Barcelona is a city on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and rests at the foot of Montjuic; It is a true jewel of tourism. But it is not only that, but it is also a city full of historic sites and imposing monuments.
The capital of Spain receives more than 8 million tourists every year, and the number is increasing. The city offers endless possibilities for tourists and international students who travel to attend a spanish language school Barcelona.
Those who want to enjoy the sun and the beach can do so without moving too much since the best beaches are close to the city center. However, the monuments displayed throughout the city are one of the main reasons tourists choose this destination.
There are many beautiful monuments worthy of being observed in the Catalan capital. In this article, we will mention which are the most beautiful monuments that you cannot miss.
We are talking about a city that houses 2000 years of history, which overflows with emblematic historical sites from the Roman, medieval and modern times. There is so much to see here that you must have everything well planned to make the most of your time. Let us begin! Whether you are on vacation or taking a spanish course Barcelona, prepare to visit the most important monuments that you cannot miss during your stay.
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La Sagrada Familia
Of course, we will start our recommendation with one of the obligatory stops to make when you are in Barcelona. It is one of the city’s most important and imposing monuments; “The Holy Family”.
It is one of the most visited monuments in all of Spain it can be said that it is one of the most visited churches in all of Europe, after the Basilica of San Pedro in Rome. In 2005 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Sagrada Familia is a neo-gothic church whose construction began in 1882. Still, a year later, the project was handed over to Gaudí, who completely modified it, designing a very innovative temple made up of 18 towers, of which Gaudí was only able to finish one before his death in 1926.
Since his death, the project remained unfinished. Still, today its construction continues in the hands of several artists thanks to the conservation of its plans and the money obtained through donations and visits. When its construction is finished, it will be the tallest church globally.
Of the 18 towers designed, eight have been built so far. Each building will have a different height based on the religious hierarchy they represent. Gaudí’s original idea was for 12 towers to symbolize the Apostles, four the Evangelists, and one for Mary and one for Jesus.
When visiting the church, you can go to the top of some towers, which allows beautiful views of the city and observe some temple details from close up.
The Sagrada Familia also has three symbolic facades. The facade will represent death, the Final Judgment, Glory, and hell. The “Nativity Facade” is dedicated to the birth of Christ and is profusely decorated and full of life. The “Passion Facade” is much more austere and straightforward than the other two, as it aims to reflect the suffering of Jesus during the Crucifixion. And the “Facade of Glory” is the main one and therefore is much larger and more monumental than the rest. This is not finished, but as Gaudí knew that he would not be able to build it, he left the sketches and plans so that those who succeeded him could finish it.
More than 70% of the temple has already been built, and it is estimated that it will be completed this year,
Park Guell
It is a construction carried out by Gaudí, which began as a set of luxury residences, but later that idea was abandoned, and the site ended up becoming a park that seemed magical.
It was inaugurated in 1922, and in 1984, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is today one of the main tourist sites in Barcelona.
It is a park that covers more than 17 hectares with its undulating forms, figures of animals, columns in the form of trees, and geometric shapes. Almost the entire surface is made with mosaics made of ceramic pieces of different colors. It is really a very colorful park.
The forms of nature-inspired Gaudí, and in the center of the park, there is a large square with a massive bench over 100 meters long, which looks like a snake covered in hundreds of pieces of colorful ceramics.
Here is also the Gaudí House Museum, where several works by the architect are on display. You can’t stop visiting it! It is a truly magical and very extravagant place
La Pedrera
Casa Milá, better known as “La Pedrera,” is another monument that you cannot miss in Barcelona. It was built between 1906 and 1910 by Antoni Gaudí, with a modernist design. The roof stands out, built with great artistic and symbolic strength because the ventilation towers and chimneys pretend to be sculptures of petrified warriors.
Casa Batllo
It is another work by the magnificent Gaudí, one of the most mature that he has done. It stands out above the rest of the buildings on the block due to its shapes and colors, representing a dragon and a knight with a lance from which a rose is born, inspired by the legend of Sant Jordi. It is one of the most beautiful and original buildings globally, declared a World Heritage Site.
Barcelona’s cathedral
It is also known as La Seu or the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. It is the most important temple in the city, after La Sagrada Familia.
It is a magnificent Gothic-style building built between the 13th and 15th centuries on top of an old Romanesque church, whose remains can be seen when visiting the crypt of Santa Eulalia (patron saint of the city).
It is known for its abbey, which is quite unusual since it has ponds, beautiful gardens, and a fountain from the mid-15th century. Its 13 geese located in the park also stand out, representing the 13 years of martyrdom applied to little Eulalia for refusing to renounce the Christian faith.