Barcelona with kids. Guide illustrated by

Transcription

1 Barcelona with kids Guide illustrated by

2 Barcelona 1 2 Sagrada Familia...4 Paseo de Gracia and La Pedrera Las Ramblas and the Boqueria Market...8 Barceloneta Ciutadella Park and the Arc de Triomf...12 Montjuïc...14 Joan Miró Park...16 Horta Labyrinth Park...18 Park Güell...20 Collserola and Tibidabo

3 1 Sagrada Familia Calle Mallorca, 401 Nearest Metro stop: L2 and L5 Sagrada Familia Check opening times and prices Probably Barcelona s most iconic building. Its architect, the chief exponent of Catalan Modernisme, Antoni Gaudi, named it the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family. It is his great unfinished work, because building started in 1883 and the works are scheduled to be completed in It is currently funded by private donations. The tall and robust columns inside the temple are inspired by the trees in a large forest. Gaudí was also inspired by nature when building his works, which is why there is not a single straight line in the Sagrada Familia - it is all curves. It is the quintessential temple of the modernista architect and a symbol of Barcelona. We suggest taking the kids to the top of the towers of the Sagrada Familia and making them feel part of the temple. You can also spend some time playing in Plaza Gaudí, just opposite the building: a green space, with fountains, a playground and a pond. Culture and fun, hand in hand! There are quite a few stairs, so we recommend going up and down in the lift. It is heavily visited by tourists, so there are usually long queues, so bringing some water and a snack might be a good idea. 4 5

4 2 Paseo de Gracia and La Pedrera Calle Provença, Nearest Metro stop: L2/L3 Diagonal; L2/L3/L4 Passeig de Gràcia or the Ferrocarrils station Provença Check opening times Today, Paseo de Gracia is famous for its de luxe stores with sought after brands. But it was - and remains - the quintessential landscape of Catalan Modernisme. On the pavements you can see a red tile shaped like a flower - the symbol of modernista architectural walk that you can follow up the avenue. At the bottom of Paseo de Gracia (between calle Aragó and calle Consell de Cent) is the Manzana de la discordia or apple of discord : a set of five buildings created by five different architects of Catalan Modernisme. A little further up is La Pedrera, which was Gaudí s last civil work. Barcelona s Milà family commissioned Gaudí to build their new home, the Casa Milà, which over time has become popularly known as La Pedrera, because it is made mostly of stone ( The Quarry ). Although it is now a highly acclaimed tourist building, in its early days it was mocked for its groundbreaking modern forms. One of the most characteristic features of La Pedrera is hidden on the roof: the chimneys, which looked like the heads of petrified warriors, protected by helmets. Kids can let their imaginations run wild and play there. Remember that many tourists visit and they are usually queues. There are We suggest a walk along Paseo de Gracia as far as La Pedrera: a wide free exhibitions, but there is a charge for visiting the roof. street, decorated with some very comfortable modernist benches, in the If you get peckish halfway there, we recommend you head towards the shade of the large trees. Pasaje de la Concepción and eat at one of the delicious restaurants you 6 can find there. 7

5 3 Las Ramblas and the Boqueria Market La Rambla, 9 Nearest Metro stop: L3 Liceu Check opening times Barcelona s Ramblas begin at Plaza Catalunya and run as far as the sea. It is a street that never sleeps: it s always full of people; and it is the border that separates two neighbourhoods, with the Raval on one side and the Gothic Quarter on the other. The Boqueria market is the most visited in the city and the largest in Catalonia, with over 300 stalls. It has a very wide variety of food and you can find plenty of fresh local and exotic produce. It is one of the most popular avenues and is definitely the heart of the city. It has a different night for each section. It is divided into five sections: Rambla de Canaletas, Rambla de los Estudios, Rambla de las Flores, Rambla de los Capuchinos and Rambla de Santa Mónica. tastes and cultures to experience and learn about. As the icing on the cake, we suggest you go down Las Ramblas until you reach the statue of Columbus, which interestingly enough does not point to America, but indicates the exit from the port to the sea. The best idea is to walk along the Ramblas from Plaza Catalunya and take a look at all the street stalls selling flowers, ice creams and paintings, and walking the through famous Boqueria market. Taking a look inside with children can be quite an experience: there are a thousand colours, smells, This is a very busy street, and although it is very safe, you should keep a watchful eye on your bags and backpacks. 8 9

