Barcelona is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia and the province of the same name, which are located in the north-east of Spain. It lies on the shores of the Mediterranean, some 120 km south of the Pyrenees and the French frontier, on a plain bordered by the sea to the east, the Sierra de Collserola to the west, the River Llobregat to the south, and Besós to the north. It is said that the city (which was originally known as Barcino) was founded by the Carthaginian Amílcar Barca; it was subsequently conquered by the Romans and the Arabs, and in 1801 became the capital of the County of Barcelona and later of the Kingdom of Aragon. Its development reached its height in the second half of the 18th century, and continued thanks to the enlargement of 1859 and the works of embellishment planned by Gaudí. In the vanguard of artistic and social progress, Barcelona is a city that has known how to reinvent itself and is continuously developing new projects and infrastructures. Population: 1,615,908

Tourist Information: Tourism Information Centre, Plaça Catalunya, 17 - basement. Open daily from 9:00 to 21:00. Tourist Office, Plaça San Jaume/Carrer de la Ciutat. Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00. Tourist Office Barcelona Sants Station, Plaça Països Catalans. Open in winter time Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00, Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8:00 to 14:00; in summer time from 8:00 to 20:00 daily. Airport Tourist Office terminal A & B. Open daily from 9:00 to 21:00. Tourist information: 93 368 97 30. More information at www.bcn.es

Youth Information: Centro de información y asesoramiento para jóvenes, Ferrán, 32. Free access to internet, advertising, press & labour information.

Weather: Barcelona enjoys a mediterranean weather with hot summers and warm winters. This is the current weather:

Telephones: Barcelona code number is 93, even necessary for local calls. For international calls dial 00 plus the country code you wish to call. Public telephones works with coins and prepaid cards on sale at newsagents. For telephone information dial 11888 or 11822.

Airport: El Prat Airport - BCN ( 902 404 704) is 12 km southwest from Barcelona, in the B22 exit from C-31 motorway. It has two terminals, T1 & T2, linked by a shuttle bus service every 6-7 minutes from intermodal building and departures way in T2 and arrivals way (level 0) in T1 (10 minute trip). Communicated with city center with buses L77 to Sant Joan Despí, L99 to Castelldefels, PR1 to El Prat, 46 to Plaça Espanya, night N17 to Plaça Catalunya, and Aerobus A1 & A2 every 15 minutes from every terminal to Plaça Espanya from Monday to Friday 5:30 to 22:15 and Saturday and Sunday 6:00 to 22:15(4.25 € / return 7.30 €). T1 is also communicated every 30 minutes with C2 Cercanías line to Sants Station and Plaça Catalunya daily from 6:08 to 22:08 (2.80 € / 25 minutes to Sants, 30 minutes to Plaça Catalunya). At every train arrival to the airport, another shuttle bus connects to T2. Taxi fare to central Barcelona cost around 25-30 €.

Train Stations: Estación de Sants, Plaça Països Catalans ( 93 490 11 22). Long distance trains and 34 daily high speed AVE trains to Madrid (3 hours; 101.30 €). Estación de França, Av. Marqués de L'argentera ( 93 496 30 06). RENFE Information: 93 490 02 02.

Bus Stations: Estación del Norte, Alí-Bei 84, besides Triumph Arc ( 902 260 606). Estación de Sants, Pl. Paisos Catalans ( 902 405 040). Telephones of main bus companies are: JULIA (to Montserrat) 93 490 40 00; SARFA (to Costa Brava) 93 265 11 58; ENATCAR (to Madrid and Galicia) 93 245 25 28; BACOMA (to Levante and Andalusia) 93 231 38 01; VIBASA (to Basque Country) 93 265 60 61; EUROLINES (to Europe) 93 490 40 00.

Port: Estación Marítima de Transmediterránea, Sant Bertran Pier ( 902 454 645). Connection to Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Mahon. Turbocat, Drassanes Terminal Building-Barcelona Pier, 1 ( 902 181 888). Connection to Alcudia (Mallorca) and Ciutadella (Menorca). Grandi Navi Veloci, North Pier / Sant Bertran ( 93 443 98 98). Connection to Genova.

