The old cathedral of Lleida is one of Catalonia's most important mediaeval monuments, incorporating…read moreboth Romanesque and Gothic styles. The cathedral occupies a wonderfully impressive location high above the city, surrounded by the remains of the impressive Islamic fortress, La Suda, and the extensive 18th century fortifications. It would be even more impressive if it had not been ransacked during the Wars of the Spanish Succession in 1707 and turned over for military use an ignominy which lasted until 1940. The construction of the castle also saw the old town levelled (to build the fortress) and relocated at the foot of the hill. However, both the cloisters and interior have been restored and enough remains to get an impression of what the church must originally have been like, even if it is now surrounded only by the huge empty spaces of the fortress. Begun in 1203, the building reflects the changes in styles until its completion (with the impressive bell tower) in 1431. It has some superb Romanesque doorways, with capitals incorporating elaborate human, animal and foliage motifs. Similar capitals can also be found in the nave, but the main body of the church is otherwise denuded of significant ornament. Some of the transept chapels retain some impressive vaulting, and some funerary effigies rescued from the church are on display. A number of windows are filled with 'glass' made from very thin pieces of marble an amazing survival. The cloisters are in rather better condition, and are on an impressive and dramatic scale, offering, as they do, splendid vistas over modern Lleida. The windows, although devoid of glass, are filled with stunning tracery, mostly from the decorated gothic period, and some from the 20th century restoration. The remains of 16-17th century classical ornament can also be seen on the cloister walls. The most famous element of the cathedral is its tower, a splendid late-gothic octagonal structure, completed in 1431. You can climb the 238 steps to the top for stunning views over the city and the surrounding area, although be warned that the steps are both and winding and very narrow, and there is no hand rail. It contains a peal of 7 bells, two of which (named 'Silvestra' and 'Monica') date from the 15th century (the rest are 20th century replacements). The entry ticket includes an audiovisual history of the cathedral, presented in one of the old chapels, there's a small souvenir shop at the entrance and toilets built into another former chapel. There is step-free access throughout the main building, although some of the entrance ramps are rather steep. Afterwards, you can walk around the ramparts of La Suda for more stunning views across the modern city.

The best site to visit and enjoyread more

Wow - what a cool place…read more This is the second time we've toured the Sagrada Família. The first time was 10 years ago in 2016. We returned to see what had changed in the last 10 years. From a casual glance, it was the same. But looking closer, much has happened on the outside. Some new towers have been completed and new feature pieces have been set atop several towers. We bought tickets online, several weeks before our arrival. Entering was easy. We went through external security by showing our ticket. Then inside, we placed anything we brought with us into a plastic bin, much like at an airport. It all got scanned, we got it all back and we got our tickets scanned for entry. We purchased the audio guide that uses your smartphone. That was great as we were able to use our own earbuds and not have to hold anything up to our heads. So we self-guided ourselves through the place, following the numbers corresponding to the Audi guide tracks. We stopped to rest, we stopped to take pictures and videos, to read placards of information and just to take in the sheer awesomeness of this place. I took 383 pictures that I'm still winnowing down and editing. While we don't plan to return to Barcelona, it's my feeling that no trip here is complete without taking in the Sagrada Família.

An absolute must when visiting Barcelona. La Sagrada Família is one of those places that genuinely…read morestops you in your tracks! The intricate architectural details are stunning at every turn and the way the sunlight filters through the stained glass windows inside is something else entirely. Truly breathtaking. My biggest recommendation is to book a tour guide. There is so much rich history behind this cathedral that you simply can't absorb from just admiring the architecture alone. Having a guide really brings everything together and makes the whole experience so much more meaningful. One practical note worth mentioning: the dress code enforcement here can feel inconsistent and as someone with a bigger bust, I experienced that firsthand. I wore a modest, relaxed maxi dress with minimal cleavage showing and was turned away at the entrance, while other women in similar or more revealing styles were waved right through. It seems the same outfit reads differently depending on your body type, which is worth being aware of. If you're curvy, bring a shawl as a precaution to avoid any unnecessary stress before your tour. I found one at a nearby shop and made it in just in time, but a little preparation goes a long way

We came for the 8a Get Your Guide tour of Monserrat. We met at the meet-up point (Julia Travel…read moreCenter at the Barcelona Nord bus station, in Barcelona) to checkin for our trip. We met our tour guide Jose Carlos and our driver, Gemma and were on our way. We made a stop at a local train station, exited the motorcoach, and took the scenic train up to Montserrat. Once at Monserrat, we went on a guided tour (equipped with one-ear headphones to hear our tour guide) of the Basilica, viewing the Black Madonna (included with the tour ticket) and having a couple of hours of free time to explore Montserrat with the great instructions provided by Jose Carlos. We hiked up to see the cross, took part in the four liquor tasting (provided with the tour ticket), and saw the "stairway to heaven" a block sculpture with ascending stairs to the sky (thanks to our tour guide Jose Carlos, who gave us directions to where it was...behind the buffet building!) There was an interactive museum on Montserrat ($) as well as a museum ($) with art from Dali, Picasso, just to name a few, and white tents lined the sidewalk with local vendors featuring their local cheese, nuts, and other food items. Montserrat is where you can also see and hear the boy's choir in the Basilica, but that show began at 1p and our tour left at 12.10p (maybe on another visit!) All in all, we enjoyed this scenic, history-filled tour. Jose Carlos was an excellent tour guide, and we appreciated his expertise in all of the details of this tour; Gemma, our bus driver, was pleasant and professional in providing a safe, comfortable drive to and from Montserrat. We highly suggest this tour if you are in Barcelona for a couple of days.

