Public art and dazzling architecture are everywhere in Barcelona. The northern city is known as the home of Spain’s famous Art Nouveau architect, Atonin Gaudi and it seems everywhere you look there’s another beautiful building or art museum to explore. Here are some of the highlights of Barcelona, one of the most visually stunning cities in Spain.
Gaudi Architecture Barcelona tops the list of cities with great architecture, thanks largely to the work of Antonin Gaudi. Several of the masters works are
On our first night in the Basque town of San Sebastian, in northern Spain, I watched in awe as a bartender lifted what looked like a bottle of white wine, high above his head, and then let its light gold liquid cascade down into a glass on the bar. I asked the bartender about the drink, and thus began my education in the Basque drink of sidra, or cider.
Spain’s Rioja region, in the north central part of the country, is about six hours from Barcelona by bus and 2 hours from San Sebastian. There are over 500 wineries in this area, many of which welcome tourists for tours and tastings. However, almost all require advance reservations, and some only offer tours in Spanish.
Madrid is a bustling city, a transportation hub in the center of Spain, and an important center for commerce and art in the country, but as a tourist you can get a good feel for the city in two to three days. If you want to get out and explore more of the surrounding area, you’re in luck. There are several easy, worthwhile day trips you can take to surrounding areas, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
San Sebastian, in the northern Basque country, is one of my favorite places in Spain. Not as flashy as some of the southern beach towns of the Costa del Sol, San Sebastian doesn’t offer a whole lot in the way of attractions. What it does offer though, it does incredibly well. And that is beautiful beaches, stunning views, and some of the best food in all of Spain.
While you could easily spend a week in Barcelona and still miss out on some of the city’s amazing places and sights, you can get a good taste of the city and hit the highlights in just a few days. If you have extra time on top of that, it’s easy and worthwhile to get out of the city enjoy some of the surrounding Catalunya area of Spain. Here are a few ideas for easy day trips from Barcelona.
