Orientation

If you are walking down Las Ramblas from the north (Plaça Catalunya) there are opportunities to veer off to various other neighborhoods in the city including two of the oldest in the city, Raval and Barri Gòtic. On the right side is the Raval area, a diverse immigrant section full of bars, nightclubs and cabarets and on the left the Barri Gòtic (or Gothic Quarter), the center of the old city of Barcelona.

What To See On Las Ramblas

In all honesty it’s hard to answer this question. The possibilities are endless! The central area of the street is pedestrian, with two small lanes on either side. Each day you’ll find thousands of locals, tourists and all that’s in between walking up and down Las Ramblas. There are tons of little stands selling anything from FC Barcelona football jerseys to small souvenirs to artwork to live flowers.

There are tons of little restaurants along the way, all advertising an enticing plate of tapas with an “authentic Spanish Sangria”. I would recommend not to eat on Las Ramblas, however, no matter how good the food sounds. The prices are typically higher and the quality much lower. If you venture out a little in either direction you can find tons of little places with a higher value for lower cost.

A bit expensive, but a cool place to stop is the La Boqueria market. This is an authentic food market, dating back to the 1300s, which has tons of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, cheeses, grains, sweets and little tapas bars and places for a quick snack.

Also make sure to see the live statues that frequent Las Ramblas, especially on the south end. If you put a little money in their cup they will do a “performance”. Some really gather a crowd too!

Near the Liceu Theatre there is also a piece by Miró. It is a large circular colored mosaic tiling that is right in the center of the walkway. If you look closely you can find one tile signed by Miró himself.

Safety Along Las Ramblas

There are many kinds of people you’ll find along Las Ramblas. This includes pickpockets and thieves on the lookout for unsuspecting tourists excited about their trip. Keep your bags in front of you, even if you have a backpack. If someone comes to talk to you proceed with caution. Especially be careful in areas where it gets really crowded because the pickpockets can easily reach into your pockets without you realizing!

[Barcelona Tourist Guide]

Where to stay in Caldetas

I’ve been lucky enough to spend time there for a few weeks at a time here and there over the past few years, staying in a really lovely vacation apartment built up on top of the hill with beautiful views of the town below and the Mediterranean Sea.

Caldetas Town

What I especially love about visiting Caldetas is the feeling of utter relaxation. You can totally imagine why it has a reputation as being a spa retreat. The slow pace of life, strict adherence to the siesta policy and, of course, the presence of the sea just minutes from the town center set the tone for the kind of vacation you’re going to spend there: chilled out.

Just walking around and exploring the little streets is one of my favorite things to do there! There is even a small museum, called Fundacio Palau, which exhibits some works from Picasso.

There is even a thermal bathhouse in the town center that uses only the purest water from the mountains above. I’ve been there, and believe me, it’s everything you would expect!

When you’re not relaxing in a whirlpool, there are also many little restaurants that call this charming town home. Down the main strip is where you will find the majority of them- a mix of seafood, rustic Spanish, tapas bars, and a pizza place as well as small cafes and bars. If you spend a little time exploring the side streets there are also a few more restaurants, including one of my favorites- Fonda Manau

Like most Spanish villages and cities, there is also a central market on the main street, which has different sections for meat, vegetables, fruits, cheese and fresh seafood. As well, there is an open air market that was open on Tuesday and Friday mornings when I was there. The prices are very low and you can get local ingredients right from the farmers. Also, because Caldetas is not a hugely touristic destination, the locals are very friendly for the most part.

A short story: when ordering some meat for dinner from the butcher at the local market, I misheard the price and thought she said 13 euros instead of 30. When she went to ring me up, the price was much higher than expected and I realized my mistake. When I explained it to her she simply asked where I was staying and told me to bring the rest of the money when I came back down from the house the next time! That’s for sure not something you see everyday!

The Best Part? The Beach!

The star of the show in Caldetas is the beach, of course. There isn’t much better than waking up on a bright, sunny summer day and throwing on your bathing suit, walking 10 minutes down a hill and setting yourself up in the sand for the day.

The water is really clear and the beach was never super crowded when I’ve been there. Plus there are tons of little beach bars along the way to provide a nice respite from the hot Spanish sun.

If you like, there are also surfing and windsurfing classes offered during the summer months at reasonable prices.

For days when the weather isn’t warm enough for the beach or you simply need a change of scenery, you can easily take the train from the town center up or down the coast. Just an hour ride south you arrive in the Plaça de la Catalunya in the heart of Barcelona or a few hours up the coast is the town of Figueres, Dalí’s hometown and the location of the Dalí Theatre and Museum. Or, for a short trip, there are also many little town along the way that are fun to explore!

Just keep in mind that in many of the small villages most people won’t speak English, so you may want to brush up on your Spanish, or even better, Catalan!

Unlike many tourist attractions, the Mercat de la Boqueria (literally: Butcher’s Market) is still deeply associated and intertwined with the lives of the locals.

On any given day you can find elder Spanish señoras picking up fresh ingredients from one of the many 3rd or 4th generation venders for the day’s lunch or groups of friends enjoying some delicious dishes at one of the many small restaurants inside, all surrounded by clusters of tourists taking photos of the colorful fruit displays that one could even consider artwork.

