Barcelona and Canary Islands Cruise

Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and is the second largest city in the country. With a wealth of unique historic architecture and a modern flair, it has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are: Ciutat Vella, Barcelona’s old town, with the medieval Barri Gotic; Eixample, the modernist quarter noted for its art nouveau buildings; Gràcia, a lively, gentrified working class neighborhood; and Barceloneta, historically a fisherman's quarter.

The most famous boulevard in Barcelona is La Rambla, where visitors can see street performers jump out at unsuspecting passers-by, enjoy the flower and pet stalls or just sit back and watch all of Barcelona walk by. La Plaça Reial is located next to La Rambla in the Ciutat Vella, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

Barcelona is a mecca for fans of world-famous architect Antonio Gaudí. La Pedrera (or Casa Milà) is a Gaudí creation which hosts a large exposition of his works. Park Güell is a large park with a sculpture portion, full of walkways and distinct and colorful Gaudí sculptures. Finally, there’s Gaudí’s life project and grandest undertaking, the still-unfinished La Sagrada Família. This massive cathedral has been under construction for over 125 years!

If you’re a soccer freak, you can’t miss a visit to Camp Nou, the home ground for Barcelona’s biggest and most popular team (FC Barcelona), and one of Europe’s greatest soccer ‘cathedrals.’ 

The hotel was built in 2002 and consists of 37 rooms on 4 floors of which 3 are singles and 34 are doubles. The facilities include a lobby with a 24-hour reception, a cloakroom and lifts. There is an air-conditioned restaurant. In addition, Internet access, laundry service and medical assistance are all available.

Departing 11am from Plaza Sant Jaume (metro: Jaume 1), "on the side of the plaza nearest to Las Ramblas, in the corner next to the newspaper kiosk. Look for our guides with Fat Tire Bike Tours bicycles and t-shirts, holding up a big meeting point sign."

Back in the Roman period, this square was (and still is) where important government buildings were found. On one side is the Palace of the Generalitat (the government of the Autonomous Community of Catalunya) and on the other side you can see the City Hall. This square has been witness to some of the most important events in recent Catalan history, such as the Proclamation of the Catalan State in 1931 or the return of Josep Tarradelles from exile in 1977. On Sunday mornings, people come to dance the Sardana, the national dance of Catalonia—it's a very Catalan moment and worth checking out.

This square "of the King" is located at the very end of Carrer Baixada de Santa Clara and boasts of an impressive collection of architectural marvels. It used to just be farmyards, but as time went on it became an important business area and eventually grew into the architecturally beautiful centre it is today. In this small space you will find Palau del Lloctinent (Lieutenant's Palace), the Main Royal Palace, the Chapel of Santa Àgata, and Casa Clariana-Padellàs (the city museum). Just next to the museum is the most recent addition to the square, a sculpture by Eduardo Chillida.

Began in the first century as a chapel, the construction of the present Gothic temple was initiated in 1928. The 16th-century crucifix of the Christ of Lepanto, the crypt of Santa Eulàlia - the patron saint of Barcelona, and the neighborhood Claustro (cloister) are all appreciated by art historians.

Antoni Gaudí began this utterly surreal temple in 1882 and it is still being constructed. It was originally intended to be a modest, neo-Gothic church, but it has become the most famous building in Barcelona. Gaudí broke away from the reigning neo-Gothic style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and imbued every element of the Sagrada Família with symbolic meaning. Turtles form the base of columns: the Chinese symbol of order within chaos, and the pillars are palm trees. The most outstanding feature of this building is its baroque style, and the mixture of colors and the diversity of materials used: plaster, ceramics, mosaic, iron and many types of stone.

A great place for a stroll away from all the traffic, this is one of the city's most popular parks, located where Felipe V's ciutadella (military citadel) was; a place used to repress Catalan nationalism during his reign. In 1870 the citadel was made into a park to house the 1888 World Fair. You will find a small lake in the centre and beside it, the Cascada, a lovely fountain built by Josep Fontserè and his assistant, Antoni Gaudí. You can visit the city zoo and the Catalan parliament building in here as well.

