Catalan cool
23rd February 2006
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and Spain's second city, has transformed itself in the last decade and has now established a reputation as one of the coolest places to be.
Following the regeneration of the city ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona became a major tourist destination thanks to a major overhaul of its infrastructure, including its rail network.
It is now very easy to reach by rail and the underground system takes you to the heart of the city in minutes with minimal fuss.
From there, you can take in the wonderful Las Ramblas, the wide, tree-lined street full of street performers, bird sellers and all sorts of merchants. Nearby lies the Boqueria market, which houses every Spanish foodstuff imaginable, plus plenty more besides.
Spain is synonymous with paella and Barcelona is one of the reasons why. Sitting as it does on the shores of the Mediterranean, the city makes good use of its location in its restaurants, which are full of a wide variety of fish, with the jewel in most restaurants' crown being seafood paella.
Architect Antonio Gaudi used Barcelona as his own personal playground in the latter half of the 19th century, populating the Eixample region with his unforgettable creations, not to mention Parc Guell, where his wavy style of construction gives everything a sense of movement.
Buildings such as Casa Batlo and Casa Mila are preludes to his magnificent, yet still incomplete, La Sagrada Familia, a cathedral that dominates the Barcelona skyline.
© Adfero Ltd
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