6 4 Barceloneta Paseo Marítimo la Barceloneta Nearest Metro stop: L4- Barceloneta Facing the sea, the old fishermens district is the oldest in the city. It extends from the cosmopolitan Hotel W, whose appeal is due to its sail shape and its unique location, and continues until the Mapfre Towers. But it is in the centre where you can experience the true Mediterranean spirit of the streets, enjoying a good meal of tapas and fresh fish. A fun game that you can play with children is looking for the Clock Tower, hidden near Paseo Joan de Borbó. It isn t very big, so only the most adventurous souls will find what used to be the harbour lighthouse until the mid-nineteenth century. charm lies in getting lost in the neighbourhood s narrow streets, discovering its churches, the market, the balconies with overhanging clothes and without noticing, coming back to the sea once again. The combination of the old district and the beach is ideal for little ones. There are typical beach bars for having a drink right on the beach, while the The waterfront promenade is one of the areas in the city that sees the most kids can carry on playing in the sand. If you love good fish, find a small bar sports, in both summer and on sunny days in winter: cycling with kids, and get carried away by the traditional flavours of the sea. Oh yes! Taking a skating, running, etc. In addition, the proximity of the beach acts provides beach toy, the bathing suit and some sun protection wouldn t be a bad idea. 10 a real temptation to take time out to cool off your feet. Although the real 11

7 5 Ciutadella Park and the Arc de Triomf Paseo de Picasso, 21 Nearest Metro stop: L4 Ciutadella and L1 Arc de Triomf Check opening times The Ciutadella Park is located in the district of Ciutat Vella, is one of the largest in the city and has many hidden corners. Barcelona Zoo is inside the park, as is the famous sculpture by Josep Llimona known as El Desconsol (Grief), a large greenhouse and the Parliament of Catalonia. One of the exits from the park takes you directly to the Arc de Triomf, which was built to commemorate the 1888 Universal Exposition (it acted as the entrance to one of the pavilions, which was located in the park itself). There has been a sculpture in the form of giant mammoth made of stone in Ciutadella since The mammoth was part of a cultural and recreational project that was supposed to decorate the park with life-size stone figures of animals and dinosaurs that inhabited Catalonia in the past. The death of the artist Norbert Font halted the project forever, and left the mammoth as the only animal. It is one of the most visited parks in the city because of the endless activities to do (especially with children) and its green areas. On the way to Barcelona Zoo, you can rent a little boat and row on the lake among swans and ducks, or climb the steps of the large fountain. We suggest you keep walking around the area and round things off with a very sweet afternoon at the Chocolate Museum

8 6 Montjuïc Montjuïc Cable Car. Avenida Miramar, 30 Check opening times and prices From Plaza España, at the foot of the mountain, you can see all of Montjuïc. The Palace of the National Arts Museum of Catalonia and the Magic Fountain, where light and water shows take place, are framed between the two towers of Avenida Maria Cristina. At the rear is the botanical garden, containing some 1,500 plant species, and the Castle, a former military fortress with an important role in the history of Barcelona. Montjuïc is also closely linked to the 1992 Olympics, because it is home to hosting numerous sporting facilities. There used to be an amusement park where the Joan Brossa Gardens are now located in Montjuïc. It was built in 1966, and was designed to remain in operation for 30 years. It had some attractions that were pioneers in Europe, but after 30 years, it closed its doors and disappeared in The adventure with kids can start with the journey up to the magic mountain by taking the funicular railway in Avenida Paral lel. A good idea is to spend a day picnicking in the Joan Brossa gardens and take the cable car down to the port after lunch. From the cable car, you can fly over Barcelona and have a bird s-eye view unsuitable for those of a nervous disposition! 14 15

