Barcelona through the ages
Barcelona is Spain's second largest city, both from a geographical perspective and from a population perspective. It provides a fascinating juxtaposition of old and new. Its rich history and culture have strong Mediterranean influences, setting it apart from other cities in Spain. This influence, along with its exciting history, makes Barcelona a fascinating holiday destination today.
Barcelona was founded around the year 230 BC by the Carthaginians. It changed hands many times and was invaded and then inhabited by the Visigoths, the Muslims and then the armies of what is now France.
The Empire that controlled Barcelona saw periods of growth and decline over the centuries and these typically corresponded with times of peace and of war. Today, Spain is made up of seventeen autonomous communities and Barcelona is the capital of the community known as Catalonia. It is located on the northeastern shores of the Iberian Peninsula. It has two official languages Catalan and Castilian Spanish.
Barcelona has made an effort to preserve its historic Gothic center and this adds to the juxtaposition of old and new that is evident in the city. You can find an old maze of narrow streets that contrasts with the modern grid-like layout of the new infrastructure in the Eixample which is Barcelona's enlargement and urban planning project. Many buildings in Barcelona provide evidence of those who once inhabited the land. You can see many monuments to the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods of the city. However, Barcelona is also a center of Modernist architecture and it is at the forefront of international trends. These contrasting styles that can be found side-by-side in Barcelona make it a fascinating city.
Barcelona experienced a major economic revival during the onset of industrialization and since the mid 1800s it has continued to grow. It hosted the World's Fair in 1888. Today, Barcelona is one of the economic leaders in the area. It is a modern cosmopolitan city with a large variety of entertaining and vibrant night time activities. The city is home to many discos and pubs, concerts and terraces. It also hosts a number of popular fiestas and shows.
Barcelona boasts a large variety of holiday accommodation options. You can stay in hotels which range in quality and price. Hotels in Barcelona have 85% room occupancy throughout the year, so if you choose to stay in a hotel, you must make sure to book your room well in advance. Another option, that is not widely taken advantage of in Barcelona, is holiday rental apartments. These are a very worthwhile choice as they offer you privacy and space. As they are not widely chosen as an accommodation option, there are many available throughout the city including areas where it is very difficult to find hotel accommodation, such as near the beach.
Other accommodation options include aparthotels. These are apartments that are attached to a hotel. They offer more space and privacy than staying in the hotel would, however they do not offer all the amenities that would be available in the hotel itself.
Areas of Barcelona: where to stay in the city
Being situation along the Iberian Peninsula it also contains natural beauty in the form of a beach with stunning accommodation options.
Barcelona is made up of many quarters, but there are four that would be of most interest to visitors to the city. Ciutat Vella is Barcelona's old town. Barcelona prides itself on the preservation of its old Gothic Center and it is a treat to visit this area. It contains the old Barri Gotic where you will find many medieval buildings. Here you will see Barcelona's famous maze of narrow streets and dark little alleys. The architecture of the buildings in this area typically dates to the 14th and 15th centuries. Here, you will also find the Cathedral which is considered Spain's most remarkable Gothic building. The fortress wall that surrounded and protected Barcelona has been preserved in the Barri Gotic. The buildings of Ajuntament and the Palau de la Generalitat can be viewed here. The large square that the Gothic area is set around is an interesting place to visit and here you will find a lively market and may be lucky enough to catch some of the weekly dances of the sardana.
The Eixample is another of Barcelona's quarters that is worth visiting. It is the modernist quarter and here you will find the large grid layout of Barcelona's new infrastructure, as well as many examples of art nouveau-styled buildings. Barcelona is at the forefront of international tendencies and this area is an excellent place to see where the world is headed in terms of modernist architecture.
Gracia was once a working class neighborhood. It is now a very lively and somewhat gentrified area. In the middle of August there is a festival that takes place in this neighborhood. The streets are decorated and are filled with food, live music and parties that last through the night. Many restaurants are available in this quarter.
Barceloneta is historically a fisherman's quarter and is interesting to visit. Barcelona contains many excellent museums and art galleries. If you are looking for a bit of culture, the museums are rich in Barcelona's history and heritage and they have been modernized with many hands-on activities. Picasso Museum can be found in Barcelona and it houses some of the artist's works.
If you prefer a relaxing holiday, Barcelona boasts over four kilometers of beautiful coastline. The city recently undertook a seafront recovery program and the beaches are now well worth a visit.
Most forms of holiday accommodation are available in Barcelona. From top quality hotels, to budget hotels, aparthotels and rental apartments. The cheapest accommodation options can be found in the old Barri Gotic quarter.
The hotels along the coastline book up very quickly and it may be difficult to find a room there unless you book well in advance. Fortunately, there are many Barcelona holiday apartments that can be found in the beachfront area, as well as in other areas of the city.
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