Public Transport: Barcelona metropolitan public transport TMB ( 010) is divided into 6 different areas covered by a bus system of 70 lines, with night services nitbus from Plaça Catalunya. Metro open from Sunday to Thursday from 5:00 to 24:00, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 to 2:00. 1 trip ticket cost 1.30 €; 10 trip (T-10) for any kind of transport 7.20 € in zone 1, allowing transfers between different transportation systems during 75 minutes; 50 trip in 30 days (T-50/30): 29.80 €; monthly card (T-Mes): 46.25 €; 3 month card (T-Trimestre): 127 €; 1 day card (T-Dia): 5.50 €; 2 days: 10 €; 3 days: 14.30 €; 4 days: 18.30 €; and 5 days: 21.70 €. There is a youth card (T-Jove) for 90 days at 108 €. Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat - FGC ( 93 205 15 15) connects city center to main cities around from 1.30 € or 1.95 € for 1 or 2 zones, as Cercanias system. Tram operates at the northwest and southeast areas of the city, from Francesc Maciá Square to the cities of Esplugues and Cornellá, and also from Avenida Diagonal to Forum recint. There are 3 lines of tourist bus that you can get on and off at any point on the route and visit the city's most attractive sites. The price for one day is 20 € and for two days 26 € (on sale at the driver or at tourist information offices).

Taxis: T2 fare applies weekdays from 8:00 to 20:00, with a start charge of 2 € plus 0.86 € each kilometre and 17.80 € the waiting hour. T1 fare applies weekdays from 20:00 to 8:00 and 24 hours Saturday and bank days, with a start charge of 2 € plus 1.10 € each kilometre and 15.35 the waiting hour. Minimum fare to the airport is 20 € and supplements are 3.10 € to airport, 2.10 € to port and 1 € for each suitcase. Out of metropolitan area is T3 fare, with a start charge of 5.25 € plus 0.56 € each kilometre and 15.35 € the waiting hour. Radio Teléfono Taxi: 932 250 000. Barna Taxi, 933 577 755. Radio Taxi, 933 033 033. In the event of complaint 93 223 51 51.

Parking: Street parking is controlled by parquimeters: green for residents and blue for visitors, which operate from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00 depending on the area. Daily price for residents is 0.20 € on green spaces, and 2.60 € / hour for visitors, with a maximum time of 1 hour on green spaces and 2 hours on blue ones.

Bicycles: The city holds 130 km of cycle lanes, enhanced by the fact that Barcelona has an appropriate weather for cycling. Bicing is a public bike rental service offered by Barcelona's city council. To use it, the users need to buy a 30 € card that grants them access to the service for a full year. The cards could be purchased online or at the Customer Service's office located at Pl. Carles Pi i Sunyer, 8-10 - 08002 Barcelona ( Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 17:30). After purchasing the card, the users could pick their bike in any of the 100 stations that are located near Metro and trains stations, as well as public parkings, opened from Sunday to Thursday from 5.00 to 24.00 and on Friday and Saturday 24 hours a day. The service is free for the first 30 minutes, having to pay an extra 0,50 € por each additional half hour, until a maximum amount of 2 hours of use (if the time is exceeded, the user will be fined with 3 € for each additional hour). Byke Rental: Mirador de Colom, Portal de la Pau, s/n. Open daily May to October 10:00 to 20:00, November to April 10:00 to 18:00. 4.5 € per hour, 11 per 4 hours & 15 € per 8 hours.

Lost & found office: TMB ( 93 318 70 74), Metro Universitat Station. Open from 8:00 to 20:00. All items found are send later to Ayuntamiento de Barcelona Lost & Found Office, Carrer de la Ciutat, 9 ( 010).

Medical Assistance: Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital, San Antonio Maria Claret, 167. Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, Paseo Vall d'Hebrón, 119-129. Centre d'atenció Primaria la Barceloneta, Paseo Marítimo (la Barceloneta), 25.

24 hour pharmacies: Passeig de Gràcia, 90. Cervera, Muntaner, 254. A. Torres, Aribau, 62.

