Marina
by 36waterfalls
Barcelona has it all: art, architecture, shops, good food, the beach and the marina.
When you come across this creature, you know you have arrived!
The boulevard with its palmtrees is a great place to hang out and watch the world go by.
The marina also has a good pier with shops and restaurants.
Las Ramblas
by tessy
Ramblas is a "must see" and it's also a local custom. I don't know another place in the world like that. Ramblas is about 1,5 km long and it leads from Plaza Catalunya to the harbour. Make your walk on the Ramblas just in the middle, and you are where life is: little merchants, pantomines, tourists, locals, birds, flowers, newspapers. And you see also beautiful palaces and houses on the street.
Camp Nou
by vichatherly
Home of FC Barcelona.
A superb European stadium. I've been here three times now and have won drawn and lost.
I stood up at the very top, in the cheap seats, in 1994 when there was a crowd of 115,000. The terrace I was standing on was looking a bit sorry for itself and needed a deal of maintenance. I'm not sure the fence would have held us if United had scored. Fortunately for us we lost 4-0.
Second time I was a bit lower and along the side of the pitch. A much better view of a cracking 3-3 draw.
Finally I was nearly behind the goal with a great view of the two United late late goals, in our 2-1 Champions League Final 1999 win over Bayern Munich.
It now has a seating capacity of 98,000.
I look forward to going back. Not too much in the way of cover for the football fan so let's hope it not raining.
Basilica de la Mercè
by Joacim
I do love these higly ornamented churches. You can go inside and just sit down and feel nothing but calm. This basilica is exactly the same. With a beautiful inside and a nicely decorated outside it is a joy visiting this basilika. Especially since it is not so many people in here than in the big cathedral and other more famous churches in Barcelona.
History
According to legend, Our Lady of Mercy appeared in dreams to Pere Nolasc, calling on him to set up a monastic order dedicated to saving the numerous Christian captives who had fallen into the hands of the North African pirates in the Mediterranean. This he did, with the help of Ramon de Penyafort and support from King Jaume I.
And so the Order of Mercy was born. Their first church was constructed in 1267, on the same site as the present-day basilica. It was reformed during the 14th and 15th centuries, and in 1775 the architect Josep Mas began the final renovation of the church, which is as it stands today.
The patron of Barcelona
Legend also says that, in 1637, Our Lady of Mercy freed the city from a plague of locusts, and the grateful City Council so named her the patron of Barcelona. In 1696 Pope Innocent XII extended her worship to the whole Catholic Church, and she was canonised in 1888, during the Universal Exposition. Her cult extended throughout the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages, and, more recently, spread to Hispanic and American lands.
The patroness of Barcelona is highly revered by the public. A demonstration of this is seen when, on winning a championship, all the city sports teams go to the basilica to sing a hymn of gratitude.
Funky second handshop
by tweetycaro about Ombu
For special second hand clothes this is 'the' shop. They have furcoats, shoes, handbags,.... it's a big store.
Check it out on sunday then there also is a small market with art and vintage stuff.