The past – elgiac and powerfully conservative.
The present – aspirational, and the epitome of international style.
A crazy, timeless town, where you live above and beyond history. Today, being in Barcelona is like having a spiritual liquor prohibition removed…. Your soul is drunk all day. (With a nod to Nigel Andrews).
“Sos nobles murs combatut set segles
Amb pluges, vents i llamps
Jamai vencut, a cada nova lluita
Mes bell se n’es tornat…”
“Its noble walls have fought off seven centuries
Of rain, wind and thunderbolts
Unconquered, and with each new struggle
Becoming more beautiful…..”
(Rubio I Ors, in Hughes, Barcelona)
“A la part de Levant, mistic exemple
Com una flor gegant floreix un temple
Meravellat d’haver nascut acqui…..”
“In the east, mystical example
Like a giant flower, a temple blossoms,
Amazing to be born here…”
Joan Maragall, in Hughes, Barcelona
Barcelona is an uber-cool, friendly, cosmopolitan, urban beachside city with a strong Mediterranean character – architecturally, think Paris combined with Beirut’s beachside location - the chic of both cities, with genuinely friendly inhabitants, despite the famed Catalan reserve.
With a coastline stretching more than 4 km, the recovery of the Barcelona seafront has been one of the most important changes in the city. Today, the beaches are the largest and most popular leisure spaces of the urban landscape.
Image courtesy of Dorota Boisot
Barcelona is a truly international, but still a very Catalan city, which as the capital of Catalonia, so it should be – and its status as one of the major economic centres of Europe makes the vibe very up beat, but also very civilised. Voted by Monocle Magazine (July-August 2007, and constantly being re-visited by that icon of style) ) as one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world.
Originally founded as a Roman city (known as Barcino), even the waiters automatically ask what language you want the menu in – and that means French, Italian, English and more – not just Spanish or Catalan. Quite apart from the design “fix” that you cannot help absorbing simply by osmosis, whether Gaudi or post-modern, the aesthetic sense of the city and its vibrant, truly international lifestyle is simply unbeatable. The food’s great, too!
Image courtesy of Dorota Boisot
ChI Stays At…..
Recommended hotels
• Casa Camper eco-hotel in the former red light district of Raval, just off Placa Catalunya, near the MACBA (museum of contemporary art). Each room is a “mini-suite” with its own small individual lounge across the corridor. Unbelievably friendly, well-informed Euro-staff, and you can walk everywhere from there. Or rent a bike from the hotel if you feel like using some wheels. There is a great 24h snack room just off the main lobby – entirely free of charge, and with really good food – great coffee, super sandwiches, organic salads, yoghurts, fruit plates etc. and the lavish breakfasts are superbly presented, and taste amazing. Tel +34 93 342 62 80 Carrer Elisabets 11
www.casacamper.com
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• The small boutique Hotel Banys Orientals in the mediaeval merchant quarter of El Born, on Argenteria, 37. Tel +34 93 268 84 60 http://www.hotelbanysorientals.com
• The Hotel Actual, C. Rossello 238 (just opposite Omm/Moo), offers minimalist design, good service, good prices. Convenient, pleasant, and there you have it! www.hotelactual.com
• Ciutat Hotel Barcelona, on Carrer Princesa 35 in El Born tel +34 93 269 7475 www.ciutathotels.com .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
• Hotel Neri,Placa San Felipe Neri. A total little gem – friends have been known to go there for a drink, and simply check in, because it’s so lovely, even though they live round the corner.
Useful Links:
Street map and more, at http://www.bcn.es/guia/welcomea.htm
Short term serviced apartment rentals (…..even by the day) http://www.rent4days.com/default.asp?idioma=English&ciudad=Barcelona