The hustle and bustle, sounds and smells just add to the overall experience of what you feel like a big market should be!

Interesting fact: It’s really old, too!

Commercial activity at the Mercat de la Boqueria dates back to the 13^th century. Even during those times Las Ramblas was highly frequented street in the city and therefore an ideal location for a market. It originated just as a place to sell meat (hence the name).

It operated unofficially as a market for many centuries until it was officially recognized in 1827 and the current market was founded. In 1861 fruit and vegetable venders received the rights to sell their goods. Then came flower venders, and some merchants would even include a flower with customer purchases!

Up until 1914 the market was still open air, but that changed when a metal roof was installed to provide protection from the sun and bad weather.

What can you buy at the Mercat de la Boqueria?

A lot.

There are, of course, many butcher stands selling fresh cuts of meats such as beef, lamb, chicken, rabbit and even oxen, which was the original purpose of the market. You can also find deli stands selling famous Spanish Jamón as well as other cured meats and cheeses. (Tip: ask to try a sample of the Jamón!).

Then of course, there are many stands selling fresh fruits and vegetables, juices and olives as well as legumes and other beans.

And we can’t forget the many fresh fish venders, where some even have live catches waiting to be bought!

And to top it off- tons of candies and sweets!

For a comprehensive list of the all the current venders and were they are located click here.

If you’re not in the mood to prepare something yourself, just stop at one of the many quick eateries inside the market, which offer a wide variety of food and drink options- everything from pizza to fried calamari at reasonable prices.

You can also make a reservation at one of many of Barcelona’s well-known restaurants through the Eat Boqueria program. Starting at 40,00 € for a complete menu, select which restaurant appeals the most to you. The entire menu is prepared using super fresh ingredients from the La Boqueria Market.

A visit to the La Boquería Market is a great way to spend a few hours up close and personal with traditional Spanish cuisine– one of my favorites- try some new things and get a taste of what the Barcelona life is all about!

[Boqueria]

You could easily get lost in the ancient beauty of the Cathedral in Sevilla or totally dumbfounded at the history and tolerance illustrated in the Mosque/Cathedral of Córdoba, but of all that I’ve been too, nothing was quite as unique as the Sagrada Familia in terms of its architecture and design.

Construction began in 1882, with Gaudí joining in 1883. He soon proposed to move away from the original Neo-gothic design for something that was more innovative and impressive, combining with a new Art-Nouveau style. Gaudí worked endlessly on the church, making it is sole focus from 1914 on. During his lifetime, he finished the crypt, where he is buried today, and the foundations for the Nativity façade began.

In 1909, he built the Sagrada Familia provisional school buildings for children of the workers and local children. In 1911 he designed the Passion façade.

Gaudí was so dedicated to this project that he even lived in his studio workshop, located in the church, during the last parts of his life. He produced the designed for the naves and the roof in 1923 and the first bell tower on the Nativity façade was finished on November 30, 1925. This would be the only tower that Gaudí saw completed as he tragically died in an accident on June 10, 1926.

After Gaudí’s death, collaborators and fellow architects have used his designs to continue with the design and construction of the Sagrada Familia. Progress is quite slow, however, because the foundation relies solely on private donations and recently the ticket entrance price of visitors to enter. It is expected to be completed by 2026, on the centennial anniversary of Gaudí’s death, though that is not yet for certain.

Though I have visited the Sagrada Familia a few times, both inside and out, and am always impressed, inspired and just simply awestruck each time. The ornateness of the design, the fluent mix of modern and tradition that Gaudí and fellow architects managed to capture so seamlessly and simply the stunning beauty of the inside when the sun shines through the bright stained glass windows is like no where I’ve ever been before.

Like with most of Gaudí’s work showcased in Barcelona, his use of color is unmatched. Gaudí felt that “color is the expression of life”, and it is truly reflected in the Sagrada Familia.

It almost sounds a bit silly to say, “this is a highlight of the Sagrada Familia” because simply, it is all a highlight. But here goes…

The interior of the church has a vault-and-pillar system, which created a tree-like column structure. Gaudí felt a distinct connection with nature in religion. There are also the five naves, with the central being the tallest. Lastly, the apse is must-see, which is where the altar stands. Gaudí designed the interior so that a visitor standing in the main entrance could see the vaults of the nave, crossing and apse.

From the outside, there are three grand facades, which means you don’t want to miss walking around the entire church! They are the Nativity façade to the east, the first completed, the Passion façade to the west and the Glory façade to the south, which is not yet completed. Spend some time just trying to take in all the stunning details of these– you’ll be there all day!

Lastly, the spires or towers of the Sagrada Familia are perhaps one its most distinctive features, and are both equally impressive from inside as from out.

Though the church is absolutely huge (one of the largest in the world) there will most always be a line to enter. I would recommend buying your ticket ahead of time to beat the big lines. Also, make sure that you dress conservatively or bring a scarf to cover shoulders if necessary. For any further information on planning your visit, they have a great website with all the necessary information.

[Sagrada Familia], [Barcelona.de], [Wikipedia]