by Nadia Promi

Created on: April 23, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

The beauty of Barcelona can hardly be described in words because Barcelona is all about wonderful colors and most extraordinary forms. When the sun shines, and it shines almost always, the facades of those fabulous buildings gleam with brightness: Ramblas, Passege de Gracia, Plaza Catalunya, La Pedrera in shapes and shades of the architect Gaudi who made this city so different from any other. A touch of Gaudi's art has been spread widely in the town and in its outskirts. If there is enough time, a walk through the Parc Gell should not be missed, as well. It needs time though, but it is rewarding with the most exciting feelings and great enjoyment.

Not only Gaudi has made this town so memorable; there are other artists too, only to mention Juan Mir, Salvador Dal or Pablo Picasso. Picasso did not live here for long but when he was 18 he had his first exhibition right here and he used to meet his avant-garde mates in the caf named El Quatre Gats (Four Cats). In the Montcada Street where an awesome renaissance villa has been transformed into the Picasso Museum, after a stroll through the vast museum rooms I can find a cozy place to have a rest and dine: the restaurants in the narrow, medieval streets offer a range of different dishes, from traditional paella and sea food to delicious tapas of all sorts.

I have been to Barcelona in different seasons and it has always been magnificent, charming and sparkling with vibrant colors and sounds. Even in December when it is winter in Europe, the streets in the city center are almost crowded and shops open till midnight. This is a Mediterranean way of life. Loud and wordy. People are talkative and friendly although it may take a while until they show you their true, caring, nature and widely open the house to you. They welcome tourists, are helpful and happy to show what their city can offer. Frankly speaking, they prefer French to English. Not only because of the closeness to the French border, but also because for many years and centuries French was the main language of communication in the Mediterranean. Moreover, one can also notice that Catalan, which is the official language in Catalonia alongside with the Castillan (Spanish), is actually more like French than like Spanish.

Barcelona today is more a multicultural Mediterranean metropolis than a Catalan capital. In a survey carried out by the Catalan Institute the majority of more than a thousand interviewees from all Mediterranean countries said that Barcelona is the

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>