The historical heart of the city can be found in the districts surrounding the Placa Catalunya.  Here you will find the Gothic Quarter or “Barri Gòtic” with its medieval buildings and winding streets.

Running from the Placa Catalunya to Port Vell, Las Ramblas is a unique experience that should not be missed;  a series of 5 different streets or “ramblas”, each with their own history and character.  Today, the street is mostly pedestrianised with a good selection of shops and restaurants.  One of the most popular shops is the “Corte Ingles” at the northern end of Las Ramblas.  If you can’t find what you want anywhere else in Barcelona, you’re bound to find it in this huge department store.  Other attractions along Las Ramblas include a large circular floor mosaic by Catalan artist Joan Miro, the Christopher Columbus monument and the Museum of Erotica as well as numerous street performers and portrait artists.

The work of Antoni Gaudi can be seen throughout the city but his best known work is the Sagrada Familia church.  His ambitious design is rich with Christian symbolism and highly ornate with 3 facades, 12 small towers (one for each apostle), a dome-shaped tower and 4 larger “evangalist” towers which encircle the central spire.  Gaudi began the project in 1891 and work is still ongoing today with completion not expected until the year 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death.