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A Visitors Guide To Barcelona Spain
With its proud beauty, delicious food, and rich cultural history, it's no wonder that Barcelona is such a popular tourist destination. It is the second largest city in Spain and home to dozens of museums, libraries, and other historical sites, as well as a burgeoning film industry and a variety of shops and restaurants. The two major languages in Barcelona are Spanish and Catalan, although many residents also speak English (even so, make sure to bring along a translation guide). During Barcelona's 2000 years of existence, this city has proven itself to be friendly to foreigners and receptive to their influences. This is evidenced in the many different styles of architecture that can be found around Barcelona, from towering Roman structures to sweeping Neoclassical buildings. There are also plenty gorgeous examples of modern architecture, including many prominent structures envisioned by a new generation of innovative designers.
Despite Europe's pricey reputation, there's no need to spend a ton of money to stay in Barcelona. One of the city's top hotels-Hotel Diagonal (205 Venida Diagonal)-isn't just a gorgeous piece of modern architecture, but also amazingly affordable (less than 0 per night for a double room). Barcelona architect Juli Capella designed this stylish hotel, which attracts locals and tourists alike with its hip amenities. Each of the hotel's 240 rooms has a slightly different design, thus removing the cookie-cutter feeling that away-from-home accommodations can have. The high-ceilinged dining room of the hotel's signature restaurant dishes up the best in Basque and Catalan cuisine. Among the other amenities are a laid-back caf where guests can help themselves to a buffet breakfast, a piano bar that caters to a cool, young crowd, an outdoor pool for cooling off, and a solarium that provides a marvelous view of the city. Hotel Diagonal even offers its guests special deals, such as the "Cultural Barcelona" package, which provides discounted room rates along with tickets to hot tourist destinations.
The best time of year to visit Barcelona is the fall, after the busy summer tourist season. Located on the Mediterranean coast, weather is mild year-round, but autumn temperatures are the most comfortable, with temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Fewer tourists mean less crowds-an important factor in a city chock-full of fascinating places to visit-and lower hotel rates. During the off-season, deals can also be found at local shops and restaurants, so ask around.
The list of must-see places in Barcelona is quite lengthy, which means you might not be able to hit them all, but two places that you should try your best to squeeze into your itinerary are the Museo Picasso and the Fundacion Joan Miro. These museums are dedicated to two of the city's most famous inhabitants-world-renowned painters Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro-and feature in-depth looks at their lives and works. As for getting a taste of the delectable goodness that is Catalan cuisine, head to Mercat de la Boqueria (located on La Rambla), which has been sited by Travel + Leisure magazine as being the top food market in Spain. Full of highly-skilled vendors serving prime local dishes, this market showcases some of the best that Spanish cooking has to offer. And of course, no trip to Barcelona would be complete without a visit to one of its many street markets. If you're looking for gifts to bring home that truly reflect Barcelona culture, make sure to check out Fira de Nautumismo (located in Placa Reial), a flea market which features the wares of dozens of local artisans, along with a multitude of Spanish collectibles.
About the Author: Planning a trip to Barcelona? Visit the Search Spain Hotels website to find a Barcelona hotel spain by going to http://www.searchspainhotels.com/Barcelona-1.shtml You'll also find Barcelona car rentals, last minute deals, vacation packages and flights.
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