El Cap de Barcelona was created by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona…read more The gigantic sculpture is so eye catching. Its style blends Lichtenstein's statement pop art with glazed ceramic tiles as a nod to the great Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudi. Great curves in this piece. The sculpture is clearly an abstract woman's face. Love the grid of red mosaic tiles. The piece almost reminds me of Lichtenstein's iconic Brushstrokes sculptures in her eyes and eyelids. Bringing pop art to Barcelona. Perfect for a quick stop or enjoy the view from the Barcelona Turistic Bus.

This work is by American Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, think comic strip print work…read more My husband and I ran past it a couple times during our morning runs towards Barceloneta. How amazing is it to see great works of art + the sea while running...I heart Barcelona. When viewed from different angles, you can spot a face or head poking out from a background of red dots in relief. The shape of the monument seems to emerge from its colourful, sweeping brushstrokes. . The monument is a tribute to the city that hosted the 1992 Olympic Games and its famous architect, Antoni Gaudí. It can be found in Barcelona's Port Vell.

Whether or not you're a fan of Cubism, everyone knows Picasso--and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona…read moreis an absolute must to understand the origins of this brilliant mind. There a handful of Picasso Museums around the world, but the one in Barcelona is worth a visit as this was not only the first museum dedicated to Picasso's work, but also the only one created while he was alive. The museum is sectioned off by eras of Picasso's life, starting with his early formal training under his father, Jose Ruiz, at age 7 and his earlier works when his family were his muses. I always knew Picasso was talented, but I had no idea just how truly multifaceted he was. Entry is by timed ticket, and can be reserved for free 4 days before your actual visit between certain hours. NOTE: If you need to use the bathroom, hold on to your ticket--you'll need to scan it for re-entry.

How can you not give a lovely museum 5 stars? The building itself is really cool -- a series of…read moreconnected medieval palaces with beautiful courtyards and stone details -- and the exhibits are genuinely interesting. You get to see Picasso's early works and sketches, which give great insight into his evolution as an artist, plus some of his famous Blue Period pieces and later reinterpretations of Velázquez's Las Meninas. I'll admit, I'm more the type who'd rather wander the streets of Barcelona than hang out in a museum, so I'm probably not the best art critic. But still -- it's Picasso! Totally worth a visit. And the best part? Afterward, I grabbed an amazing lunch of tapas and beers just around the corner. Perfect way to cap off the visit. 5 stars all around, lol.

When researching popular tourist destinations in Barcelona, Casa Batlló came up on many a list. I…read morelike to take in museums and other historical structures whenever I visit a new city, so this sounded perfect. That being said, I purchased tickets for us to explore during our first full day in the city. Casa Batlló is one of several structures in Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí. I believe this was originally designed as a private residence, and has since become a showcase of the type of work Gaudí produced. The visits are self-guided, and once you enter you are given an audio guide that you can use throughout the house that provides information about the space you're in. The house itself is gorgeous. It's so intricately designed with different themes throughout the space. The audio guide really helped here as it told the history behind each room. I found myself snapping tons of pictures, or just standing there and taking it all in. As expected, there were a couple of gift shops, and some interactive exhibits scattered throughout the house as well. Note that not all spaces are open to all guests, it depends on the type of ticket you buy; that being said, even if you get the base ticket you will see a lot. Also, this place naturally attracts Instagrammers - be aware there are lots of people posing for the camera, Overall, Casa Batlló was an awesome experience. It was my first taste of Gaudí's influence on the city, and I would definitely return for another visit.

Strolling after our Senior Dinner and there he was behind us, one of Anthony Gaudi's whimsical…read moreperfection!

Finca Guell might be the orginal example of trencadis, Gaudi's inventive mosaic technique using cut…read moretiles (from the Catalan verb, trencar, meaning to break). Guell was a rich patron who became Gaudi's friend, this was his first commission that would develop into an important lifelong relationship. The garden that's left is often closed but the most remarkable part of it is the gate that is always visible. It depicts the legend of Ladon, the dragon which guarded the entrance to the Garden of the Hesperides, in tribute to the Catalan poet Verdaguer and his epic poem "'Atlantida." It's pretty cool, I'll bet you've never seen anything like it. Not far from the Finca Miralles Gate.

The statue of Christopher Columbus is here, in this area. It's a congested area with pedestrians…read moreand vehicles and it's close to a main bus and train station on the water. Just like many other areas and things in the city, vandals have tagged portions of it with their nasty graffiti.

Located at the end of Barcelona's Rambla near the sea…read more The Mirador de Colom or Columbus Column, was designed by Gaietà Buïgas, and built in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition as a tribute to Christopher Columbus' departure from Barcelona to America. The 51 meter column is made of cast iron in the Corinthian style. On its top is the statue of Christopher Columbus holding a navigational chart in his left hand, and pointing to the route to America with his right. This monument contains Barcelona's first ever lift. This original lift was replaced by a more modern electric lift that takes just 30 seconds to ride to the top. From there if you look north, you can see the Gothic Quarter, the Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar and LaRambla. Towards the sea you'll see the Olympic Marina and the modern Forum. The south view gives you Montjuïc Hill. And the west, the vast green Collserola Natural Park.

