B AR CELONA travel
BARCELONA,
SPAIN
POPULATION
1.6 million
OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE
Catalan
CURRENCY
Euro
PEAK SEASON
May to July
PHOTO: corbis
CLIMATE
A myriad of colours play
across an early evening
sky just before sunset,
bathing the city skyline in
a soft glow. This unusual
shot of the Barcelona
cityscape is captured
from Montjuic hill, high
above the urban sprawl
Mild winters and hot
humid summers
MUST TRY
Don’t miss the
chance to enjoy a
fresh seafood lunch
while gazing over
Barceloneta beach
A sunny winter morning in
Barcelona is an attraction in
itself. You feel the rush of anticipation just
venturing outdoors and exploring. But
turn your Google Maps off, and follow the
locals instead. This city has everything,
ranging from noisy thoroughfares to wide,
tree-lined boulevards and narrow villagelike streets; and from luxury international
brands to local-made ateliers.
Our route will start at the seaside
then in to the mountains, as the city
climbs slowly but steadily from the
Mediterranean coast, to the Collserola
range crowned by the Collserola tower,
with its 360-degree viewing deck at an
altitude of 560 metres. You’ll see the
Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, by the
quiet vintage amusement park, Tibidabo.
Both buildings are easily spotted from all
across the city, so feel free to use them as
your local north star as you walk.
A CULTURAL TAPAS
Let’s start in the historical old town. Each
area in the city, and in the old town itself,
has its own magnetism and resident
urban tribe. El Raval, to the left of La
Rambla as you look at the city map, may
not have as many medieval buildings as
the Gothic quarter, yet it’s much more
of an experience. There’s a tremendous
cultural blend here, among narrow streets
including university students, distracted
tourists, busy bars and restaurants,
museums, quaint markets alongside both
old and new buildings — literally, there’s a
little bit of everything.
AS COTT LIVING 17