BY RENU MEHTA, BARCELONA:
Five must to do things when in Barcelona:
Hop On Hop Off Tour
Take the Hop On Hop off Tour on the Barcelona Bus Turistic that has been in operation since 1987. There are two lines – the Blue Line and the Red Line and they take you all over town to show you the historic must visit spots in Barcelona. They also provide free Wifi to passengers.
Walking Tour
The Walking Tour is a must in Barcelona. Often these tours are free with guides offering voluntary service to tourists. As you meander slowly from the Centre of the city – Pt Calalunya – you learn about the spectacular tales of the city, see the historic buildings, learn about the outbreak of yellow fever that struck the city in 1821, wiping out almost 40 percent of the population.
La Rambla
How can one go to Barcelona and not go to La Rambla? The street stretches approximately 1.2 km and is lined with restaurants, attractions, even a wax museum. Thousands of tourists hit the boulevard to get a true feel of the Spanish culture. Of course one must beware of pickpockets and thieves.
Sagrada Famillia
This UNESCO World Heritage site is an Antoni0 Gaudi creation. Gaudí took over from Francisco de Paula del Villar, the architect on the project and devoted the rest of his life to the project. He is also buried in the crypt. He was only able to complete 25 per cent of the project and yet it is a beautiful masterpiece of design. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, as it is popularly known, was proclaimed as a minor basilica in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. .
Full day Monserrat tour with Lunch and Wine tasting
Venture into the hills for a full day Monserrat tour, venture through the Basilica and Monastry to visit the 12th-century wooden statue of La Moreneta – The Black Madonna – Catalonia’s patron saint.
Below – The Square at La Rambla – video by Rohan Rai