Coming from the west coast of the US, one can only take so much local Spanish music. I love my…read moremetal so it was nice to have a place to have a cocktail, shoot some pool and be with fellow metal heads. What I lived the most, is almost everyone represented their favorite bands by wearing concert T-shirts. Loved it! Bartender was welcoming and respectful.

Hell Awaits is a bad ass Heavy Metal bar with the wickedest decor so much to see and a wide…read moreselection of metal music! Moi has a great collection the owners Moi and Hiroshima a cute couple to say the least and they fit the bill of Metaleros with a passion of what they built here. I can't wait to come again next year

Review for only the self-guided tour of the Palau itself, we did not see a show. Phenomenal design…read moreand accents in this colorful, mosaic-covered masterpiece. Easily as worthy as its many heritage counterpart structures in this bountiful city of wondrous architecture, it still seems like a hidden gem that gets overlooked amidst multiple world heritage sites. It is not just a beautiful building, it is one of the most photo-worthy UNESCO sites in town. Gorgeously preserved seats, wood, sculptures, stained glass, historic cafe, and don't miss those yummy balcony columns outside! There is much to love here, but if you are short on time and can only snap photos and move along, you can see it all in 20 minutes. Squeeze it in. It's one of the most beautiful buildings you've never heard of.

This place is absolutely stunning -- the architecture, the colors, the detail... just wow…read more Definitely one of the most beautiful buildings I saw in Barcelona. I was a little disappointed that during the night performance, the patio area with the famous mosaic columns was completely closed off. It's one of the highlights of the building, and I was really hoping to see it lit up at night. Apparently, it's only open during day tours, which is kind of a bummer if you're only going for a show. Also, heads up -- the main photo you see everywhere is taken from the upstairs balcony seats, so if that's the view you want, book accordingly.

Highly recommend visiting! This is the most expansive collection of Joan Miró pieces that I've ever…read morecome across, including other Spanish national galleries. The outdoor fountain is beautiful and great to take pictures with. You can easily spend over two hours in this museum. If you're unfamiliar with the artist work in backstory, this is a great place to start.

Came here on an atypical rainy day in Barcelona recently…read more Located on the top of a hill overlooking parts of Barcelona, I cannot imagine a better space to dedicate to the life of Joan Miro. During my visit, there were a few featured exibits including the 50th anniversary of the museum, as well as a feature of Miro in his time in New York. What I fully appreciated about the museum was the architecture and layout of the building, the key pieces from Miro's career, and, stemming from his time in New York, his relationships with key US artists such as Rothko, Calder, Pollock, and others. It was a beautiful way to watch Miro as well as his peers' artwork evolve and, in some ways, influence each other, as many US artists were inspired by Miro. I fully appreciate also the work that the foundation does to promote local artists in hopes of creating the next Miro. If it weren't for the investment in the arts and centers like these, we wouldn't be able to celebrate artists like Miro in the first place. My only small critiques of the center are that I was hoping for a bit more of Miro's expansive work, and the line to buy tickets was incredibly long and slow (see rain above). Several key bodies of Miro's artwork were represented, but I felt that more could have been displayed to show the evolution of his career.

I have visited more churches/cathedrals than i can count but this was so unique. Love those huge…read moregothic churches but they are dark inside. This was stunningly and lots of light. The colored rays from the stained glass was breathtaking and like nothing I've even seen. I hear it changes at different times of day. The outside can be seem from miles away due the the size but once right there the details are so interesting. We signed up for guardi excursion and they got us in quicker as the lines are ridiculous. But they limited our time. I would have stayed much longer. Its nearly finished after all these year and one of the reasons I chose Spain as a travel destination. If you are in Barcelona definitely dont miss visiting here. No matter your relationship with religion this is a work of art. Stunning even though crowded. as with most things the pictures just cant do it justice. I feel so blessed to have been able to finally see it in person. I don't know that Spain and Portugal are places we would return but this was on top of our list for Spain. Designed by Antoni Gaudi construction was began in 1882 and not funded by Vatican or government so depends of ticket and donations. Plus construction was slowed by need to acquire adjacent properties that were anxious to sell. crazy it took over 140 yrs. So its a rare mixture of new and old. Be very aware tickets sell our weeks ahead. This was an added excursion with our go ahead tour. If i were to return to Barcelona I'd def visit all the Gaudi locations again.

This was more than I expected it to be. Our tour was amazing! If you can, book a tour. Our guide…read morewas very passionate and knowledgeable about the basilica. Initially, I thought I knew what we were getting into but quickly found out I had no clue. On top of this being an immense building project, it is also filled with symbolism. Everything in the cathedral has a declarative and deliberate purpose, nothing is random. Also, there is a fantastically assembled museum under the church. Don't miss out on this amazing experience. Enjoy!