One of many pieces of street art that help make Barcelona such a gem!
Barcelona is a magical place! Before it was home to the 1992 Olympics, before it was a beach destination and one of Europeâs most popular cities for tourism, Barcelona was part grungy fishing town, part haven for artists and architects like Antoni GaudĂ and surrealist Joan MirĂł, and part stronghold of political dissidence in the age of Francoism. The Catalonian region, with Barcelona as its capital, has been trying to secede from Spain for some time now. Itâs history makes it intriguing, but more pressingly, its beauty and uniqueness today is makes it a city to behold.
Will it ever be finished? While much of Italy is under constant renovation, the construction of GaudĂâs Sagrada Familia, begun in 1882, has yet to be completed.
The highlight of my visit to Barcelona may have been the Sagrada Familia Basilica. It was amazing to see such a long-term project that was still in the making and to see the people who had traveled from all over the world to marvel at the worldâs strangest cathedral. The building was so different from the archetype I have by now seen hundreds of variations of in Italy. There were marble columns but they were all different sizes and meant to look like trees. There was a crucified Jesus at the altar, but he was flanked by a colorful umbrella-like support structure. The inside differed greatly from what my expectations were based on the sandcastle-like exterior, but it didnât disappoint either! Visiting the church was good in another way â after eating a good bit of corn by mistake in Madrid, I was feeling nauseous for days afterwards. The church was a restful place with plenty of seating, a very calming vibe, and views that could be taken in from any of its chairs.
Sun hitting the Sagrada just right
Interior of the Sagrada Familia
Waterfront area with a mix of old and new
Smoothies in every flavor in the market
We visited a food market, Mercado de La Boqueria, where I tried my first ever empanada (they are so rarely offered in vegetarian versions in the U.S.) and a fruit smoothie â they had booth after booth with colorful drinks lined up and coated in ice making for a very fun photo! It was cool to see the Spanish cuisine and so many people and items crammed into such a bright and bustling building.
My close second favorite after the Sagrada Familia Basilica was Park GĂŒell, an art-filled public park and garden with ample amounts of GaudĂâs whimsical architectural style. The buildings are half gingerbread icing and half Playdoh village for just the right amount of âawwâ and awe factor. It is worth the climb because from the very top you can see all the way to the water, with the skyline in between. People pay to enter an area of Park GĂŒell with colorful mosaic benches for phototaking, but we waited until minutes before sunset, when entrance is free. The sun was setting fast but it was even more beautiful with the eerie darkness creeping in!
The Magic Fountains of MontjuĂŻc
Another highlight was making it to the first show of the year at the Magic Fountains of MontjuĂŻc.  The square was packed with people who had come to see the opening show of the season, and I definitely can see why. The show was magnificent â with impressive lights, a fun if occasionally odd soundtrack, and beautiful lights and choreography. I never realized water could dance until I watched this spectacle. It is nothing like any fountain show Iâve seen â the Bellagio Fountains in Vegas are graceful and all, but they have nothing on this display of the sheer force and amazing elemental properties of water.
La Barceloneta beach, modernized with upscale hotels but maintaining the scent of the sea
While Barcelona is known for its beach, there were a few too many hawkers selling tapestries or foot massages or cold beverages to really sit and relax. We also found it to be very windy. That said, it was nice to see such a wide expanse of sea! If I had more time, I would have loved to hang out at one of the trendy (probably pricy) beachside restaurants that line La Barceloneta neighborhoodâs waterfront. It was interesting to learn the history of such a pristine and iconic place â before the 1992 Olympics, the neighborhood was populated by fishermen and Romani (or gypsy) people and lined with small shacks. These were removed and all but forgotten after the city cleaned up for the public spotlight.
Overall, Barcelona was one of my favorite cities to visit, and I hope to go back one day. No other city in Europe has art, culture, and beach vibes to the extent of Barcelona, and it is truly a sight to be seen! When I was there some bad weather preventing me from seeing all the city and the worst stomach ache of my life meant I did not get to try much of the tapas and food, but despite all of that, it was an amazing experience â which says a whole lot!
 La Mà gia of Catalonia Barcelona is a magical place! Before it was home to the 1992 Olympics, before it was a beach destination and one of Europe's most popular cities for tourism, Barcelona was part grungy fishing town, part haven for artists and architects like Antoni Gaudà and surrealist Joan Miró, and part stronghold of political dissidence in the age of Francoism.