Emergencies: All the emergencies: 112; Medical Service: 061; Mossos d'esquadra: 088; Local Police: 092; National Police: 091.

Restaurants: Brasserie Flo, Jonqueres, 10 ( Urquinaona). French/Catalonian cuisine next to Palau de la Música Catalana. Tenorio, Passeig de Gràcia, 37 ( Passeig de Gràcia). Mediterranean fusion cuisine next to Casa Batlló. La Vaca Paca, Passeig de Gràcia, 21 ( Passeig de Gràcia). All you can eat buffet with a magnificent salad bar, pizzas, pasta, mediterranean rices, side dishes and barbacue grill. Orio Vildsvin, Ferrán, 38 ( Liceu). Tavern in the gothic quartier with relaxed atmosphere and informal seating. Menu includes oyster, pintxos and tapas. L'encis, Provença, 379 ( Verdaguer). Traditional catalonian cuisine. Els Fanals, Rambla de Catalunya, 13 ( Passeig de Gràcia). Mediterranean and creative cuisine. Moka, La Rambla, 126 ( Catalunya). Another restaurant from the same family, based in 'Market' cuisine and paellas. Kaitensushi, Passeig de Colom, 4 ( Barceloneta). Japanese buffet at reasonable prices. La Gavina, Plaça Pau Vila, 1, Edificio Palau de Mar ( Barceloneta). Wide variety of fisherman's cuisine and Mediterranean dishes such as: oven cooked and salt baked fish, seafood and fish casseroles, noodle paellas, rice dishes and broths. Can Costa, Passeig Joan de Borbó, 70 ( Barceloneta). Catalonian fisherman's cuisine in a two storey restaurant with terrace. Shôko, Passeig Marítim, 36 ( Ciutadella-Villa Olímpica). A fusion of asian and western cuisine.

Cafés: Café de L'Opera, La Rambla, 74 ( Liceu). From 1929, is one of the historical cafés in Barcelona. La Fianna, Banys Vells, 15 ( Jaume I). Lounge bar-cocktelería with a friendly atmosphere in the popular Born quartier.

Pubs & Clubs: London Bar, Nou de la Rambla, 34 ( Drassanes). Live music in a genuine night venue in Barcelona. Salambó, Torrijos, 51 ( Joanic). Cocktails & sport TV. Sala Apolo, Nou de la Rambla, 111 & 113 ( Paral.lel). Prestigius concert hall, with frequent parties as "Nitsa Club". Bóveda, Av. Paral.lel, 37 ( Paral.lel). Spanish & international pop & rock for young crowds. Quartier Pedralbes, Santa Caterina de Siena, 28 ( Estació de Zona Universitária). The best place in town to listen to music from the 60, 70 & 80s. Costa Breve, Aribau, 230. A meca for the high class people, with low roofs and pachanga music. The Sutton Club, Tuset, 13 ( Diagonal). Anothe club for the beautiful people and paradise for lovers of disco music. Magic, Passeig Picasso, 40 ( Barceloneta). Rock'n'roll club for all ages. Ball Centre, Sants, 82-96 ( Plaça de Sants). Salsa & latin music in this dancing school which holds frequent parties. Razzmatazz, Almogavers, 122 & Pamplona, 88 ( Bogatell). The best alternative club and concert hall in Barcelona since ages, now in two locations. Blue Moon, Rambla de Canaletes, 128 ( Catalunya). Cocktail bar inside Rivoli Hotel, offering live piano and jazz. Their dry martinis are an institution in Barcelona. Icebarcelona, Ramón Trías Fargas, 2 ( Ciutadella-Villa Olímpica). A bar where everything is made out of ice: the walls, the sofa, and even the glasses.

