W E L C O M E 
Old town is Barcelona, and Barcelona is Old Town. Although I have only lived in Barcelona for 2 months (as of yesterday!), I think Old Town makes Barcelona that amazing city that it is. Makes sense.
Old Town is one of the most extensive medieval city centers in Europe, and includes some major Barcelona sites. First is the Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter), the true heart of Barcelona. It contains the Barcelona Cathedral, a maze of windig streets and placas, El Born neighborhood, the Santa Maria del Mar church, and is bounded by the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella (which houses the city zoo :) The Barri Gotic is where to find funky/ trendy shops (GREAT place for vintage clothing) and cool cafes and restaurants.
The seafront is considered part of Old Town and includes the recently (relatively recent..1992) created Olympic Port. The biggest attraction in Old Town may be LA RAMBLA, the city´s main avenue, which is replete with restaurants and shops, and where you can almost always see some street performer or buy flowers of small animals.
A view from the top...we took a tour on the roof of Barcelona Cathedral
Old town is Barcelona, and Barcelona is Old Town. Although I have only lived in Barcelona for 2 months (as of yesterday!), I think Old Town makes Barcelona that amazing city that it is. Makes sense.Old Town is one of the most extensive medieval city centers in Europe, and includes some major Barcelona sites. First is the Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter), the true heart of Barcelona. It contains the Barcelona Cathedral, a maze of windig streets and placas, El Born neighborhood, the Santa Maria del Mar church, and is bounded by the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella (which houses the city zoo :) The Barri Gotic is where to find funky/ trendy shops (GREAT place for vintage clothing) and cool cafes and restaurants.
The seafront is considered part of Old Town and includes the recently (relatively recent..1992) created Olympic Port. The biggest attraction in Old Town may be LA RAMBLA, the city´s main avenue, which is replete with restaurants and shops, and where you can almost always see some street performer or buy flowers of small animals.
A view from the top...we took a tour on the roof of Barcelona Cathedral
Above: A tower at Palau Reial, a 14th century palace in the Barri Gotic. The Barri Gotic was the site chosen by the Romans between 27 BC-AD 14 as the site to found a new colony, and is still where the city´s governmental buildings are. Placa Juame (a focus of my first project) is in the Barri Gotic.
Old Town: new and old come together.
A view of Palau Reial from Placa del Rei, its outiside square
Old Town knows how to get it right...me in front of Victoria Bar
Pretty.
Inside Barcelona Cathedral
1 comment:
Barcelona is a fabulous city, filled with amazing Gaudi architecture, great restaurants, a pretty harbor and good shopping. I could spend days just wandering around in the old quarters with their narrow streets, browsing in shops and stopping off for a coffee or some tapas.
It is one of my favorite cities and I have been lucky enough to visit Barcelona twice now, first in Oct 2003 and then again in Jan 2007. Even after two visits I still have plenty more to see - stayed tuned for visit number three!
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