Hello
there!
How
have you been doing? Today it was a pretty exciting day for me as I
did a ballet photo shoot in the morning which was pretty crazy yet
fun with MW Photography, a ballet photographer based in Barcelona.
I’ve worked with her before other times but today I think we did
some very pretty pictures and we even tried some improvisation which
I think it can look very very nice. I’m so excited to see the
result!
I’m
coming today with a list of my favorite places of Barcelona as today
we did a route through some of them for the photo shoot. It’s very
hard to choose but I think I’ll be able to do a list of 10 of the
must visit places from this wonderful city.
Passeig
de Gràcia
This is
the 5th Avenue from Barcelona. From Mango to Valentino you can walk
the full passage going from store to store finding from the high end
brands to the most popular ones while walking past fantastic art
noveau buildings like La Pedrera or La Casa Batlló from Antoni
Gaudí. Prices to enter into this buildings are high but if I must
recommend one I would say La Pedrera before Sagrada Familia or Parc
Güell as it has a lot of story in it and it’s right in the heart
of the city.
If
you’re looking for a nice afternoon walk, this is the right place
for you. Very recommended coffee stop at Flax and Kale Passage on the
top floor of H&M at the end of the street. Beautiful views and
very interesting and healthy options to choose from.
Barri
de Gràcia
It’s
one of the most interesting, surprising, artistic and bohemian
neighborhoods from the city. Full of alternative shops and coffee
places you can also find small art galleries, vintage stores and
bookshops or cinemas with very special and different offers mostly in
O.V. with subtitles. People in this neighborhood are extremely nice
and have created a small community within the neighborhood. Is that
so that they even have a special festivity for this neighborhood
during summer were all neighbors get together in order to decorate
the streets with recycled materials and there’s a competition to
see which street is best in the artistic side. Each street can choose
a specific theme and, for example, on the Verdi street they chose a
couple of years ago to do a musical theme that won the competition.
It’s a really great opportunity to live the true essence of this
fantastic part of the city.
Decorations on the festivity time in summer
Platja
de la Barceloneta
Although
Barcelona is full of different beaches (Mar Bella, Llevant, Nova Mar
Bella, Fòrum...) I think this one is the best one. It’s right next
to the Wella Hotel which is pretty impressive and you’re also near
the funicular and the Columbus statue. Yes, it does get quite crowded
during summer but it’s worth it waking up early to enjoy the
beautiful Mediterranean more calmly.
Also,
if you’re looking for party, walking through the promenade near the
sea you can find several night clubs such as Pacha, Opium or Shoko.
Sant
Felip Neri, Plaça de l’Ajuntament and Cathedral
Well,
in here I’ve put three places together but they’re all right next
to each other almost. They’re located in the Gòtic neighborhood
which is one of the most special zones from Barcelona. Each of these
three places have a lot of history in them and their architecture is
really impressive.
From
Sant Felip Neri I would like to remark that it was a church that
during the civil war it was shot and bombarded and it still has the
walls with all of the marks the war left. Although you could think
that it might be a sad place, it’s actually one of the most
peaceful places of the city. Because it’s covered by some trees and
when it’s sunny a very beautiful sunlight comes in it makes the
place even more celestial if it’s even possible.
The
Cathedral and the city hall are also very nice and emblematic to the
city and if you can get a visit inside them, even better.
Búnkers del Carmel
Not one
of the easiest places to access to but it’s very worth it if you’re
looking for one of the most extraordinary views from the city. They
also have a lot of history in them that it’s worth reading and
listening to but the best part is that amazing view that leaves
everyone without breath. When I went this morning to shoot there I
must say that it got a bit hard to concentrate because for me that
view was really breathtaking.
Gran
Teatre del Liceu
The
opera house of Barcelona is a work of art inside and outside. If you
can’t come for a show, try to get in for a guided tour of the
theater. One of the most beautiful theaters in Europe, with lots of
history and years in it yet one of the most advanced as well. I’ve
had the pleasure to perform three times in there and it really is
amazing. That stages just brings life and great energy to the public
and the performers at the same time and the staff is one of the most
professional and well trained ones I’ve ever seen.
Mercat
de la Boqueria
Right
next to the opera house you can find this very famous market known
for the explosion of color in the entrance of it given by the fruit
shops that welcome you in the entry. In Spain there’s a big
tradition of markets and this one is always very alive and real. Yes,
there’s a lot of tourists but the sellers are traditional and get
very close with the costumer which I think it’s fantastic and gives
this market a pedigree that everyone loves.
Parc
de Montjuïc i Plaça Espanya
I
actually told you in the post of La Nit dels Museus about Montjuïc
but I wanted to remind you that this can’t be missed. If you visit
the park that’s situated behind the MNAC you’ll be mesmerized not
only by the view but also by the things you can find in there like La
font del Gat or the Greek Theater.
Going
down from MNAC you can walk to Plaça Espanya that’s also pretty
impressive not just for the view but also to see the reconstruction
of the bullring Las Arenas that’s now a very big shopping center.
Tibidabo
This is
another one of the highest points of the city with another very
beautiful view of the city but it has a plus: it has an amusement
park in it.
This
park had a lot of trouble in the past and they were about to close it
for a while but that place has given me and a whole lot of families
probably some of the best times of their lives. Yes, it’s small but
it’s very unique and gives the city and special character. All the
citizens got really involve with preserving the park and now it’s
more alive than ever. I highly recommend going on the Ferris wheel
when the sun is going down. The view is an image you won’t be able
to get away from your mind.
You can find this church right next to the amusement park
And
that’s it! I left so many places out that are very worth to visit
as well but this would be the ten places I wouldn’t leave out for a
first visit to the city.
I hope
you got inspired to get a ticket to Barcelona and spend a holiday in
here! I assure you it won’t disappoint you at all.
I wish
you enjoyed the post and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Love,
Muriel
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