Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Spain and you will realize that as soon as you arrive. There are people EVERYWHERE! Barcelona is located in the northeast of Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea sand is the capital of the region of Catalonia.
Where we stayed
Hotel Condes de Barcelona occupies a former 19th-century palace on bustling Passeig de Gràcia. This street is famous for its high-end shops as well as some fascinating architecture. This is the first hotel since arriving to Spain that wasn’t located in the “old town” or historic part of the city. That wasn’t an issue as we were able to walk or get an Uber easily enough when it was too hot to walk to our destination. The hotel had a nice rooftop bar and terrace as well. I will start off by saying that this was not our favorite hotel by far. Just comparing to our previous accommodations throughout Spain the staff were less friendly and we just didn’t have that welcoming vibe we experienced at other hotels in Spain.
We had 5 nights planned for Barcelona and Pete’s daughter and her husband were flying in for their vacation during so we were excited to see them during our stay as we had a few days of overlap.
Gothic Quarter Tour and Spanish Cooking Class
On our first full day in Barcelona we had a guided tour through the Gothic Quarter and that same evening we walked back to the gothic quarter for a Spanish cooking class. The cooking class was so much fun! As a group we started with a visit to the market to get fresh seafood and then headed to the test kitchen. We had sangria, made paella and had a really good time! Definitely one of the highlights of our time in Barcelona!
Gaudí Tour through Barcelona
The next day we had a car pick us up for our Gaudí tour. The first stop of course was the Sagrada Família. Sagrada Familia is actually a “basilica” since Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration in 2010. The Sagrada Família, has been under construction for 140 years, with the work beginning back in 1882. What you may not know is that every ticket sold is helping to complete the construction which is estimated to be as early as the year 2030. Once completed this will be the tallest religious building in Europe and another interesting fact is that Antonio Gaudi is actually buried in the crypt of Sagrada Familia. There is even an entire chapel located under the main level.
One of the most unique aspects of the Sagrada Familia is the way Gaudi used the windows and light in the design. Throughout the day the colors inside change based on the direction of the sun. The pictures really don’t do it justice.
Most of Gaudí’s architectural designs have an organic look to them. He uses nature as the primary influence and you see this over and over again in the use of the natural curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic shapes that replicate structures in nature such as trees for example.
Even if you are not a fan of Gaudi’s style you can’t help but appreciate his works that are visible all over the city.
Park Güell is another stop we made during our tour and has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will find Gaudi’s fingerprint on not only buildings in the park but architectural elements throughout the green spaces as well. The park is one of the largest green spaces in Barcelona and you do have to purchase tickets to enter which can sell out so you want to buy them in advance.
Most of the time I try and get photos without too many random people in the shots and in Barcelona this was really tricky. The picture below shows the reality of how crowded most of areas were while we were in Barcelona.
Did you know?
Barcelona was not always a tourist destination. It has only been within the last 4 decades that the city has seen the massive increase in tourism. And what kickstarted the revitalization of the city was when Barcelona was scheduled to host the Olympic Games in 1992. The once run-down waterfront was renovated to include a promenade, marina, restaurants, beaches, and cultural attractions. And yes, the beaches have always been on the coast but the beauty of the beaches you see today are not maintained 100% by Mother Nature. Which means there is a lot of manpower and money involved in keeping these famous beaches tourist ready!
Day trip to Montserrat (and a little wine tasting)
On our last full day in Barcelona we booked a group tour to Montserrat. This included a visit to the Montserrat Benedictine monastery as well as a wine tasting at Oller de Mas. The drive up Montserrat was amazing. The mountain itself was beautiful with its very distinctive serrated rock formations. And the views down were just as beautiful.
We booked this group tour through Viator and when we arrived at the bus station I was a little concerned thinking we were going to be part of a huge group but was pleasantly surprised when we realized we were broken into smaller groups once we arrived. Our tour guide was Vince and he was great! He was very entertaining and was not only knowledgeable about the history of Montserrat, he was an expert regarding the vineyard we visited and Spanish wine. And this vineyard was established in 964 and has been in the same family for over 1000 years!
This was a jam packed full day event. We visited the basilica and there is even a museum located under the complex that had works by Monet, Picasso, and even a Dali (just to name a few)! There are over 80 monks that live at the Monastery and it is also the home of the Montserrat Boys Choir, also called Escolania de Montserrat, which is said to be the oldest choir and music schools in Europe.
The Basilica at Montserrat is also where you will find the Black Madonna of Montserrat, or The Virgin of Montserrat. According to the legend, the Madonna of Montserrat, was found by some shepherds in a cave of the mountain sometime during the first century. As they were trying to move the wooden figure it became heavier and heavier until they couldn’t carry it anymore. Because of this they understood then that the sacred Madonna wanted to stay on the mountain and is in the place where the monastery is located today. Many believe that the statue has healing powers and thousands of miraculous cures are credited to this sacred piece of wood. You can even pay a small fee to have the opportunity to touch the Black Madonna during your visit to Montserrat.
The history of the Black Madonna at Montserrat:
https://www.montserrat-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/black-madonna-montserrat-spain.htmL
The Black Madonna was believed to have been carved in Jerusalem at the beginning of the religion. It is a wooden sculpture. It is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world, and in 1844 Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patroness of Catalonia.
Not only is this city rich in history and culture it is also a very cosmopolitan city and if you venture out to the boardwalk you will find many live music venues and lively clubs some of which you dance your heart away until the wee hours of the morning. So we have heard at least because that activity wasn’t on our agenda. Not only are there plenty of pedestrian streets there are lanes specifically designated for bikes or electric scooters.
The Modern Nomads 
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