Gay venues: The area known as the gaixample is located in part of the city's Eixample district, within the boundaries of Gran Via, Rambla de Catalunya, Urgell and Valencia St, and their environs. Café Dietrich, Consell de Cent, 255 ( Universitat). Theatre-bar with glam parties, open dailiy from 18:00. Punto BCN, Muntaner, 63 ( Universitat). Two storey pub, downstairs for music and upstairs for sitting o playing billiards. G Café, Muntaner, 24 ( Universitat). Enjot a coffee or first drinks of the night in a modernistic lounge atmosphere accompanied by videos and music. Zeltas, Casanova, 75 ( Universitat). One of the best pubs in the scene, open daily from 22:30 to 3:00. Arena Sala Madre, Balmes, 32 ( Universitat). One of the biggest venues. Arena Classic, Diputació, 233 ( Universitat). Another venue from the same company. Arena Vip, Gran Vía, 593 ( Universitat/Passeig de Gràcia). Metro Disco, Sepúlveda, 185 ( Universitat). Late club. DBoy, Ronda Sant Pere 19-21 ( Urquinaona). The old Salvation club with a new image, two distinct spaces within the same club. Open fridays and saturdays night.

Times changes, timetables and prices vary continuously, attractions that were once interesting are no longer so a year later, and others that were not even mentioned become a must in no time. For this reason, at infoidiomas.com we are always updating and we would be grateful if our clients would tell us about details and information that has become obsolete. We will acknowledge them by publishing their names in future editions.

From the Plaça Catalunya in the city centre the Ramblas lead off to the south. Tradition has it that if you drink from the Fuente de Canaletes on this avenue you will return to Barcelona some day. Here stands the Gran Teatro del Liceo, reopened in 1999 after being damaged by fire in 1994 ( Liceu; guided tours at 10:00, non guided tours at 11:30, 12:00, 12:30 & 13:00; 8,50 & 4 € each); and the Plaça Reial with its tree-shaped street lamps designed by Gaudí in 1878, and the Fuente de las Tres Gracias (Fountain of the Three Graces). Opposite this square, the Palau Güell is noteworthy for the wrought ironwork of its façade.

Columbus monument

The end of the Ramblas is dominated by the Portal de la Pau and the Monument to Columbus, who points towards the American continent. The monument was built to conmemorate the return of Columbus from his first trip to the Americas, because it was at Barcelona that the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Ferdinand welcomed him home ( the viewpoint in the tower is open daily May to October from 9:00 to 20:30 and Novembre to April from 10:00 to 18:30; adults 2.50 €, children under 12 1.50 €). Les Drassanes -in avinguda Drassanes, 1- is the site of the old 13th century shipyard, now the Maritime Museum, which houses some of the best preserved medieval shipyars in Europe ( Drassanes; daily from 10:00 to 19:00; adults 6 €, under 16 and students under 25 y.o. 3 €). This square is where the avinguda Paral.lel begins and hold at the right the Museum of Contemporary Art-MACBA -in plaça del Angels, 1- a space designed by Richard Meier considered one of Barcelona's landmarks. The vivid contrast between Meier's architectural concept and the surrounding historical buildings makes for a stikking and stimulating situation. The museum shown mainly temporary exhibitions, with special attention paid to photography, video and graphic work ( Universitat; open in winter Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 11:00 to 19:30, Saurday from 10:00 to 20:00 & Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00, in summer Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday from 11:00 to 20:00, Saurday from 10:00 to 20:00 & Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 7.50 €, reduced 6 €).

Avinguda Paral.lel continues as far as the Plaça de Espanya, which with its two Venetian towers marks the start of the hill of Montjuïc ( Espanya). Past the towers, we come to the magic fountain and the National Catalunya Art Museum -reopened on December 2004- which houses collections of Romanic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art from Catalunya ( Espanya; Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Sunday and Holidays from 10:00 to 14:30; 8.50 € adults and 6 € students and youngsters under 21; free entrance first Sunday of each month). Montjuïc includes the Olympic Stadium, restyled for the 1992 Olympic Games; and next to the Torre de Calatrava, the Palau Sant Jordi, designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki and built without supporting columns for the huge monolithic roof. It took 10 days to lift the roof using hydraulic lifts. To the south of the hill stands the Joan Miró Foundation, which holds one of the most complete collections of Miró's work in the world, in a beautiful building designed by Miró's friend the architect Josep Lluís Sert ( Espanya + bus 61; July to September, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, Thursday 10:00 to 21:30 and Sunday 10:00 to 14:30; October to June on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, Thursday from 10:00 to 21:30 and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30; 8 €, reduced 6 €) and the Castillo de Montjuïc from the king Felipe IV in 1640 ( Paral.lel + tram or cable railway; Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 to 19:30). To the west -on the Avenida Marqués de Comillas- lies the Poble Espanyol, an architectural whole built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition that reproduces the most representative architecture of the various Spanish regions ( Monday from 9:00 to 20:00; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 02:00; Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 04:00; and Sunday from 9:00 to 24:00; adults 8.50 €, students 6.50 €, 4 to 12 y.o. 5.50 €).