9 7 Joan Miró Park Calle Aragó, 2 Nearest Metro stop: L3 Tarragona or L1/L3 Pl. Espanya Check opening times Very close to the Joan Miró Park is the Avenida del Paral lel (so named because it runs parallel to a line of latitude) - a street where used to be many theatres and cabarets until the 1970s. The Paral lel goes as far as Plaza España, one of the largest squares in the country, which was built for the Universal Exhibition in 1929, at the foot of Montjuïc. Between Plaza España and the park is the unusual Las Arenas shopping centre, which retains the original structure of the old bullring. Mujer y pájaro ( Woman and Bird ) (1983) is the large abstract sculpture overlooking the Joan Miró Park, which depicts a female form with a hat and a bird on top. It is considered a synthesis of Miró s style (mainly because of its colours: blue, red, yellow and green) and at the same time, a tribute to Antoni Gaudí, because of its similarity to the shapes of the columns of the Sagrada Familia. This is a park where parents and children can find a surprise at each entrance, as they lead to areas with very different forms and uses. It contains green areas and paved areas. The park has an extensive range of possibilities, and is perfect for various activities with children and finishing off with an ice cream and a walk along the Paral lel

10 8 Horta Labyrinth Park Paseo dels Castanyers, 1 Nearest Metro stop: L3 Mundet Check opening times and prices The labyrinth park is located in the district of Horta-Guinardó in the north of Barcelona. Surrounded by hills and forests, it was the last district to be annexed to the city of Barcelona in Horta Park is the oldest garden that is still preserved in the city of Barcelona. It is located on an old estate, very close to the Collserola hills, where one of the scenes of the film Perfume was filmed. The park consists of several gardens in different styles (one romantic and another neoclassical) and the well-known maze, which occupies the central part of the park. It was inaugurated in 1808, although its doors were not opened to the public until of romance. Don t forget to read the inscription which you can see at the entrance to the maze: Entra, saldrás sin rodeo, Enter, you ll leave without delay, el laberinto es sencillo, The labyrinth is easy, no es menester el ovillo You won t need the ball of thread que dio Ariadna a Teseo. That Ariadne gave to Theseus. It is a unique park for spend the afternoon with the family, playing with the kids while getting lost in the maze and gardens. A magical place where all Check the days when the cedars in the maze are being pruned, as it may 18 parents can also be kids, and let loose their childlike side in the maze, full be closed for maintenance. 19

11 9 Parc Güell Calle Olot, s/n Nearest Metro stop: L3- Vallcarca Check opening times and prices This is another icon of the city of Barcelona, created by its beloved architect Gaudí. This is a perfect example of the Trencadís technique in modernista mosaics created with ceramic fragments. Columns, benches, ceilings and the famous lizard are covered with small pieces of coloured ceramic, inspired by natural elements from around the world. It was commissioned by the aristocrat Eusebi Güell, and designed to be a garden city, but was never used as such. It was going to have family homes and spaces for public use, including a large covered square - which would be the market - an open-air theatre, a chapel, a pavilion for the concierge and other shared services. Finally, it was decided to use it as a public park and its doors were opened to the city in UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in the shape of a big lizard in ceramics of a thousand colours dominates the entrance of the park, one of the icons of the city. The area is fully accessible and has children s play areas, a dog walking area and sitting areas. The park is perched on the Carmel hill, so getting there up the stairs can be a bit tiring. A good idea is to go up the escalators from Pasaje de Sant Josep de la Muntanya, or take the bus (L24, L32, L96 and H6). It is an enormous park to visit as a family, where kids can unleash their 20 imagination with the shapes and colours they find there. A fountain in 21

12 10 Collserola and Tibidabo Tibidabo Amusement Park. Plaza Tibidabo, 3-4 Check the park s opening hours and prices Here you can find the famous amusement park with the same name: Tibidabo, guaranteed fun in the middle of the mountain and with unbeatable views! It is Spain s oldest amusement park that is still in operation, the third oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Going for a ride with the kids on the big wheel or the legendary red plane can be a great experience. It is the highest point in the city of Barcelona, at 512 metres above sea level. At the summit of the Collserola hills is the Temple of the Sacred Heart, a large church with an enormous Christ figure with outstretched arms over the vast city at its feet. The temple and the Collserola communications tower are a landmark that is visible from almost every point of Barcelona. Spending a whole day in the park will be a magical experience for children. But the fun starts with the beginning of the journey, when you take the Tram Blau. This is an original 1901 blue tram that runs from Plaza Kennedy, up Avenida Tibidabo until it reaches the foot of the park. It s quite an experience, as it is the only one that is still running! Spend a full day on this trip, as it s worth the effort to enjoy the journey, the trip and the park. We suggest taking public transport because parking there can be difficult

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