In the 10th Century, the Islamic population of Barcelona was banished from the city and sent outside the city walls, to where Carrer Argenteria now lies. With time, the population of this quarter became more diversified and it expanded notably. This is the area that became the Ribera quarter. The neighbourhood was full of economic activity, and in it lived merchants, aristocrats, sailors and Jewish money-lenders. The most important commercial street was Montcada and the old boat factory was also here, before moving beside Las Ramblas.

This street runs down towards the sea, and is full of palaces that were built from the Middle Ages until the 18th century. The architecture is mainly Gothic, and the palaces tend to have attractive central courtyards surrounded by a main stairwell. The street dates back to 1148 when Guillem de Montcada ceded the land to the city, and this area soon became the centre of commercial life in the Ribera quarter. The first palace you come across when heading towards the port is Palau Berenguer d'Aguilar, which now houses the Picasso Museum and dates from the 13th century. The next two, Palau Castellet and Palau Meca, are also part of Museu Picasso. Just opposite is Palau dels Marquesos de Llió, now housing the Textile Museum. Beside it lies Palau Dalmasses, rebuilt in the 17th century. Finally, at number 25, is Palau Cervelló-Giudice. Along with the historical buildings and museums, the street also has many bars, cafés and souvenir shops.

Barcelona's tribute to one of its adopted sons, this fabulous collection is displayed in three adjoining medieval palaces. Picasso was born in Malaga but really started his long artistic career here. You can see all of his most important early works, including engravings, lithographs and pottery at the Museu Picasso. The most famous pieces on show are his Harlequin, a potrait of one of his wives, Jacqueline, and the Las Meninas series. Regular temporary exhibitions focus on different aspects of the artist's activities, for example, his research on landscapes or his foray into theater design. In addition, there are some examples of work by artists from the avant-garde movement.

Apart from the Cathedral and Sagrada Familia, this is the most visually appealing religious building in the city. You should include it during any visit to the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter). It's an austere Gothic structure with a large and impressive 15th-century stained-glass window in the shape of a rosette. Built between 1329 and 1384, it features some outstanding sculptures on its facade and in the tympanum. Mass is conducted in Catalan and also in Spanish on certain days. On Sundays mass is held in the main altar; otherwise it's in the Santísimo chapel.

This 18th-century castle stands on top of Montjuic hill. The original structure was built in 1640 during the War of the Segadors to resist Felipe IV's forces, but it was expanded and improved between 1751 and 1779 to form the present building, which has become a symbol of centralist repression and of the abolition of Catalan liberties. Once a military prison, it's now home to the Museu Militar (Military Museum). You'll find it at the end of the cable-car line where it protects the harbor with its show of arms.

Standing 173 metres high, this hill by the sea was not inhabited until after the Middle Ages, despite the fact that the Jewish quarter had extended to the nearby Miramar area. In 1607, the first path to the summit was opened and, in 1640, during the war of the Segadors, a fortress was built to resist Felipe IV's incursions. This later became Castell de Montjuïc (Montjuïc Castle). For the last three hundred years it has been a popular park for locals looking to pick wild herbs or to spend a little leisure time.

Created by Joan Miró as an institute for the study of contemporary art, it was built by his close friend and architect Josep Lluís Sert. Its outstanding octagonal tower houses a concert hall that's used as an auditorium for classical music performances. The permanent collection includes Miró's art in all formats: large canvases, tapestries, everyday objects, engravings, photographs and more. The Fundació also organizes temporary exhibitions and has a café-restaurant and souvenir shop. The hours of operations may vary according to the months, kindly visit the website for further details of the same.

A series of streets, joined together one after the other, that lead from Plaça Catalunya to the sea. The word rambla comes from the Arabic term, ramla, which means a riverbed, and these streets actually used to be a riverbed that channelled the water coming down from Collserola hill. In the 13th century, convents and churches were built on both sides of the Ramblas and the streets were named after these religious buildings. During the course of the 18th century the medieval walls that separated the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) from Raval district were pulled down, and in 1830 the convents and monasteries were closed.

Plaça Catalunya once stood outside the city walls, between what is now Eixample and Ciutat Vella (Old City). It's an enormous square (50000 square meters), surrounded by huge buildings that house the headquarters of banks and other large companies. You'll find two outstanding sculptures here: Josep Clarà's La Divinidad and Pablo Gargallo's Pastor tocando el caramillo. If you're not a fan of pigeons, steer clear. If you're here in the spring, you'll find concerts taking place for the Festival Internacional de Jazz Terrassa.