Back at the Portal de la Pau, maritime Barcelona extends towards the east, with its Rambla del Mar, which connects over the water the Rambla de Barcelona and the Muelle de España (Quay of Spain); the Maremagnum leisure centre; and the Aquarium -in Moll d'Espanya- the most important with a Mediterranean theme. The stars are the sharks found in the Oceanarium along with over 8,000 other fish. The Oceanarium, which holds 4,5 million litres, features a transparent tunnel over 80 metres long ( Drassanes; daily in July and August from 9:30 to 23:00, in June from 9:30 to 21:30, and the rest of the year Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 21:00 and weekends from 9:30 to 21:30; adults 17 €, under 13 y.o. 12 €, over 60 y.o. 14 €). Continuing along the coast through the Moll de la Fusta we reach the Palau de Mar -in plaça Pau Vila, 3- a 19th century building current site of the Catalunya History Museum ( Barceloneta; Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, Thursday until 20:00 & and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30; adults 4 €; under 18 and students 3 €); and to the Port Olimpic, constructed on the occasion of the 1992 Olympic Games and flanked by the Mapfre towers ( Vila Olimpica).

Agbar Tower

Opposite the port lies the Parc de la Ciutadella, designed by Josep Fontseré and Gaudí, which houses the Arc de Triomf, built as an entrance gate to the 1888 Universal Exhibition; and the zoo, house of the star albino gorilla "Copito de Nieve" (snowflake) until he passed away in 2003 ( Arc de Triomf; 1st November to 15th March from 10:00 to 17:00, 16th March to 31st May and October from 10:00 to 18:00, June to September from 10:00 to 19:00; adults 16 €, under 13 y.o. 9.60 €). To its right -through avinguda Meridiana- we reach Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, which houses the Agbar Tower, a 142 meter building by Jean Nouvel, which spectacular high tech LED illumination is turned on from 21:00 to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Back to Ciutat Vella the Barrio de la Ribera begins, with the Palau de la Música built by Modernist architect Domènech i Muntaner in 1908 and one of Barcelona's UNESCO Heritage Sites ( Urquinaona; daily from september to june from 10:00 to 15:30 and July to august from 10:00 to 19:00), the Picasso Museum -at Montcada, 15-19- which holds one of the biggest collections of the Málaga painter, housed in the two gothic palaces of Berenguer Aguilar and Barón de Castellet ( Jaume I; Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00; 5 €, free first Sunday of each month), and the Santa María del Mar church, considered by many to the best example of gothic in Catalonia. The interior is an example of harmony and the feeling of airiness and lightness is unrivalled in all but a select few gothic structures in Europe. Continuing towards the Gothic quarter, the remains of the old Roman Walls; the plaça del Rei with the City History Museum, located in one of Barcelona's most beautiful squares in a building that has archaelogical remains in its basement ( Jaume I; October to March Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 & 16:00 to 19:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00, April to September daily from 10:00 to 20:00; adults 6 €, under 25 & over 65 y.o. 4 €, under 16 free); and the cathedral, a beautiful example of Catalan gothic built in 1298 on the site of an old Romanic church of 1058. The complicated façade was added very much later, in the 19th century ( Jaume I; Monday to Friday from 13:00 to 17:00 and weekends from 14:00 to 17:00; 5 €). Back at the plaça Catalunya and going up the passeig de Gràcia we come across several of Barcelona's most famous buildings: Gaudí's Casa Batlló -at number 43- with curved shapes and antropomorphic suggestions, using ceramic tiles on the roof and mosaic on the façade ( daily from 9:00 to 14:00; 10 € with recorded commentary); the Casa Ametller -at number 41- designed by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in 1900; and Casa Milá (La Pedrera) by Gaudi -at number 92- considered to be his most accomplished work and the pinnacle of modernist architecture. The façade shows sinous curves and elaborate metalwork, but the mosaic chimneys of the rook are a symbol of Barcelona ( Passeig de Gràcia; daily from 10:00 to 20:00; 8 €, reduced 4.50 €). Next, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation -in Aragó, 255- to present the exhibitions and works of the famous Barcelona painter and sculptor.