Spent the day wandering the area…read more An easy hour's train ride from Barcelona. And seriously a must see. Once the train ends you have a choice of a different railway up the mountain or a gondola type tram to the area. I chose the train. Beautiful as you rose up through the morning clouds. Once at the top head straight to the information center and check out the different options for tickets. I highly recommend getting tickets to hear the boys choir. It's a short performance and well worth it. After getting tickets, I wandered around the various museums and other buildings. Then into the main church. Wow. Incredible. Performance time came and snagged a seat on the middle aisle to watch the processional in. The 20 minute performance was fantastic. The boys have great voices and discipline. Afterwards I got in line to walk through a long narrow hallway and upstairs to view and touch the area's prized Madonna that sits high about the alter. There are some restaurants and cafeterias on the property depending on the size of meal you want. After lunch I got my map out and roamed a couple of hiking trails in the area. The views from high above the clouds were spectacular. By late afternoon I was ready to return to the city, and did the train back the way I came.

The Gothic Quarter is exactly my kind of architecture. This is where the Catedral de Barcelona…read moresits, and it was so beautiful in person. I wish I had more time to actually learn about the cathedral and its history. Great place to take pictures obviously. Even though there were a lot of people around, we were still able to get shots without anyone in the background. Probably because we went there around evening, but it was still rather bright at night. Highly recommend!

The Cathedral of Barcelona, which is also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,…read morewas built in the Gothic style from 1298 to the 15th century. It is an active church that provides masses, confessions, and other sacraments. It also provides tours for 16 euros and up (as of the time of this review). I understand that some people think that a church should be free to enter, but I also understand that many tourists are not practicing Catholics and that the church needs to bring in revenue to pay its bills. My tour guide took my husband and me to the exterior of this church and explained its architecture and history. We did not pay for an interior tour. It is a lovely church to see.

This church was worth the hike…read more We took a taxi from city center. Was about 25 euro. But worth it. Walked around up there for 30-60 min then ran back to city center. Amusement parc and church as well as a fundicluar. Train that goes up there. The views were great but the hike was even better. Worth the trip and great views.

Don't let the distance dissuade you from visiting. There are a few ways to get there including…read moremetro and bus though we did taxi from where we were at the time. We actually went here before we visited La Sagrada Familia. If it had been reversed it would have felt anticlimatic. This site though has its own charms. The view of Barcelona is amazing. Definitely pay for the elevator (5 euro) ride. It takes you from ground (church ) level almost to the top just below the statue of Christ. The final level is accessed by stairs. When we arrived they were actually getting ready for Mass and we happily joined in. The Mass was in Castilian but the Catholic Mass structure is universal and I downloaded readings in English prior. As churches go, it was small but highly ornate. Oddly enough there is a carnival park as part of the grounds. Seems out of place but I suspect if you're going to haul your kids up there for Mass then they need to make it a family affair plus it brings in money. There is also a restaurant but we did not do that.

Europe has so many amazing old churches and no picture can replicate the experience of walking in…read moreand just taking it all in. But in looking at pictures it's hard to tell them apart from each other. Something this had that other didn't is the view of the city from the top put you have to go up narrow spiral staircase that is less than fun to navigate and deal with people going the other direction. But the view from the top was def worth it. Obviously if you have mobility or claustrophobia this wont be something you should try.

After visiting the other must see Catholic Churches in Barcelona this was by far my favorite…read more Built by the people for the people. The remnants of the fires that destroyed most of the original art in the church gives it character. We were not able to go to mass there but we most definitely will next time in town. Beautiful example of Catalonian Gothic and simply majestic and a must see.

The Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi is a Gothic church that was built in the 15th century. Today it…read moreis an active church with a worship schedule. My tour guide took my husband and me to view this church. We did not attend a worship service, but we admired the architecture. For example, the front facade has a main entrance that is surrounded by beautiful columns, arches, and a large window, which my tour guide said has a covering to prevent debris from falling. The bell tower still rings. Overall, I felt interested in seeing this church that is much older than what we have in the U.S.

Less than a 5 minute walk from my hotel, Chic&Basic Habana Hoose. Attracts lots of locals and…read moretourist, open until late and has a lighting tower on certain days. Def helped me find my way back home lol. To each their own but I'd say you don't need to pay to see a church that has all the same magical designs. Sorry Antoni and Sagrada Familia. The church rings its bell every hour on the hour, I truly enjoyed hearing them.