Barcelona, located on the northeastern coast of Spain, is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. Barcelona is the 5^th most populous area in the European Union, after, Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan.

Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and boasts renowned architectural works of Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I visited Barcelona in August of 2022 as the embarkation port for a 12 day Mediterranean/Greek Isle cruise.

So here they are, the top 10 highlights of my trip to Barcelona, Spain:

1. Hotel Seventy Barcelona:

   Our hotel, Seventy Barcelona, is nestled between the elegant Passeig de Gràcia, with its fine shops, and the old-fashioned cosmopolitanism of Gràcia, with its hole-in-the-wall eateries, design boutiques, and old-time neighborhood feel. Seventy is a unique concept that blends the warmth of a Mediterranean guest house with the vibrancy of a modern multifunctional space—it offers avant-garde architectural style, spectacular ambiance and an unbeatable location. Seventy Barcelona was an unforgettable experience and I had the best grilled sea bass with mushroom risotto ever made in the history of mankind (please quote me!)

    

   

   The Reception at Hotel Seventy Barcelona @seventybarcelona 

Stunning lobby at Hotel Seventy Barcelona @chichichic @seventybarcelona 

Seventy Barcelona: Our hotel room had a lovely terrace @seventybarcelona

Seventy Barcelona @chichichic @seventybarcelona

2. Casa Batlló:

   This UNESCO World Heritage site, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is located on Passeig de Gràcia, number 43, one of Barcelona’s most iconic avenues thanks to its modernist legacy. It is a remodel of a previously built house, it was redesigned in 1904 by Gaudí and has been refurbished several times after that. It is a stunning masterpiece and an amazing experience to enter into the mind of Gaudí. For more details and to book tickets ahead of time—click HERE.

Casa Batlló @chichichic

Enjoying Casa Batlló with my bestie, Udo @chichichic

Inside Casa Batlló @chichichic

Casa Batlló–A living structure

The Roof Top of Casa Batlló @chichichic

3. Sagrada Família:

   The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, shortened to the Sagrada Família, is an under construction church in the Eixample district of Barcelona. It is the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica.

The Passion Façade: Located in the street Sardenya and oriented to west. This façade represents the passion and the death of Jesus @chichichic

According to Wikipedia, on 19 March 1882, construction of the Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the church’s crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Inside Sagrada Família @chichichic

The ceiling of Sagrada Família @chichichic

The stunning lights of Sagrada Família @chichichic

It was anticipated that the building would be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death, but this has now been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more details and to book tickets ahead of time—click HERE.

4. The Magic Fountain:

   The Magic Fountain was built by Carles Buigas for the International Expo in 1929, on the site where Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s Four Columns had stood before being demolished in 1928. They were later rebuilt in 2010. The spectacular Magic Fountain is very popular, and is best known for its sound-and-light shows. Around 2,600 litres of water a second flow through the fountain’s three concentric pools, driven by a water-recycling system. In recent years, the traditional lighting has been progressively replaced with LED technology, due to its low consumption and the coloured lighting it offers. The Magic Fountain has also been using groundwater since 2010.

The Magic Fountain Barcelona Photo credit: vagantohotel.com

Sadly, for summer of 2023, the Magic Fountain and the fountains on Avinguda Maria Cristina have been turned off due to the activation of the drought protocol in the city of Barcelona.

For more information and updates on the reinstatement of the fountain shows, click HERE.

5. Montjuïc National Palace:

   The Palau Nacional is a building on the hill of Montjuïc in Barcelona. It was the main site of the 1929 International Exhibition. It was designed by Eugenio Cendoya and Enric Catà under the supervision of Pere Domènech i Roura. Since 1934 it has been home to the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

Montjuïc National Palace Barcelona Photo credit: Adobe Stock

6. Luxury Shopping on Passeig de Gràcia: Barcelona’s most fabulous street stretches from Plaça Catalunya to Diagonal. Spectacular Modernist buildings such as Gaudi’s Pedrera and Casa Batlló catch your eye as you saunter along the wide boulevard. Many (MANNNNNY) international designers have established their flagship store along this prestigious street. You’ll find Hermes, Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Max Mara, etc. all next to each other. All near our hotel (gulp!)
   

   Hermes Barcelona

7. 

   Chanel Barcelona on Passeig de Gràcia

Dior Barcelona

7. Gelaaati! Di Marco:

   This gelato shop is known for authentic Italian gelato in the heart of Barcelona. They are located in a lively side street off Plaça Sant Jaume in the Gothic Quarter and they have a stupendous variety of flavors. The staff is Italian, and in the back of the shop you can see the workshop where they can keep making gelato all day long. I am not a big ice-cream fan, however, I am married to one, so this shop was a must visit!

   

   Gelaaati! Di Marco

   

   Gelaaati! Di Marco @chichichic

For more information about Gelaaati! Di Marco, click HERE.

8. Informal by Marc Gascons:

   At Informal, you can enjoy Michelin-starred Chef Marc Gascons’ contemporary Catalan cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere with an open kitchen and grill. The essence of his dishes is defined by high quality local, seasonal produce combining flavours and aromas to create an authentic modern cuisine. The goal here is to ensure a comfortable relaxed ambience combined with an outstanding gastronomic experience. Long story short: absolutely delicious food.

Informal by Chef Marc Gascons

Sea Bass grilled to perfection
Informal by Marc Gascons @chichichic

9. The Rooftop at Serras Hotel:

   Fresh traditional Catalan cuisine and some of the best tapas in Barcelona are served for lunch and dinner at the rooftop of the Serras Hotel. The cocktail bar is open all day and is the place to be for aperitifs especially on summer evenings. Neither my husband nor I drink alcohol—so we enjoyed delicious mocktails.

The Rooftop at Serras Hotel

The Rooftop at Serras Hotel Barcelona @chichichic

10. Park Güell:

Park Güell is a privatized park system composed of gardens and architectural elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona. The quirky colourful mosaics and undulating curves of Park Güell are a signature of the legendary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, who designed many of the features in this park. It opened in 1926 and was initially planned as a district for the rich. Park Güell is now one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions and a great representation of Catalan modernism. For more information, click HERE.

Park Guell Barcelona Photo credit: City Wonders

Gaudí’s famous lizard at Park Guell
Photo credit: wanderingtrader.com

My visit to Barcelona was truly amazing. I can see myself visiting Barcelona again, as well as many other Spanish cities. Please share your thoughts about my highlights as well as your highlights/recommendations for Barcelona, Spain in the comment section down below.

Love,

Chichi