Sagrada Familia cathedral

Turning to the right along the avinguda Diagonal, we find the Casa Punxes and the Sagrada Familia, the unfinished work of Antonio Gaudí. Construction continues courtesy of the sculptor Josep Subirachs, with contributions from different sculptors including Japanese artist Etsuro Sotoo, whose work can be seen on the Nativity facade. The project it should be completely finished by the year 2022, with a massive central tower that soars 200 feet above and between the current towers ( Sagrada Familia; October to March from 9:00 to 18:00 and April to September from 9:00 to 20:00; adults 11 €, students 10 €, church+Gaudí house/museum adults 13 €, students 11 €, lift to the towers 3 €). Immediately to the north stands the old Hospital de Sant Pau and Gaudí's surrealist Park Güell -in carrer Olot- originally intended to be an English style garden city. The familiar Gaudí curves and mosaic work are in full evidence all over the park, from the benches to the porticoes ( Lesseps; daily from 10:00 to 21:00). At the south-east corner of the park, Gaudí House & Museum, where Gaudí lived from 1905 and 1925. The displays consist of furniture he designed as well as quite a few drawing and projects ( October to March from 10:00 to 18:00, April to September from 10:00 to 20:00; adults 5.50 €, students & under 18 y.o. 4.50 €, under 10 free).

In the opposite direction along Diagonal we come to L'Illa, one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe ( Maria Cristina), the Finca Güell -on the Avenida de Pedralbes, 15- the site of the current Gaudí chair ( Palau Reial), and the Palacio de Pedralbes, an architectural complex surrounded by extensive gardens housing the Decorative Art and Carriage Museums ( Maria Cristina; gardens May to August from 10:00 to 21:00 and September to April from 10:00 to 18:00; museum 3.50 €). Immediately to the north of this area rises Mount Tibidabo, crowned by the Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor which is Neogothic in style; Tibidabo Amusement Park; and the Torre de Collserola, 288 metres high, designed by Norman Foster for the 1992 Olympic Games ( viewpoint July and August, Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00, September, Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00, October to December, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00; 5.20 €; access to the mountain: Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat de Catalunya FGC: Avenida del Tibidabo + Blau tram + Tibidabo funicular or Tibibus from plaça de Catalunya). Close to mount Tibidabo is the Science Museum -on Teodor Roviralta 47-51- a 50.000 m2 building which offers interaction with many scientific experiments in Amazon Forest, Planetarium, Geological Wall, etc ( Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00; access: FGC Avenida del Tibidabo + Blau tram or bus 17, 22, 58, 60, 73 & 75; 3 €, students 2 €).

Tourist office offers Barcelona Card, which allows free public city transport and 100 discounts at museums, entertainment, night-time venues, shops and restaurante. Price for adults is 25, 30, 34 & 40 € for 2, 3, 4 & 5 days; and for children from 4 to 12 years 21, 26, 28 & 32 €.

