Best Barcelona Historical Sites
Barcelona is a city with 2000 years of history in which you will find a wide variety of monuments and emblematic Barcelona historical sites, highlighting its Roman, medieval and modern times in which the city became an architectural reference thanks to its modernist period in which highlight the famous architect Antonio Gaudí creator of modernist architecture or Puig i Cadafalch among others.
We have compiled what we believe are the 10 most important historical monuments in Barcelona and that you can not miss during your visit to our city - Remember that if you want to visit these historical places in Barcelona you can do it with our Tours.
1.The Sagrada Familia
Possibly the most famous historical monument in Barcelona And the symbol of the city, and the unfinished masterpiece of Gaudí, began construction in 1882 and is still under construction and it is believed that it will be completed in 2026, coinciding with the centenary date of the Gaudí's passing, La Sagrada familia is a reflection of Gaudí's artistic fullness: he worked on it for most of his professional career, but especially in the last years of his career, where he reached the culmination of his naturalistic style.
The basilica is divided into three facades:
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The Nativity Facade is dedicated to Christmas and the birth of Jesus
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The facade of the Passion is dedicated to the passion of Christ before being crucified.
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The façade of the glory which is not yet finished and is dedicated to the heavenly glory of Jesus.
If you wish to visit this Barcelona historical site is necessary purchase you tickets in advance since the Sagrada Familia has limited access and schedules - Normal price €15/person - There are discounts for children and seniors.
2. La Pedrera (Casa Mila)
This famous modernist building located on the famous avenue Paseo de Gracia is another of the Barcelona historical sites, built between 1906 and 1910 by the famous architect Antonio Gaudi, La Pedrera or Casa Mila is part of the architect's naturist era inspired by the forms organic waves of the sea, with more than one million visits per year we can say that this is one of the 10 most important monuments of Barcelona.
3. La Casa Batllo
The next historical monument is also the work of Antonio Gaudí, it is located on Passeig de Gracia avenue very close to La Pedrera, La Casa Batllo is one of those buildings that attract all eyes, its organic forms and its colors make you move to a fairy tale, inspired by the legend of Sant Jordi (popular festivity of Catalonia) the building represents a dragon and the knight with his spear from which a rose will be born, that is why La Casa Batllo always dresses its rose façade in the patron saint festival of Sant Jordi.
4. Park Güell
We continue our route through the historical places in Barcelona to the most famous park in the city. The Park Güell also designed by the architect Antonio Gaudí is located in the upper part of the city of Barcelona in the district of Gracia and was built between 1900 and 1914 by personal order of the famous Catalan businessman Eusebio Güell.
The park was conceived as a structured complex where, within an incomparable framework of natural beauty, there would be some high standing homes, with all the technological advances of the time, unfortunately the project was never completed and was inaugurated as a public park in 1926 , inside you can discover the essence of Gaudi's naturist season with a perfect fusion of nature with the architecture.
Additionally you can also visit inside the park it´s house museum where Gaudí lived during 1906 and 1925.
5. Palau Güell
We continue our route through the Barcelona historical sites following the steps of Gaudí and we headed towards the street Nou de la Rambla along the famous avenue of Las Ramblas where we find the Palau Güell personal commission of the aforementioned Catalan businessman Eusebio Güell, was built between the 1886 and 1890 and is part of Gaudí's orientalist era in which he was inspired by oriental art as Hispanic Islamic art, Inside the palace we can find different models that Gaudí designed to build his works as well as different permanent artistic exhibitions.
6. The cathedral of Barcelona
We move to medieval Barcelona and its popular Gothic Quarter where we find The Cathedral of Barcelona also calledCathedral of the Holy Cross and Santa Eulalia (Patron of the city), was built on the XIII and XV centuries on the ancient Romanesque cathedral built in turn on a church Visigoth whose remains can be seen in the Barcelona History Museum.
One of the highlights of the cathedral is its cloister that is far from the typical quiet cloister and meditation that we are accustomed to, inside we can find beautiful gardens and ponds as well as a fountain dating from the mid-fifteenth century, where it takes place the traditional "ou com balla" (the egg as it dances) on the occasion of the Corpus Christi festivity, we must also highlight its 13 geese that are always in your garden - you wonder why 13? According to the legend in Roman times, Little Eulalia was condemned for refusing to renounce the Christian faith and 13 years of martyrdom were applied to her.
VISITING SCHEDULE
WORKING AND SATURDAYS
8.00-12.45 (Cloister: 8.30-12.30): Free admission
13.00-17.00: Admission with donation (€ 6 per person)
17.15-19.30 (Claustre: 17.15-19.00): Free admission
SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS
8.00-13.45 (Cloister: 8.30-13.00): Free admission
14.00-17.00: Admission with donation (€ 6 per person)
17.15-19.30 (Cloister: 17.15-19.00): Free admission
7. Arc de Triomf of Barcelona
The Arc de Triomphe (in Catalan: Arc de Triomf)? It is a monument located at the confluence of the Paseo de Lluís Companys, the Paseo de San Juan and the Ronda de San Pedro, in the city of Barcelona (Spain). It was designed by the architect Josep Vilaseca as the main entrance to the Barcelona EXPO in 1888. The sculptural decoration was carried out by Josep Reynés, Josep Llimona, Antoni Vilanova, Torquat Tasso, Manuel Fuxà and Pere Carbonell.
Unlike other arcs of triumph of marked military character, the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona has a greater civil component, characterized by artistic, scientific and economic progress. The Arc de Triomf has been used as a goal on occasion for some of the most important popular pedestrian races in Barcelona, such as the Jean Bouin or the Barcelona Marathon. It was also used as an enclosure for the celebration of festivals and musical events such as Primavera Sound.
8. Columbus Monument
Right at the end of the popular ramblas where you enter the old port of Barcelona we find the monument to Columbus, built for the first EXPO in 1888, the monument has a height of 57 meters around it we can see eight statues of lions and eight bas-reliefs with the shields of the Spanish provinces and the main acts performed by Columbus, inside is an elevator that goes up to its dome from where there is a fantastic viewpoint from where you can take some fantastic photographs.
9. National Palace MNAC
We continue our trip to the historical places of Barcelona heading towards the mountain of Montjuic where we find the National Palace of Barcelona, built between 1926 and 1929 for the second EXPO in Barcelona and since 1934 it houses the Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)
The model of the National Palace, is unified in a style that at the time was called as a Spanish Renaissance, highlights its large central dome which is inspired by the Vatican, inside we can visit different artistic exhibitions such as paintings or sculptures of Catalan art .
Right in front of the National Palace we find the magical fountains of Montjuic, also built for the second EXPO in Barcelona, if you have the opportunity to visit Barcelona this is one of the places you can not miss, the magical fountains of Montjuic offer a show of lights and music that merge with the dance of the fountain, creating a truly impressive show.
10. Spanish village (Pueblo Español)
In the same mountain of Montjuic is the Spanish village (Pueblo Español) also built for the second EXPO in Barcelona, this site shows the most important monuments of all regions of Spain and is a perfect place to visit with childrens, inside there are different shops of crafts where you can buy handmade products or simply contemplate how artisans create their products, now the Spanish Village has created new audiovisual spaces where the different typical festivals of all regions of Spain are represented, also in its interior you can find the Tablao de Carmen that is one of the most popular flamenco shows in the Barcelona where you can enjoy Mediterranean food and a show of pure flamenco in the night.
If you want to enjoy a night with flamenco show and visit the magical fountains of Montjuic you can do with our Night Tours.