The monument to Columbus was opened to the public on 1 June 1888, some weeks after the opening of the Universal Exposition. Gaietà Buïgas i Monravà designed the metallic column and Rafael Atché modelled the sculpture of Columbus. The column is 51 metres high, while Columbus on top has his index finger symbolically pointing towards the New World. You can go up by elevator and enjoy a very nice panoramic view of the city.

Málaga, one of eight provinces in Andalucia, Spain, is located on the Mediterranean Sea in southern Spain—and is close to Sevilla and Granada. The largest coastal city in the south, Málaga has about 600,000 inhabitants, called Malagueños, who get to experience more than 300 days of sun a year and an average year-round temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Agriculture and tourism may be the mainstays of Málaga’s industry, however, it also lays claim to the second largest industrial port in Spain.   

Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, so make sure to visit the Museo Picasso Málaga. The museum houses a large selection of Picasso’s work from the exclusive collection of Christine Ruiz-Picasso, the widow of Picasso’s son Paul, and their son, Bernard.

Architectural points of interest are also abundant, in particular, La Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro Castle. La Alcazaba, one of the city’s most distinctive buildings, is a military fortress built by the Moors in the 11th century. Many people flock here just to explore the gardens, which are particularly lush between April and June. The Gibralfaro Castle, situated on the top of a hill, was built by the Muslim King Yusuf in the 14th and 15th centuries, and offers a panoramic view of the city not to be forgotten.

The Cathedral, the Roman Theater and any of the bullfighting rings in Málaga are all great ways to take in the cultural treasures the city has to offer. Malagueños are known for their relentless adoration of their country and for their love of late nights—meaning there is no shortage of first-rate bars, restaurants and bodegas.

Barcelona is the capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and is the second largest city in the country. With a wealth of unique historic architecture and a modern flair, it has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Barcelona has many quarters, but the most important and interesting for visitors are: Ciutat Vella, Barcelona’s old town, with the medieval Barri Gotic; Eixample, the modernist quarter noted for its art nouveau buildings; Gràcia, a lively, gentrified working class neighborhood; and Barceloneta, historically a fisherman's quarter.

The most famous boulevard in Barcelona is La Rambla, where visitors can see street performers jump out at unsuspecting passers-by, enjoy the flower and pet stalls or just sit back and watch all of Barcelona walk by. La Plaça Reial is located next to La Rambla in the Ciutat Vella, and is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.

Barcelona is a mecca for fans of world-famous architect Antonio Gaudí. La Pedrera (or Casa Milà) is a Gaudí creation which hosts a large exposition of his works. Park Güell is a large park with a sculpture portion, full of walkways and distinct and colorful Gaudí sculptures. Finally, there’s Gaudí’s life project and grandest undertaking, the still-unfinished La Sagrada Família. This massive cathedral has been under construction for over 125 years!

If you’re a soccer freak, you can’t miss a visit to Camp Nou, the home ground for Barcelona’s biggest and most popular team (FC Barcelona), and one of Europe’s greatest soccer ‘cathedrals.’ 

The Raval is the neighborhood to the right of the Ramblas, if you face the ocean. In the past, this area was beside the river, and constituted the city limits. Traditionally this was a relatively poor area with much of the city's immigrant population living here. There is plenty of cultural variety, the street-life gives it color and character. Once considered unsafe, the Raval is now undergoing sustained urban regeneration. The local government, in an attempt to clean up the neighborhood, has demolished many old buildings, widened streets and opened new squares for people to congregate in. The result is an area in which old and new are mixed.

Wondering what that long line is all about? It is to get one step closer to what's cooking at Les Quinze Nits! This is actually a culinary school where innovative dishes are prepared by students. Watch enthusiastic youngsters turn out delicious Mediterranean dishes in the open kitchen as you await your order. Serving everything from seafood to pastas, and salads to desserts, the eatery maintains low rates and high standards. The service is a bit slow, so be prepared for a long wait before you get to experience the Quinze magic.