MONTSERRAT

Monastery of Montserrat

The mountain and Bendictine monastery of Montserrat, which was founded in the 11th century, is located in a natural park 50 km to the west of Barcelona. The Patron of Catalonia, Saint Mary of Montserrat, is worshipped at the shrine in the Monastery. The Benedictine community has served the shrine for almost a thousand years. They are dedicated to a life of prayer, and culture. Besides the monks, the Escolanía, the oldest boys choir in Europe, also live in Montserrat. Visitors can attend the choral concert given by the escolans every day at 13:00 in the basilica. Apart from this, it is very interesting the visit to the Museum of Montserrat, which comprises, among many artistic objects, an important collection of painters such as Picasso, Dalí, El Greco, Caravaggio, Degas, Monet... ( FGC line R5 trains to Monistrol de Montserrat in 1 hour/change to rack railway to Monistrol-Vila every 20 minutes from 9:06 to 20:06 in 15 minutes/change to Sant Joan funicular every 20 minutes open December to February on weekdays from 11:00 to 16:15 and weekends from 10:00 to 16:45, March to November from 11:00 to 16:45 and weekends from 10:00 to 16:45, April, May, June, September and October daily from 10:00 to 18:00, July and August daily from 10:00 to 19:15; monastery open daily on summer from 9:00 to 20:00 and winter from 9:00 to 18:00; museum open on summer from 10:00 to 19:00, on winter from 10:00 to 18:00) and the Santa Cueva, a cave in which the Virgin is said to have appeared (Santa Cova funicular from Monastery). More information at www.abadiamontserrat.net

MONTSENY NATURE RESERVE

The 30,000 hectares of the reserve are divided into three areas (Osona, La Selva, and the Vallés Oriental); it is classed as a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO. The massif is made up of three mountainous blocks bordered by the plains of Fons del Vallès and the Plana de Vic, with the Vall de la Tordera in the centre. The highest point is the Turó de l'Home with an altitude of 1,712 metros, followed by Matagalls at 1,699 metros. The reserve contains a wide variety of tree species, as it represents a combination of Mediterranean and upland ecosystems: it has pines, firs, chestnut trees, evergreen oaks, and beeches. It is an ideal area for hiking with numerous marked routes (the access point is at Fogars de Montclús at km 10.9 on the road from Sant Celoni to the Turó de l'Home; an information office is open daily from 9:00 to 14:00 hours and from 15:00 to 16:00 hours).

SITGES

Sitges (24,470 inhabitants) is 30 minutes away from Barcelona to the south in the El Garraf area. It was here that in 1891 the Barcelona painter and writer Santiago Rusiñol fell in love with its light and decided to buy two fishermen's houses, Can Faula and Can Sense, in the old Calle de Sant Joan (now Calle de Fonollar). They were joined to become Cau Ferrat, which was later to become a place of pilgrimage for modernist artists. Rusiñol's residence has become the Museo del Cau Ferrat, which includes not only the former's collections of paintings, iron and glass, but also works by Casas, Utrillo, Clarasó, Mas i Fondevila, Regoyos, Zuloaga, Picasso, Pitchot, and Anglada Camarasa ( Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9:30 to 14:00 hours and from 15:30 to 18:30 hours, Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00 hours; from 15th June to 30th September Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 hours and from 17:00 to 21:00 hours). The Palacio de Maricel stands right on the seafront (in Calle Fonollar) in an area that retains the historic aspect of the town and deserves its name of "racó de la calma" (the calm corner). The art of the Maricel de Mar Museum ranges from Romanesque and Gothic to the 19th-century period, with works from the private collection of Doctor Pérez Rosales and the seafaring collection of Emercià Roig ( Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9:30 to 14:00 hours and from 16:00 to 18:00 hours, Sundays from 9:30 to 14:00 hours). The castle, located on the highest point of the La Punta promontory, is currently used as the Town Hall; its first owner was the Cathedral of Barcelona, who transferred it to Count Mir Geribert in 1041.

The name Sitges comes from "sitja", a pre-Roman word meaning "deep hollow; grain store". Thanks to the tolerance of its inhabitants, the town is a favourite destination for the homosexual community that is catered for by a large number of shops, bars, and beaches ( Sitges is linked to Barcelona by the C-32 motorway and by suburban train line number 2).

One hour from Barcelona is Universal Mediterranea -one of the biggest spanish theme parks- with its complex Portaventura and Costa Caribe ( train departures every hour from Barcelona-Sants and Estación de Francia; adult 31 € / junior & senior 23 €). More information in www.portaventura.es