[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Active World Journeys travel blog, Jack Witt explores the pulse of Barcelona, a four-day visit exploring flamenco, Gaudí architecture, historic Gothic streets, and the vibrant spirit of Spain’s cultural capital.
A city that seems to pulse, that’s Barcelona. Locals with a proud spirit, that’s Barcelona. A group of us visited Barcelona recently for four days and had a captivating time exploring Spain’s second-largest city (Madrid is the largest and the capital). Barcelona is home to a whopping nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, creating a rich cultural experience for the enthusiastic traveler.
Flamenco Night in Barcelona
On our arrival evening in Barcelona, we attended a Flamenco Show. While Flamenco actually originated in the southern region of Spain called Andalusia, Tablao Flamenco in Barcelona has been performing shows since 1970 and has won numerous awards throughout the years. They completely dazzled us! The heart and passion that the performers put into the show were incredible.
Exploring the Gothic Quarter
On our first full day, we did a walking tour around the Old Gothic Quarters of Barcelona, learning about the Roman, Jewish, and Christian history of the city. It’s a pedestrian-friendly, medieval maze-filled area with hidden courtyards, lively squares, playful schoolyards, and notable historic landmarks. We ended our day at the delightful Picasso Museum. Picasso lived in Barcelona for nine years, where he developed his style. He was deeply connected to the local avant-garde cultural circles in Barcelona, which helped him transition from 19th-century realism to 20th-century modernism.
Gaudí’s Architectural Wonders
On our second full day in Barcelona, we took a tour of the Gaudí architecture sites. Antoni Gaudí’s ideas shaped the way of thinking about architecture for a whole generation. Using natural and anarchic geometric forms, he brought to life unusual and unique designs. We visited some of his buildings around town, including Casa Batlló and Casa Milà. But the structure that marvels the most is his unfinished masterpiece – The Sagrada Família. Under construction since 1883, and the largest unfinished Catholic Church in the world, it’s a wildly creative Modernista-style building in the Eixample district of Barcelona. I’ve travelled quite a bit around the world with my travel brand Active World Journeys, and I’ve never really seen anything like it. It stuns you to stare in awe at its one-of-a-kind exterior with eyes wide and jaw dropped.
Barcelona’s Olympic Beaches
Did you know Barcelona’s beaches were man-made for the 1992 Olympic Games? We ended our day at what had once been factories, railroads, and a polluted waterfront, at a beautiful beach made of sand imported from Egypt and a vibrant promenade of hotels, bars, restaurants, and sporting facilities. Barcelona gets Gold for this amazing transformation!
Our experience in Barcelona created lasting memories, and in four days we saw quite a bit of the most important sites, but still just scratched her surface. On this short, first-timers visit to Barcelona, it didn’t quite allow us adequate time to soak up all the artistic and Bohemian lifestyle that is the heartbeat of the city. I’d look forward to coming back at some point in the future to immerse myself deeper and longer into that Urban fabric. Until then, though, thank you, Barcelona, you did not disappoint as a world-class city.
Cheers,
Jack Witt, MS, CPT
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