbances. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco . The castle was the site of numerous executions. In 1897 an incident popularly known as Els processos de Montjuïc prompted the execution of anarchist supporters, which in turn lead to a severe repression of the workers' struggle for their rights. On different occasions during the Spanish Civil War , both Nationalists and Republicans were executed there, each at the time when the site was held by their opponents. The Catalan nationalist leader Lluís Companys i Jover was also executed there in 1940, having been extradited to the Franco government by the Nazis.

Developments

Naturally wooded, the slopes of the Montjuïc were traditionally used to grow food and graze animals by the people of the neighbouring Ciutat Vella . In the 1890s the forests were partially cleared, opening space for parklands. The site was selected to host the 1929 International Exposition (a World's Fair ), for which the first large-scale construction on the hill was begun. The surviving buildings from this effort include the grand Palau Nacional , the Estadi Olímpic (the Olympic stadium), the ornate Font Màgica fountains, and a grand staircase leading up from the foot of the Montjuïc at the south end of the Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina, past the Font Màgica and through the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda and the Plaça de les Cascades to the Palau Nacional. The Poble Espanyol, a "Spanish village" of different buildings built in different styles of Spanish architecture , also survives, located on the western side of the hill. Mies van der Rohe 's German national pavilion was constructed at the foot of the hill, near the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda. It was demolished in 1930 but was rebuilt in 1988.

Also completed in 1929, the Olympic stadium was intended to host an anti-fascist alternative Olympics in 1936, in opposition to the 1936 Berlin Olympics . These plans were cancelled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War . The stadium serves as the home for football team Espanyol (the club is scheduled to leave for a new stadium in Cornellà / El Prat upon completion in 2008.) The roads in the slopes facing the city were once the Montjuïc circuit Formula One racing circuit , hosting the Spanish Grand Prix on four occasions. However, a terrible accident in the 1975 race saw Rolf Stommelen 's car crash into the stands, killing four people; as a result the Spanish Grand Prix never returned to Montjuïc circuit. The Montjuïc was selected as the site for several of the venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics , centred around the Olympic stadium. Extensively refurbished and renamed the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys , the 65,000-seat stadium saw the opening and closing ceremonies and hosted many events. Around it was build the Anella Olímpica (the "Olympic Ring") of sporting venues, including the Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya , a centre of sports science ; the Piscines Bernat Picornell , the venue for swimming and diving events; and the striking telecommunications tower , designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava . Of the Piscines (swimmimg pools), the diving pool was selected as the setting for the " Slow " music video recorded in 2003 by the Australian artist Kylie Minogue .

The ornate Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya , an extensive showcase of Catalan painting and sculpture.

The top of the hill can be reached using the Funicular de Montjuïc , a funicular railway that operates as part of the Barcelona Metro , and then a aerial cableway . Part of the slopes are covered with a well attended park and gardens . The hill is often used for amateur cycling .

Also on the Montjuïc

• Fundació Joan Miró , a modern art museum centring around a large collection of the works of Joan Miró
• Cementiri del Sud-Oest, a cemetery containing many of Barcelona's rich and celebrated, including Lluís Companys and his predecessor as President of Catalonia Francesc Macià , as well as artist Joan Miró , dancer Carmen Amaya and poet/priest Jacint Verdaguer . Numerous unmarked graves hold those executed in the fortress.
• The botanic gardens .
• The museum of ethnology
• The Catalan museum of archaeology (housed in the 1929 exhibition's palace of graphic arts)
• The Olympic museum