Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

142  BARCEL ONA

Introducing Barcelona

Fringed by beaches and encircled by hills, the capital of
Catalonia is Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city, and one
of the Mediterranean’s busiest ports. In culture, commerce
and sport, Barcelona not only rivals Madrid, but it is itself on
a par with the greatest European cities, as confirmed by
the success of the Olympic Games in 1992. Although there
are plenty of historical monuments in the Old Town (Ciutat
Vella), Barcelona is best known for the scores of buildings in
the Eixample left by the artistic explosion of Modernisme
(see pp144–5) in the decades around 1900. Always open to
outside influences because of its location on the coast, not far
from the French border, Barcelona continues to sizzle with
creativity: its bars and the public parks speak
more of bold contemporary
design than of tradition. Casa Milà (see p169), also known AVI NG UD A DI AG ON AL EIXAMPLE
as La Pedrera, is the most avant- (see pp162–71)
garde of all the works of Antoni
Gaudí (see p168). Barcelona has
more Art Nouveau buildings than
any other city in the world. PASSEIG DE SANT J AON
0 kilometres 1 PASSEIG DE GRACIA
0 miles 0.5

PLACA DE
La Rambla CATALUNYA
LA RAMBLA VIA LAIETANA

Palau Nacional (see p176), on the hill of
Montjuïc, dominates the fountain-filled
avenue built for the 1929 International OLD TOWN
AV I N G UDA D E L PA R A L . L E L
Exhibition. It now houses the Museu MONTJUÏC (see pp146–61)
Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, which covers (see pp172–77)
1,000 years of Catalan art and includes a PASS. DE COLOM
splendid Romanesque section. RONDA DEL LITORAL
RONDA DEL LITORAL

Christopher Columbus
surveys the waterfront
from the top of a
60-m (200-ft) column
(see p160) in the heart
Montjuïc Castle (see p177) is a massive fortification of the Port Vell (Old
dating from the 17th century. Sited on the crest of the Port). From the top,
hill of Montjuïc, it offers panoramic views of the city and visitors can look out over
port, and forms a sharp contrast to the ultramodern the promenades and quays
sports halls built nearby for the 1992 Olympic Games. that revitalized the area.
Entrance to Park Güell, Barcelona, with Gaudí’s mosaic balcony in foreground

142-143_EW_Spain.indd 142 26/09/17 11:00 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Flashmap template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm