Angie Walls
(photo by Vladitto from Shutterstock)
Community rated top 4 of 10 articles
Published on Helium.com,  July 7, 2009

Barcelona has a vibrant rhythm of its own, which speaks to summers on the sun-kissed Mediterranean beaches, Moroccan-style settings, blossoming vineyards in the countryside and feasting with good company by moonlight. Quite the city of contrasts, Barcelona has a unique blend of cultures due to the major influences of Roman, Moorish, and Renaissance history.

This is the destination that appeals to all travel tastes, from art aficionados to devoted foodies to history buffs. Perhaps you’re the kind of traveler who wants to dive into new cultures. It’s not hard to become part of this destination, as it is part of an all-embracing, proudly hospitable country.

Barcelona prides itself on sharing its sensational wines around the table, and igniting warm memories and new friendships. Walk down the city’s streets, and you’ll be swept up in its picturesque architecture and the inspiring energy that radiates across the crowds. Discover the magnetism of Barcelona, and the top five attractions that you can’t afford to miss.

GOTHIC QUARTER
This historic area of Barcelona is an open-air museum of their abounding heritage. You’ll see the city’s many faces through blocks of impressive works of architecture. As you work your way through the narrow streets, squares, and Gothic cathedrals of the Gothic Quarter, you’ll run into other historic areas including the Ribera and La Rambla districts.

In La Rambla, the Boquera Market is great for the culinary enthusiast. This is where the city’s six largest marketplaces merge, offering any amazing array of colorful fruits from the mountains, verdant vegetables, fresh fish, and other Catalan specialties. There are also a number of art galleries, concert halls, and museums along the way, which details of Barcelona’s Gothic and medieval past.

COSTA DEL GARRAF
The Spanish coast is dotted with small coves and the dreamiest sand beaches. The Costa del Garraf presents Barcelona’s Mediterranean style in its amazing aqua seawaters and warm temperatures. This is the spot to kick up your feet and soak up the ambiance of miles of golden beaches, local wildlife, fiestas and siestas under the sun. Costa del Garraf is particularly popular for vacation rentals and villas right on the beach. You can count on a luxurious setup, clearly with tourists in mind, on the beaches of Castelldefels and Cubelles.

EL BORN
The Passeig del Born is the scene of jousts and merry making of the medieval period. Located on the end of Carrer Montcada, this ancient square is right next to the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. You’ll spot numbered cannonballs under the benches, which pay tribute to the 1714 attack on Barcelona during the 14-year Spanish War. At the Museu de Histria del la Ciutat, find spectacular views overlooking the historic ruins dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries.

After a well-spent afternoon exploring El Born, retreat into one of this neighborhood’s sensational eateries, tapas bars, and fusion restaurants. In Spain, people traditionally eat much later than Americans are accustomed. Expect lunch to start between 2 and 4 pm, and dinner around 11 pm. Catalan chefs create their own brand of three-course meals, some of them mix the tastes of Lebanese, Moroccan, and Thai, while others dare to bring cultural dishes to the area’s tourists. This is quite the hot dining spot in Barcelona, and often with special culinary tours, you can take part in a hands-on food tour or private group dinner with one of these local chefs.

PICASSO & TAPIES MUSEUMS
Another stunning attraction on the Carrer del Montcada, the Museu Picasso is a cultural museum that honors Picasso’s life and the masterpieces he contributed to the world ofart. Designed in stately stone architecture on the outside, the inside devotes two floors to Picasso’s impressionist paintings, early ceramics, and Rose Period works such as The Portrait of Seora Canals. The rest of the museum tells the stories of his personal life, travels, and influence.

Pay homage to another important artist with roots in Barcelona by visiting the Fundaci Tapies located close to the University of Barcelona. A curious brick and iron building topped with coiled wire, the site first opened its doors in the ’90s to promote the creative genius of Tapies. His great vision and opening of the foundation promotes and inspires the contemporary art community.

THE CAVA TRAIL
Only 30 miles south of the city, the Cava Trail presents the very best of the region’s wine tours. Once you’ve ventured outside of Barcelona by car, you’ll find a seemingly endless landscape of beautiful vineyards on both sides of the road. If you’ve ordered wine at a restaurant from the Penedes region or Catalunya, you’ll find the same quality taste directly from the source here. October is an exciting time to drive down the Cava Trail, because it’s the end of the harvest. They call it La Verema, and it is the month of many festivals, tasting sessions, demonstrations, and grape-trampling competitions.

You’ll find more than 80 different vineyards producing fine white and red wines on the trail. This area is famous for making cava, or Catalan Champagne, which is usually only paired with the dessert course or used for special celebrations.