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Fresh goodies in the markets of Barcelona

To discover the soul of the Barcelonans, it’s best to eat one’s way through Barcelona. From farmhouse cheese to molecular gastronomy, the versatile flavours of Catalonian cuisine tell the turbulent story of the region. The Visigoths, the Moors and the French have all occupied this fertile area on the Mediterranean Sea over the past centuries, and they have all left their mark as the tastes in Barcelona’s markets make clear.

Culinary

Barcelona, 스페인

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La Boqueria is one of the largest covered markets in Europe

Getting lost at the market

It's always very busy in La Boqueria on La Rambla, one of the largest covered produce markets in Europe. The chefs from Barcelona’s best restaurants make their purchases here every morning. It's easy to get lost among the hundreds of stalls with ham, olives and fresh fish – just let it happen! And in many stalls you can taste the delicacies on offer. If you’re looking for something specific, ask at the information centre for a handy map (booth 435 near the back) which will show you exactly what each stall specialises in.

Fresh fish in the Barceloneta market

Fish market in the harbour

Fish fans should set course for the neighbourhood of Barceloneta next to the old port, where for over a century, fishermen have been selling their fresh catch of the day. The discerning buyer can choose from countless possibilities including cuttlefish, razor shells and shrimp of all types and sizes. And if you can’t wait to eat fresh seafood, then visit one of the many local restaurants – it doesn’t get any fresher than this. The Barceloneta market isn’t only of gastronomic interest: don’t miss the extraordinary cast-iron window frames. The building by Antoni Rovira i Trias, dating back to 1884, was completely renovated a few years ago.

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Culinary

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Beach

Culinary

Juicy olives, garlic shrimp hot off the grill, a tasty piece of manchego cheese… these are just some of the classic dishes in the famous Spanish tapas tradition. Connoisseurs can take a tapeo in Barcelona, an evening tour past various excellent tapas bars. The best places are the old, dark bars where smoked hams hang from the ceiling.

Arts & Culture

If you walk along the Passeig de Gràcia boulevard you can’t miss it: the colourful façade of Casa Batlló. The building’s frontage invites closer inspection. With its playful round windows and scaly roof, it has the aura of a fairytale castle. Its shapes and lines immediately reveal the identity of its creator: Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s most celebrated modernistic architect.

Culinary

The Spanish love cold snacks, as is underlined by the many ice-cream parlours you’ll see. Typically Spanish is horchata, a delicious, refreshing drink for the warm summer months. The drink is also popular around Christmas, when people dip turrón, a kind of nougat, in their horchata. In Barcelona you’ll find the drink under orxata, its Catalan name.

Arts & Culture

Escape the bustle of La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter’s maze of narrow streets. The Barri Gòtic is one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric districts. This is where the Romans established the settlement of Barcino, from which Barcelona derives its name. While strolling through its medieval alleyways, you can easily imagine they were often a source of inspiration to the artists Picasso and Miró.

Arts & Culture

The Catalan culture is expressed most strongly during the many folk festivals held in Barcelona. Fireworks light up the night sky so often it seems as if there’s always something to celebrate. Most festivals were originally in honour of the patron saints of Barcelona or Catalonia. Thousands of people take to the streets during processions, either in traditional costumes or with features that recall ancient rituals.

Arts & Culture

The neighbourhoods of Hostafrancs and Sants, which both offer a wide variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, form the heart of the Sants-Montjuïc district. This district covers the south-western section of Barcelona. The narrow streets at the foot of Montjuïc hill lend Hostafrancs and Sants a homely, village character. But they also have a bustling atmosphere with one of the longest shopping streets in Europe: Carrer de Sants.

Shopping

La Rambla is the busiest pedestrian street in Barcelona and immensely popular with both tourists and locals. The 1.2-kilometre-long street is completely car-free and lined with tall trees. La Rambla offers a huge range of kiosks, stalls and street artists and is Barcelona’s liveliest and most vibrant street from early morning to late at night.

Arts & Culture

Antoni Gaudí is the man behind the bizarre yet ingenious Park Güell, the most famous park in Barcelona. Commissioned by businessman Eusebi Güell, the architect started building a dream village on the edge of the city that was supposed to resemble a fairy-tale forest. Even though the village was never completed, as only 2 of the 60 planned houses were built, Park Güell is still truly unique.

Arts & Culture

Barcelona and Pablo Picasso (1881) are inextricably connected: not only did the artist complete his academic training here, it is also where he took his first steps towards modernism. The Museu Picasso displays the artist’s most important earlier works – stemming from the period when Picasso worked and lived in his beloved ‘Barça’.

Arts & Culture

If anyone has left his mark on Barcelona it was architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). His absolute masterpiece is of course the world-famous Basílica de la Sagrada Família. Even though construction began in 1882, the basilica remains uncompleted to this very day. In fact, it will take approximately 30 years from now for the building to be completely finished.

Beach

There is nothing better than a refreshing dip in the sea after a long day of sightseeing in Barcelona. Since the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona has invested significantly in cleaning up the sand and water; the results can be enjoyed every summer.