Famous for Gaudi and other Art Nouveau architecture, Barcelona is jam packed with culture, fashion and cuisine making it one of Europe’s most visited cities. This was my second trip to Barcelona so I am only going to concentrate on the things I did on this trip.
I started with the Picasso museum in the Gothic Quarter which by the way you MUST explore and you have not done it right unless you get lost! The reviews of the museum were mixed. Visitors were disappointed because none of the more famous pieces are there but if you are truly interested in his life and the progression of his work this museum is fantastic. There are rooms and rooms filled with his own collection of paintings and drawings from the time he was a teenager up until his death. The reviews also said to allow 1.5 hours for your visit but I could have easily spent 3 or 4 hours here. Oh well I guess I have to come back, LOL!
Tapas
We love to eat our meals tapas style and there is no better tapas in the world then Spain. On this trip we visited Vinitus. The atmosphere was really chic and the service was great. We ordered, razor clams, cod w/honey, Kobe beef slider, fritto misto and Russian salad which is a kind of potato salad with ham, peas and pickles.
Here is the link website https://vinitusrestaurantes
Monteserrat
About 45 kilometers from Barcelona is the mountain range Montserrat. Built into the mountain is the Benedictine Monastery Santa Maria de Montserrat. Founded in the 11th century it is still functioning to this day. I could go on and on about how incredible this place is and how the monk’s helped preserve the Catalan culture and language during Franco’s reign but I realize people are not as into history as I am so here is the link for more info.
https://www.barcelona.de/en/barcelona-excursions-monastery-montserrat.html
Unfortunately, I only allowed a half day here but I could have spent a whole day. I will have to come back again.
Manresa Wine Region, Oller de Mas Winery
This boutique winery built in an old castle is just a short drive from Montserrat. We had a fantastic tasting experience in one of the caves. Thirty years ago a vine was discovered in this region thought to have been extinct since the 1900’s due to the phylloxera outbreak. Since then there has been a movement in this region of trying to resurrect vines and cultivating them until they are ready to produce grapes good enough to make wine. Sometimes this process can take 20 years! Oller de Mas winery is actually making wine from the grapes of those” extinct” vines. To learn more read this article.
Dinner at Capet
This is a Michelin star recommended restaurant in the Gothic Quarter that specializes in reinventing classic favorites. Reservations are highly recommended as it is small. And yes, we got lost trying to find it. Some of the reviews said that it was overpriced but by our standards it was a deal. We ordered the chef’s tasting menu and were treated to 8 courses and wine for a price of $80 each. After spending the day running around it was really nice to sit down in a quiet restaurant and be served for 3 hours. I highly recommend it.
https://www.capetrestaurant.com
Sagrada Familia
No trip to Barcelona would be complete unless you visit the Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished church in the world and a Unesco Heritage site. This church has been under construction for 140 years and is slated to be finished in 2028. The last time I was here the star spire was only half done and you could not go inside.
As you can see the star tower is complete and you can now go inside the building. In 2010 a mass was held there for the first time. Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed it a minor basilica. Out of respect they ask you not to take any pictures inside but I copied this one from the website.
It is unlike any church you have ever seen. Make sure to visit the museum to get the whole history of the design and construction.
Costa Brava
I have been to Spain several times but never ventured out to the coast so we rented a car and drove to Costa Brava a small beach village just 2 hours from Barcelona. Being off season we had the whole beach to ourselves. We stayed at a boutique hotel right on the bluff called Hotel Costa Brava.
https://www.hotelcostabrava.com/ca/restaurant-aradi-4
The reviews say “3 star hotel” but I think it should be rated higher. You can’t beat the location and the grounds are immaculate. The pictures on the website are great but it actually looked better in person. It was one of the most romantic hotels I have ever been to. Another pleasant surprise was the restaurant, Aradi. This restaurant specializes in traditional Mediterranean dishes and traditional (old School) service. You rarely see this kind of service unless you are at an older very expensive steak house. The components of the dish are brought to the servers station in the dining room. There it is plated by the server and brought to your table or depending on the dish it might be plated right at your table. They also do a bread and butter service and of course they have an extensive wine list. We liked Aradi so much we ate there almost every night.
Besalu
Besalu was called “the most interesting Spanish village you’ve never heard of” until Game of Thrones came to town. Crossing the bridge you feel like you have just stepped onto the set of a medieval storybook hamlet only it’s real! At every turn there is something to see and discover and yes, Game of Thrones spent six months filming here. Recognize the stairs?
Figueres
Figueres is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dali. Honestly some of his “art” is kind of disturbing but you have to respect the genius that he was. Unlike most museums that are created after the death of the artist, this one was created by him while he was still alive and at the prime of his career. Some of the installations are whimsical and some are mind bending. Look at the scale of this piece, I left the people in the picture so you could see how huge it is.
Tossa de Mar
We went out for a drive on the G1-682 highway better known as “Road of 1000 Bends” one of the best coastal drives in the world and one of the most dangerous. The most dangerous part of the drive is sharing the road with motorcycles, bicycles and sports cars who all want to pass you without letting you pull over first. The drive was amazing, and the views were incredible (none of my pictures did it justice).
At the end of the drive we pulled into Tossa de Mar famous for its white sandy beaches and of course the fortified medieval village. We hiked to the top of the fortress on the bluff and had a cold beer then we walk through town to see the Medieval Festival that was going on in town.
